4 Things to Consider if Your Child is Serious About Ballet

 
If your child has been taking dance for a few years and has expressed a passion and commitment to continue, as a parent how do you know what program to enroll them in to help them achieve their goals? Many parents find it difficult to make informed decisions about serious dance/ballet programs, especially if they themselves have never taken dance before. Here are 4 things to look for when choosing a program for your young dancer to grow into.
 
Does the school have graduates that are succeeding in dance?
A schools track record in training dancers that succeed in both the professional and university dance world is important. Everyone has different goals for dance success and your school should be able to assist you with the next step weather it be applying for acceptance into a university dance program, placement into a professional company, or becoming a teacher yourself! Whatever your goal, at ACBA we have the tools, resources, and interest in seeing our students succeed. Our graduates have been accepted into the Kirov Academy, The Royal Ballet School, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The official school of American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Aily Company, SUNY Purchase, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
 
Does the school offer programs specifically for serious dancers?
All schools offer introduction classes for kids, but what happens when those little ones grow up and want real opportunities in the dance world? Look for a school that offers professional training opportunities and ask questions. Does the school follow a syllabus? Can my child take multiple classes per week at their level? How does the school approach pointe work? Take the time to speak with teachers and find out if the program will be a good fit.
 
Does the school offer opportunities for performance throughout the school year?
When teaching Ballet there should always be a healthy balance between learning solid technique and performing. Some schools focus solely on technique and offer little performing, while others focus too much on performing and let class work suffer. It is important to find a school that offers both solid technical training and the opportunity to let students dance and shine onstage. At Anchorage Ballet, we hold separate technique and repertoire classes for all serious program students and offer multiple performing opportunities throughout the year in many venues across Anchorage. Our students learn to become seasoned performers and are better dancers because of the solid technique taught in classes.
 
Does the school import guest artists and teachers?
As a young ballet student it is important to be inspired and encouraged in many ways. Having the opportunity to meet, watch and work with professional dancers is essential for keeping a dancer’s passion alive and for making future connections in the dance world. Being part of a school that imports guest teachers for special sessions and workshops will expand your child learning experience, and provide them new challenges in areas of technique, choreography and inspiration. At Anchorage Ballet we regularly import guest dancers and teachers from all over the world including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada, English National Ballet in London, England, and the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia.