Washington Ballet vs. CityDance Conservatory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve absolutely loved Citydance Conservatory. I have two daughters who both take ballet very seriously and have thrived there. The community is very strong because it’s a small group per level. The teachers similarly are very invested in each and every student’s growth and take plenty of time to talk to parents before/after class.

It’s worth noting Citydance has a studios program (Friendship Heights) for recreational dancers. The Conservatory is pre-professional and auction-based entry.

Washington Ballet class sizes were too large, the instruction not great, and the curriculum too slow. Teachers would avoid eye contact after class to not talk to parents. However their nutcracker is spectacular and a wonderful experience that motivates young dancers.

She is asking about the rec program not an ad for the conservatory. The rec program is an absolute waste.

[Anonymous]

For those as CityDance Conservatory, on the website it gave me the impression that all the kids 7-9 take several types of dance as part of their instruction, not just ballet. Is this the case?

[Anonymous]

TWSB. Citydance is more of the same YAGP industrial complex nonsense. It’s unfortunate because Lorraine Spiegler is an exceptional teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Danced at WSB in the 90s.

What happened?
Why is Pat Berrend at her own studio?
Why did Lorraine leave City Dance? I remember when she taught modern to release time at WSB.
MYB used to be very strong. Saw their Nut right before Covid and quality had dropped. Again what happened?

No longer in the area, just curious.

Hi hi! I danced at WSB in the 90s too, before they acquired the “T,” when Lorraine was teaching release time modern as well. She also taught ballet 7th-8th graders in those years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CD time has passed unfortunately. Unless you are in the Conservatory you are getting low quality, non-dancer yeachers. They pack as many kids as possible into a class with below industry standard teachers. Those who don't see it just don't know any better.

This is simply not true. For the YTP and Pre Conservatory divisions, there is a class cap of 15 students. TWSB has class sizes of 20-30 on average. There is a section of 4A this year that has 41 dancers in it on Saturday mornings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CD time has passed unfortunately. Unless you are in the Conservatory you are getting low quality, non-dancer yeachers. They pack as many kids as possible into a class with below industry standard teachers. Those who don't see it just don't know any better.

This is simply not true. For the YTP and Pre Conservatory divisions, there is a class cap of 15 students. TWSB has class sizes of 20-30 on average. There is a section of 4A this year that has 41 dancers in it on Saturday mornings.

You can be successful there if you are willing to homeschooling. But, success means making $16,000/yr at a broke obscure contemporary company. Dancers coming out of this program are not commercial marketable, nor, are they accepted into ballet companies where they may earn a wopping $20,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone! Appreciate the responses.

Is there no cap on class size for TWSB? What is the typical class size at that age?

No true cap.
The only cap is the max capacity size for the studio.
DD had 32 kids in her 4A class last year, studio was one of the Coleman Studios

32 kids in the same class? You don’t mean they’re in the same studio dancing together at the same time, right?

No I mean they were all squeezed into the same room - its a big one, but still, one teacher for that many dancers was useless

This doesn’t seem unusual or weird to me. I’ve seen larger classes in large studios. SAB’s classes are quite large

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone! Appreciate the responses.

Is there no cap on class size for TWSB? What is the typical class size at that age?

No true cap.
The only cap is the max capacity size for the studio.
DD had 32 kids in her 4A class last year, studio was one of the Coleman Studios

32 kids in the same class? You don’t mean they’re in the same studio dancing together at the same time, right?

No I mean they were all squeezed into the same room - its a big one, but still, one teacher for that many dancers was useless

This doesn’t seem unusual or weird to me. I’ve seen larger classes in large studios. SAB’s classes are quite large

Having 41 students in a class is virtually unheard of if you know what proper training looks like...

[Anonymous]

TWSB parent here, thrilled with the instruction in the upper school. Very happy kid who has been with the school for many years.