The Washington Ballet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I agree with this. Septime's work was paid for years ago. I know for a fact Nutcracker cost over $1Million and they have no plans on not using his Nutcracker for the time being because they are so far in the hole.

They are also hitting up parents at the school for donations. Pathetic. Julie, Xiomara, et al. are running this place into the ground.

As a parent at TWSB, I agree!

We are absolutely NOT returning next year. I am not going to be asked for donations when the teaching is sub-par, at-best.

I almost wish the BoD would get a copy of this thread so they would clean house before these people continue to destroy this institution. They have absolutely NO business running a school. HOS has no professionalism, and no experience teaching anything besides master classes. Just because you're a great ballet dancer, does not mean you understand the first thing about teaching and ballet mechanics.

[Anonymous]

Another parent here.
Interesting thread, I have been feeling not so great about the school this year.
When I pick up my kid, she often will say "oh we had a new teacher today because XX is away", "we got out early because xx had to leave".
It seems that they are using upper level students as subs.
Oh but there are endless emails telling us to sign up for private lessons at $75 or $100 an hour on top of the 13-15 hour a week of classes and I won't even say how much we already pay.
And the hard sell for summer intensive-hours and hours each day on pointe-thousands of dollars more.
So wish my kid would quit this insanity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another parent here.
Interesting thread, I have been feeling not so great about the school this year.
When I pick up my kid, she often will say "oh we had a new teacher today because XX is away", "we got out early because xx had to leave".
It seems that they are using upper level students as subs.
Oh but there are endless emails telling us to sign up for private lessons at $75 or $100 an hour on top of the 13-15 hour a week of classes and I won't even say how much we already pay.
And the hard sell for summer intensive-hours and hours each day on pointe-thousands of dollars more.
So wish my kid would quit this insanity.

Another parent here and I agree with everything you’ve written. Has not left a good taste in my mouth. And this year my DD’s class had too many substitute teachers, also.

Summer intensive at TWSB is a huge joke. They have a company member teaching ballet class for 5 hours. Such a waste of money. My DD did not improve at all after their intensive. It’s all another way to get your money. It seems they don’t care about the students at all. The performances are a joke as they only highlight their PTP A students and fundraise for their “scholarship fund” which isn’t inner city kids, but white kids in PTP A.

Too many red flags were visible this year. Their imperfections under new leadership are no longer hidden but at the surface for all to see. Very disheartening

[Anonymous]

my child and I have been at TWSB for a very long time and after such a long time we are leaving. these people are deceitful LIARS who have no business running this school. Bring Han and Webre back please! So sad to be ending this journey, for my child had a few very impactful teachers but these people are scam artists and we are all players in their little game. Would not be surprised if they got new admin, Kent is running the company into the ground and the HOS is running the school into the ground. Please do not bother going there are much better options!!

[Anonymous]

TWSB is no longer the “professional” school, it once was. The current leadership is not interested in training dancers to be professional. The school has become a giant factory used to financially support the Company.

[Anonymous]

This is fascinating because, while I was aware of the WaPo article and the business problems with the company, I was unaware of the school issues. My child is an upper-level student and I feel the new school leadership gives the kids quite a bit of attention. There has not been an exodus of upper level teachers and key school administrators. My understanding is that advanced track and mentoring were halted because parents were unhappy to be paying the same tuition when their kids weren't selected, so they are offering private lessons in order to placate hurt feelings. I think the school is sensitive to the need for students to progress in a way that can take them to the highest level possible and they are rejiggering their levels to place more emphasis on the early pointe years and offer high school kids an alternative to PTP or staying in Level 7 indefinitely. Overall, I have found the school leaders to be responsive and thoughtful.

[Anonymous]

Septime is killing it at Hong Kong Ballet. Google Hong Kong Ballet 40th anniversary video.

[Anonymous]

So creative and energetic! It makes me sad to compare this to what is currently not happening at the Washington Ballet. By the way, where did Mr. Han go?

I just took a look at next year's placements at TWSB and noticed that they've added more levels and classes. I guess that's one way of trying to create more revenue.. Add to that some very general, cut-and-paste feedback comments and a Nutcracker scheduled to run for 5 weeks - no thanks! Definitely not returning. By the way, I'm a new poster here, so I suspect there are quite a few of us out there who feel this way. Please give your feedback to the board..

[Anonymous]

I’m so disappointed. We are moving to the area and DD had her heart set on this opportunity. What about PTPB?

[Anonymous]

PP, not sure what you mean? TWSB has added level 8 and also has PTP A (during the day) and PTP B (after school). THey are trying to make more space for all the talented teenagers they have at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, not sure what you mean? TWSB has added level 8 and also has PTP A (during the day) and PTP B (after school). THey are trying to make more space for all the talented teenagers they have at the school.

False. They are trying to make space for the untalented students they have at the school who will never qualify for PTPA or PTPB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, not sure what you mean? TWSB has added level 8 and also has PTP A (during the day) and PTP B (after school). THey are trying to make more space for all the talented teenagers they have at the school.

False. They are trying to make space for the untalented students they have at the school who will never qualify for PTPA or PTPB.

Not making PTPA or B has less to do with talent and more to do with WSB's own notions of what a ballet dancer should look like.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. It’s all about revenue maximization these days to prop up the company that, without the tuition revenue, would have already gone bankrupt.

The talented students are leaving for other studios, as instruction standards continue to slide and it’s become obvious that PTPA and company dancers are recruited exclusively from the outside. TWSB students are there to pay tuition and perform in the Nutcracker for free for weeks on end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. It’s all about revenue maximization these days to prop up the company that, without the tuition revenue, would have already gone bankrupt.

The talented students are leaving for other studios, as instruction standards continue to slide and it’s become obvious that PTPA and company dancers are recruited exclusively from the outside. TWSB students are there to pay tuition and perform in the Nutcracker for free for weeks on end.

Wait, the dancers do not get paid to be in the Nutcracker? Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, not sure what you mean? TWSB has added level 8 and also has PTP A (during the day) and PTP B (after school). THey are trying to make more space for all the talented teenagers they have at the school.

False. They are trying to make space for the untalented students they have at the school who will never qualify for PTPA or PTPB.

Not making PTPA or B has less to do with talent and more to do with WSB's own notions of what a ballet dancer should look like.

Oh honey...
Maddie is too fat. Just accept it. She can always do cruise ships!