Checking in on TWSB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We left midyear this year - teacher and class issues- for Seber, and my daughter has found her love of ballet again.
Highly recommend checking it out if you are looking for a change.
The classes are smaller, and the growth in just a few months has been wonderful for my kiddo

We have just been plodding along with TWSB so I appreciate your post and will check it out. Would love to see the spark for ballet in my DC again.

It was a hard decision, but it has been really great for my child. You could always try a week long program over the summer to see if your DC likes it before you take the plunge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for programs in Northern Virginia? We are also underwhelmed by TWSB and it would be nice to find something closer to home.

BalletNova parent here - we are VERY happy. Teachers, class size, level of instruction are all great as are the performance opportunities. Highly recommend!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happy parent/daughter here. We left TWSB last year for ABA Akhmedova Ballet Academy (we were level 1B). We love it! Huge space (almost as much as TWSB combined). It’s all PTP, performance and competition (when ready). Pilates studio. Privates that don’t break the bank. They put their hands on the dancers. They fixed my DDs flexibility issues (with lots of home practice foot stretching etc). Vaganova is amazing. I don’t recommend it for people who don’t care about fixing technique. This place is all about preventing injury through quality instruction and it’s small on purpose. Really recommend for 9-12 years who are more serious because you can fix everything before it’s too late. Check out their SI video…

https://youtu.be/vJ9e-0fat94?si=ERrADB23fZVD1ELw

4-5 weeks day program 9:30-3…. Especially for the 9-12 year old range it way towers over what TWSB does for that age range.

Our spring performance is two fully staged shows with ballet and contemporary pieces. I was afraid of missing The Nutcracker but honestly, it was a s* show for the kids auditions and roles.

A couple tips if you’re serious…

1. We have a one week SI 5-8 pm June 10th (after our spring performance and the year round ends).

2. We have a 4 week SI that goes July 15-Aug 9.

You can do a class or private audition for these and you’ll have a taste for what it’s like and then decide.

I don’t know MYB or Seber, but I am sure the other satisfied parents feel what I feel… TWSB is too huge with 900 students and no good school leadership, no strong teacher community, and no track starting at a young age for more serious dancers.

I feel like it was a time and money waste.

Thank you PP. we’ve stuck it out at TWSB for the convenience and DD loves Nutcracker but losing interest as most students at TWSB lack commitment and/or skill and no menu of options beyond the recreational level. Not sure if we can justify the time investment and cost next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happy parent/daughter here. We left TWSB last year for ABA Akhmedova Ballet Academy (we were level 1B). We love it! Huge space (almost as much as TWSB combined). It’s all PTP, performance and competition (when ready). Pilates studio. Privates that don’t break the bank. They put their hands on the dancers. They fixed my DDs flexibility issues (with lots of home practice foot stretching etc). Vaganova is amazing. I don’t recommend it for people who don’t care about fixing technique. This place is all about preventing injury through quality instruction and it’s small on purpose. Really recommend for 9-12 years who are more serious because you can fix everything before it’s too late. Check out their SI video…

https://youtu.be/vJ9e-0fat94?si=ERrADB23fZVD1ELw

4-5 weeks day program 9:30-3…. Especially for the 9-12 year old range it way towers over what TWSB does for that age range.

Our spring performance is two fully staged shows with ballet and contemporary pieces. I was afraid of missing The Nutcracker but honestly, it was a s* show for the kids auditions and roles.

A couple tips if you’re serious…

1. We have a one week SI 5-8 pm June 10th (after our spring performance and the year round ends).

2. We have a 4 week SI that goes July 15-Aug 9.

You can do a class or private audition for these and you’ll have a taste for what it’s like and then decide.

I don’t know MYB or Seber, but I am sure the other satisfied parents feel what I feel… TWSB is too huge with 900 students and no good school leadership, no strong teacher community, and no track starting at a young age for more serious dancers.

I feel like it was a time and money waste.

Thank you PP. we’ve stuck it out at TWSB for the convenience and DD loves Nutcracker but losing interest as most students at TWSB lack commitment and/or skill and no menu of options beyond the recreational level. Not sure if we can justify the time investment and cost next year.

We stuck it out for years and made the jump to leave, and the only regret is doing leaving sooner! there is so much room for growth beyond TWSB

[Anonymous]

Curious if any current TWSB families have noticed any changes with the new leadership?

[Anonymous]

Seems like a whole lot of staff turnover. Head of upper division is leaving after a year or less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a whole lot of staff turnover. Head of upper division is leaving after a year or less.

Damien is leaving? Have they announced who is taking over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious if any current TWSB families have noticed any changes with the new leadership?

There is a lot of work to do for the incoming.
We left Upper Division last year - friends who were less serious about ballet stayed.
DD is so happy having moved on - the last year she has excelled more than she ever has in the previous years Preballet-4A. Decided not to stay for 4B.

Will be interesting to see if new leadership can turn the ship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a whole lot of staff turnover. Head of upper division is leaving after a year or less.

Damien is leaving? Have they announced who is taking over?

Why is he leaving? It felt very abrupt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a whole lot of staff turnover. Head of upper division is leaving after a year or less.

Damien is leaving? Have they announced who is taking over?

Why is he leaving? It felt very abrupt.

I've not heard, but maybe it has something to do with the general consensus of the low bar the school is setting for its dancers? Though he can hardly be blamed having been around less than a year

[Anonymous]

Our dancer is finishing up 4B at TWSB and moving to Seber in the fall. Hoping for more structure and progress in class and more inspiration from her teachers and fellow dancers. We've had some great experiences at TWSB, but the the current school administration is dysfunctional and has created an environment that is increasingly distracting for our daughter. Two of her friends who have been with her since PB3 are also leaving for MYB.

[Anonymous]

They will just fill the slots of those who leave with the kids of people seeking the perceived ‘prestige’.

[Anonymous]

We are thinking of coming back... is that a bad idea? How has 2024-2025 school year gone? Level 3 and up?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if they are still doing the “EX” classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if they are still doing the “EX” classes?

No "EX" classes