Anonymous
Post 08/15/2013 13:18     Subject: Re:Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
How many years if dance do 4 yos generally have before auditioning? Is a year enough?! Thanks.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2013 16:04     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
Anonymous wrote:Be advised that it's much easier to get in to WSB than it is to stay in. In the early years you are cash and dancers are labor for the Nutcracker. Eventually, girls are weeded out unless they are exceptional or you're willing to donate a minimum of $25K. I'm not saying any of this is bad, but if your daughter loves ballet, keep in mind that you may be looking for another studio in a few years.


Agreed. However, when and if you move to another place the girls who come from WSB have a great foundation.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2013 14:56     Subject: Re:Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
Where do the other kids go?
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2013 14:54     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
Be advised that it's much easier to get in to WSB than it is to stay in. In the early years you are cash and dancers are labor for the Nutcracker. Eventually, girls are weeded out unless they are exceptional or you're willing to donate a minimum of $25K. I'm not saying any of this is bad, but if your daughter loves ballet, keep in mind that you may be looking for another studio in a few years.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2013 10:53     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
check the WSB website as they are this month.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2013 09:20     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how many auditions they have each year? Is this round of auditions June/July/August the only ones they have? If we miss this last one in August do you have to wait until June of next year?


they audition at end of summer and end of spring.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2013 22:31     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
PP 18:28 here. If your child is accepted they will tell you what class you are in. The pp's descriptions of the class are very accurate. Parents are allowed to observe the class twice a year. Other than that you do not have much involvement. My child takes at the Van Ness studio where you drop your child off at the door.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2013 18:54     Subject: Re:Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
For the little kids, yes.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2013 17:37     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
Does anyone know how many auditions they have each year? Is this round of auditions June/July/August the only ones they have? If we miss this last one in August do you have to wait until June of next year?
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2013 17:34     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
I was planning to have my 4 year old audition this weekend, but am starting to reconsider the idea. She really wants to perform and I thought it might be a good idea to get her started somehwere more serious than Ballet Petite. But she is only four so I'm not trying to turn her off in an environment that is too serious. I've looked at the schedule of classes and am wondering if she is accepted do we have any choice of the timing of the classes or do they automatically put her in a specific class time?
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2013 14:57     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
I am the PP from 10:26. My daughter has done the nutcracker and loves it. It is a huge commitment but is a great experiece. Historically i don't think there were many cuts but last year they had a large number of the youngest girls audition and had to cut some. It was very hard on those who were cut, particularly because the issue seemed to sneak up on the school. The school did agonize over having to cut some children and I think that this year they will handle expectations better. I do not know whether the same issue will arise again.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2013 08:37     Subject: Re:Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
Anonymous wrote:My daughter auditioned at 5 when we moved here and was accepted to Pre Ballet 1. So she started in Kindergarten. She is now 8 and entering third grade and will begin level 1B in a few weeks. When we started, the school offered two years of Pre-Ballet and two years of Level 1. Now there is a third year of pre-Ballet, so that may make the point I am about to make moot. She is younger than many of the girls at her level and it does show. In retrospect, starting a year later would not have been a bad thing. The current third year of pre-Ballet (which we did not have) may take care of that issue for younger girls, but i really don't know. I would not be surprised, if she sticks with it, if they eventually hold her back a year. That said, she has really enjoyed it. The classes from what I hear, are much less fun than Ballet Petite but that's not necessarily a bad thing. By Level 1, the classes are an hour and a half and involve a lot of repetition and focus. Parents can only watch the class twice a year, and on one of those days, I found my self marvelling at how hard the class was for a second grader. Some girls my daughter's age dropped out this past year because the WSB classes were too serious and they went to ballet petite for a more relaxed environment. WSB is very strict about the uniform and the hair, and I will admit that it is not the most parent friendly environment (not only can you not watch the classes, at the studio where most younger girls take classes, you can barely enter the building). My daughter oddly enjoys the rgidity even though I don't think we are in this for the long haul. I suspect we have one or two more years left in us and then she will decide to focus on other activities. I agree what the previous poster said about the auditions. They have an aspect of formality to them (the children wear numbers, etc.), but I think that spooked me more than my daughter. I have no idea how competitive the audition process is for younger girls. I hope this is helpful.


Not the OP, but as a current wsb parent, I found this helpful. A slightly different perspective -- it seems my dd auditioned the same summer pp's did; she was four turning five early fall. Same grade as pp's dd, but a bit younger. She was placed in Creative Movement; creative movement followed by two years of pre-ballet was an age-appropriate sequence for her. (Might the new pre-ballet 1-3 sequence be a rebranding of the cm, Pre-ballet 1-2 sequence?). My daughter is set to start 1a this fall, so thanks for the heads up on increased difficulty. She enjoys classes so far; I agree with pp that wsb is strict wrt hair, uniform, class protocol, need to focus, all of which has been good for my dd. ditto also on the not parent friendly. trying to figure out whether to audition for nutcracker. PP, did your dd do nutcracker? What was that like?

To respond to op's question on auditions. I told my daughter that this was going to be a fun dance class, and that she should enjoy herself, listen and obey. (The last two exhortations are always necessary for my dd, ymmv.). if your daughter has been dancing since the age of two, she knows the routine. Sometimes the wait at the audition can be a little long, so bring a book for your daughter or anything else that might help. I am not sure what they look for -- I have seen varying body types in my daughter's classes; my own daughter is agile and energetic, but not particularly flexible.

Anonymous
Post 08/09/2013 10:26     Subject: Re:Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
My daughter auditioned at 5 when we moved here and was accepted to Pre Ballet 1. So she started in Kindergarten. She is now 8 and entering third grade and will begin level 1B in a few weeks. When we started, the school offered two years of Pre-Ballet and two years of Level 1. Now there is a third year of pre-Ballet, so that may make the point I am about to make moot. She is younger than many of the girls at her level and it does show. In retrospect, starting a year later would not have been a bad thing. The current third year of pre-Ballet (which we did not have) may take care of that issue for younger girls, but i really don't know. I would not be surprised, if she sticks with it, if they eventually hold her back a year. That said, she has really enjoyed it. The classes from what I hear, are much less fun than Ballet Petite but that's not necessarily a bad thing. By Level 1, the classes are an hour and a half and involve a lot of repetition and focus. Parents can only watch the class twice a year, and on one of those days, I found my self marvelling at how hard the class was for a second grader. Some girls my daughter's age dropped out this past year because the WSB classes were too serious and they went to ballet petite for a more relaxed environment. WSB is very strict about the uniform and the hair, and I will admit that it is not the most parent friendly environment (not only can you not watch the classes, at the studio where most younger girls take classes, you can barely enter the building). My daughter oddly enjoys the rgidity even though I don't think we are in this for the long haul. I suspect we have one or two more years left in us and then she will decide to focus on other activities. I agree what the previous poster said about the auditions. They have an aspect of formality to them (the children wear numbers, etc.), but I think that spooked me more than my daughter. I have no idea how competitive the audition process is for younger girls. I hope this is helpful.
Anonymous
Post 07/31/2013 18:28     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
My DC who is 7 auditioned at 6. They basically have the kids take a class and they are observed. Parents are not allowed in the studio and it can be overwhelming for some kids. At that age I think they are looking for kids who can pay attention and who will not disrupt the class. My DC was accepted and will start a second year with WSB in the fall. So far we are pleased and DC has enjoyed the class and teacher. I personally would wait until your child is 6 to start. Most of the girls and boys in my DC's class this past year were in the first grade and had just started with the school.
goober11
Post 07/30/2013 15:32     Subject: Washington School of Ballet Auditions?
My daughter, who is 4, has been at Ballet Petite, taking ballet classes since she was 2. I am planning on having her audition with WSB in the Spring because she will then be eligible to begin taking classes with them. Does anyone have any experience with their audition process? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!