Informal ranking of DMV ballet studios?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your dancer and has she auditioned for / participated in any summer intensives? ( possibly Covid interfered…)

And where are you located?

DC is 9 and has been dancing for over 4 years. Doing a summer intensive this year for the first time, but locally.

We are in NOVA (which is why I'm wondering if I'd even be able to juggle everything to move to one of those "top 2" studios).

I have loved MYB because it is a good place for a parent to wait for one’s child. First, the indoor waiting area is ample. Second, the parking garage is right there and parking is always available. Third, the library is across the street. Fourth, there are numerous fast casual restaurants like Panera, Starbucks, and Chick Fil-A in easy walking distance.

For someone who will travel a decent distance, you’ll want to wait and you will be happier if you don’t have to sit in your car every day.

I know you want the very best for your child. I don’t know what the waiting parents situation is at WSB. Perhaps it is comparable.

I will never understand why parents focus on their experiences rather than their child's.

Because we're not martyrs, and usually we take ALL the criteria into account. No one I know would send their kids somewhere crappy just because the parent can be comfortable. MYB has high quality classes overall, and one can only hope they do better at the pre-professional level with a new artistic director. There's going to be a transition period, of course.

Have they named the new director yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your dancer and has she auditioned for / participated in any summer intensives? ( possibly Covid interfered…)

And where are you located?

DC is 9 and has been dancing for over 4 years. Doing a summer intensive this year for the first time, but locally.

We are in NOVA (which is why I'm wondering if I'd even be able to juggle everything to move to one of those "top 2" studios).

I have loved MYB because it is a good place for a parent to wait for one’s child. First, the indoor waiting area is ample. Second, the parking garage is right there and parking is always available. Third, the library is across the street. Fourth, there are numerous fast casual restaurants like Panera, Starbucks, and Chick Fil-A in easy walking distance.

For someone who will travel a decent distance, you’ll want to wait and you will be happier if you don’t have to sit in your car every day.

I know you want the very best for your child. I don’t know what the waiting parents situation is at WSB. Perhaps it is comparable.

I will never understand why parents focus on their experiences rather than their child's.

Because we're not martyrs, and usually we take ALL the criteria into account. No one I know would send their kids somewhere crappy just because the parent can be comfortable. MYB has high quality classes overall, and one can only hope they do better at the pre-professional level with a new artistic director. There's going to be a transition period, of course.

Have they named the new director yet?

Yes, Diedre Byrne.

[Anonymous]

Is there any difference in the informal rankings for boys??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any difference in the informal rankings for boys??

Fwiw, my DS dances at MYB, my DD at TWSB. We felt like the boys program was more robust/developed at MYB. DS has been happy and is thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any difference in the informal rankings for boys??

Fwiw, my DS dances at MYB, my DD at TWSB. We felt like the boys program was more robust/developed at MYB. DS has been happy and is thriving.

My son does not dance there anymore (he stopped dancing altogether), but I'm told there isn't a boys' class anymore and that a lot of the boys left. Except the bully protected by Munoz. Makes you wonder, but I can't spout off, that would be unfair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any difference in the informal rankings for boys??

Fwiw, my DS dances at MYB, my DD at TWSB. We felt like the boys program was more robust/developed at MYB. DS has been happy and is thriving.

My son does not dance there anymore (he stopped dancing altogether), but I'm told there isn't a boys' class anymore and that a lot of the boys left. Except the bully protected by Munoz. Makes you wonder, but I can't spout off, that would be unfair.

My DS is enrolled in a Saturday boys class this summer as well as for the upcoming school year. He was also in the Saturday boys class this past school year w/about 10 boys. I don’t know. Perhaps we’re talking about different levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any difference in the informal rankings for boys??

Fwiw, my DS dances at MYB, my DD at TWSB. We felt like the boys program was more robust/developed at MYB. DS has been happy and is thriving.

My son does not dance there anymore (he stopped dancing altogether), but I'm told there isn't a boys' class anymore and that a lot of the boys left. Except the bully protected by Munoz. Makes you wonder, but I can't spout off, that would be unfair.

My DS is enrolled in a Saturday boys class this summer as well as for the upcoming school year. He was also in the Saturday boys class this past school year w/about 10 boys. I don’t know. Perhaps we’re talking about different levels.

Which teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any difference in the informal rankings for boys??

Fwiw, my DS dances at MYB, my DD at TWSB. We felt like the boys program was more robust/developed at MYB. DS has been happy and is thriving.

My son does not dance there anymore (he stopped dancing altogether), but I'm told there isn't a boys' class anymore and that a lot of the boys left. Except the bully protected by Munoz. Makes you wonder, but I can't spout off, that would be unfair.

My DS is enrolled in a Saturday boys class this summer as well as for the upcoming school year. He was also in the Saturday boys class this past school year w/about 10 boys. I don’t know. Perhaps we’re talking about different levels.

Which teacher?

The Saturday boys Intro class doesn’t start until this Saturday, so I don’t know the instructor. And I don’t know who the instructor will be for the upcoming year. But maybe you are talking about higher levels.

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain how bullying happens in a ballet class? I’m honestly confused. Don’t the kids just show up for class and do what the instructor says and go home? Is it happening at rehearsals for ballets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TWSB keeps parents outside, which is a good thing, imho.

As for Citydance, I would not include it in a list of top ballet schools. Much stronger in contemporary and other styles. Their ballet instruction is sloppy; their top students get decent instruction, they perform well at showy competitions, but their alignment is terrible and overuse injury are common. It’s a very different place from a ballet-focused school.

I agree the focus of CityDance is not solely ballet, so in that regard, it’s in a different category than MYB and TWSB. I can’t speak to the culture but both are excellent schools. If your dancer is interested in ballet and contemporary, though, CityDance offers a well rounded program. I don’t agree that the technique is sloppy, and I’m a professional dancer and dance educator (not at CityDance). I do see more inclusion of different body types at all levels at CityDance, and dancers who don’t always conform to classical ballet “lines,” which is a pretty narrow and changing aesthetic anyway.

[Anonymous]

thoughts on pmdi?

[Anonymous]

Since you are in Nova you may already be at Metropolitan, but if not, I’d look at it. It ended up being a great fit for my dd bc she wanted several types of dance. She switched from a less intense studio and has really enjoyed MSA. She won’t be doing their full-time program beginning in 7th grade but she is still able to get a full load of classes in. They have a good track record of college and professional placements. More importantly, many of their faculty members are alums and generally they are intense but also kind and supportive. It was also the only studio she viewed where there was a wide range of body types in the upper level classes among students and faculty. I danced in the late 80s and at that point, eating disorders were practically prescribed by the instructors so I am somewhat paranoid about that.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked into ballet nova? The newish artistic director seems energetic and wanting to change things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked into ballet nova? The newish artistic director seems energetic and wanting to change things.

We’ve been really happy at BalletNova. They put on some wonderful performances this year.

[Anonymous]

OP here - we actually are at BalletNova and my DC loves it and is happy. It's one of those things where I want to at least know what else is out there and if I am doing the best by my DC...it sounds like the only local options out there that would be a noticeable upgrade in terms of prep for a potential professional career would be MYB and TWSB. Something to consider but it's certainly possible DC can accomplish their goals sticking where we are now...BN does have dancers go to professional companies and dance at college, etc.

I am kind of glad my other DC opted not to pursue travel sports or this wouldn't even be a debate!!!