Checking in on TWSB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid. Very expensive and constant pressure to spend more on private lessons. Focus on staying very thin. Not sure how good their placements are fit college or company programs. No boys.

Was this responding to the Akhmedova post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now the head of the Upper Division is leaving - looks like 4A Summer Intensive will be the end of TWSB for us...need to move on to something more challenging and reliable

What is more challenging in the DC area?

+1

We're interested in this. Maybe one with smaller class sizes. My DD wants to study dance in college and feels as though she's been overlooked. Instructor comments are overwhelmingly positive about her, evaluations all give her high marks, but when it comes to castings she's clearly not in the "in" group that seem to always get chosen. So we're looking for other schools in the area that will help her prepare for her dream college choices and give her more performance opportunities outside of The Nutcracker. Please share!

Where are you looking? We are at a studio in Nova that seems to get a few college/pro placements each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid. Very expensive and constant pressure to spend more on private lessons. Focus on staying very thin. Not sure how good their placements are fit college or company programs. No boys.

Was this responding to the Akhmedova post?

Yes

[Anonymous]

I can't say enough good things about Maryland Youth Ballet. Their goal is to help each dancer become the best they can possibly be. They have several each year who go on to become trainees and apprentices and pursue careers. And if that's not the goal, that's OK! MYB does not have the baggage of a company; strictly a school helping all its students succeed (however the dancer defines success).

[Anonymous]

Anyone have success contesting their childs level placement?

[Anonymous]

Retained or asking to skip a level? The latter doesn’t happen at TWSB or other reputable schools , whatever their current problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Retained or asking to skip a level? The latter doesn’t happen at TWSB or other reputable schools , whatever their current problems.

I think placed in the wrong level for Summer Intensive which will affect placement if we stay for the year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retained or asking to skip a level? The latter doesn’t happen at TWSB or other reputable schools , whatever their current problems.

I think placed in the wrong level for Summer Intensive which will affect placement if we stay for the year

SI is always a continuation of current level. If you’re new at summer - we were! Expect to do the full year at that level and another SI at that level. This is why my daughter is the oldest and tallest in class. trust me I thought about emailing and the words just don’t come out right. Take it or leave it. They do what they do and she is placed where they want her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retained or asking to skip a level? The latter doesn’t happen at TWSB or other reputable schools , whatever their current problems.

I think placed in the wrong level for Summer Intensive which will affect placement if we stay for the year

SI is always a continuation of current level. If you’re new at summer - we were! Expect to do the full year at that level and another SI at that level. This is why my daughter is the oldest and tallest in class. trust me I thought about emailing and the words just don’t come out right. Take it or leave it. They do what they do and she is placed where they want her.

This is what I am worried about. We are new, and according to friends DD will be with kids younger than her

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retained or asking to skip a level? The latter doesn’t happen at TWSB or other reputable schools , whatever their current problems.

I think placed in the wrong level for Summer Intensive which will affect placement if we stay for the year

SI is always a continuation of current level. If you’re new at summer - we were! Expect to do the full year at that level and another SI at that level. This is why my daughter is the oldest and tallest in class. trust me I thought about emailing and the words just don’t come out right. Take it or leave it. They do what they do and she is placed where they want her.

This is what I am worried about. We are new, and according to friends DD will be with kids younger than her

Why wouldn’t you move up like everyone else will beginning in the fall? That’s the way it worked for my DD who began at TWSB in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Really depends on how good her technique is. A lot of kids could do with a serious cleanup. I wish they started retaining kids again like they used to, but they can’t afford to do that. Instead, the pace is very slow, technique remains sloppy, and the really good dancers and teachers leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really depends on how good her technique is. A lot of kids could do with a serious cleanup. I wish they started retaining kids again like they used to, but they can’t afford to do that. Instead, the pace is very slow, technique remains sloppy, and the really good dancers and teachers leave.

This makes me sad, I was hoping upper school would pick up the pace and be a better experience for DD

[Anonymous]

If you can get to the Tysons area, check out Kintz Mejia Academy of Ballet. It’s Metro-accessible.

[Anonymous]

Seems like TWSB should let students audition for higher levels from time to time, if things are moving that slowly

[Anonymous]

My DD is young for her school year and old for her TWSB Class. I'm just bummed because at this rate she will be a senior in high school and in level 7 and will never get to level 8. I would totally pay for an person 1 on 1 re-eval of her sometime in the 3, 4a, 4b to see if she can get with her age cohort