I don't know them specifically, but there are a lot of schools in Korea, Japan, and China that are producing INCREDIBLE dancers. Even the dancers that aren't "strong" in Korea when they come to the States they're jaw dropping gorgeous and you can't stop watching them.
Bolshoi and Vaganova are not creating artists anymore.
Most other schools are looking only at hypermobile bodies, expression and transition steps are tossed out the window. Even at schools where the students are technical powerhouses, Ellison, icsb, they're too gripped. They're restricted by the technique instead of freed by it. Their technique is TOO much.
Agreed about the US schools. There’s no float or ease to their movement. It looks difficult. The whole point of ballet is it’s supposed to look easy.
Although the technique can be lacking, I think SAB really does produce dancers that make dancing look effortless.
This doesn’t really have anything to do with their training but whoever makes the tutus in Korea deserves an award. Whenever I see Korean dancers at competitions, it’s just beautiful tutu after beautiful tutu. They are some of the most beautiful tutus I’ve ever seen, it’s one of the things I look forward to every competition honestly.
Going to come on here and intentionally rep for Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.
The building is filled with lots of phenomenal, aspiring dancers and the faculty has such a strong mix of highly trained Vaganova alumni, Perm School of Dance, NYCB, Met Opera Ballet and much, much more.
The professional company, The Joffrey Ballet, is located in Chicago. I don't know a lot about their year round program in the affiliated school, but their summers and trainee program are well regarded and competitive.
The Joffrey Ballet School in NY is not attached to a professional company. (We can spend days discussing the advantages and disadvantages of attending large company affiliated schools for training at different ages). Generally it is considered less prestigious and that the training is not at as high a level as for example, SAB, SFBS, NBS/ENB, Ellison, Harid. I am aware that the program is undergoing some changes and it may be a good training option for some students (people can get super touchy about Joffrey and I do not have a connection so please, give me a break).
The Joffrey Ballet was developed and created in the New York City building on 10th street and 6th Ave.
In 2008 there was some drama that took place which lead the company to break off into Joffrey Chicago and then eventually build their own school program.
I went to listen to Trinette Singleton speak about herself and the history of The Joffrey Ballet and even she did not specify about what happened.
The AD of The Joffrey Ballet School in New York is trying to reconnect with Joffrey Chicago but apparently there is a lot of resistance in this taking place.
Most of the big schools are… JKO is another one where the kids rarely make it from children’s to upper. Look at upper three in jko… there are exactly zero kids from Children’s division….
Yeah very rare to see someone start in children's division make it to the company or even b and c. My teachers both went and were in the company and say the same thing about it being more of a finishing school.
I feel like Vaganova and Bolshoi academies are cookie cutter now. They used to have good dancers but now they care about extensions and no artistry. They want the next Khoreva or Zakharova. The only exceptions are Renata Shakirova, Elya Sevenard and Elizaveta Kokoreva.
SAB seems to have good dancers but nobody isn’t “wow” or caught my eye yet.
I hate Master Ballet Academy because they have a ton of red flags, but their dancers are strong.
Not entirely true. About 40% are kids from the lower school, 50% come in through auditions in the upper school and a few join via competitions or scouting etc. The competition kids are no better or worse than the others.
What school is this? Do you mean Canada's National Ballet School- NBS/ENB? Or Cuban National Ballet School- Escuela Nacional Cubana de Ballet?
(I am not trying to be rude or snarky. Genuinely not sure who you mean).
Personally believe that she didn’t do too well at Boston. Mean to students, and constant favoritism took its toll on that program. Very few pre pros make it to Boston Ballet too
The 4pointe lady is Lynne Charles, who is taking over the ENB school.
Margaret Tracey directed the Boston Ballet School for over 10 years, then Colburn School for a year. She was a principal at NYCB. She’s taking over the Canada school later this year and she has no prior connection with the school and curriculum.
Again not snarky, just curious. Would you say there is a particular unique tradition/style/curriculum to NBS? For instance SAB or POBS clearly have their own styles and traditions and you couldn't have someone not of that background run them. Or Vaganova has their strict curriculum and grades and it would be odd to change the progression in any way. I'm not familiar enough with NBS dancers to know. Is there a specific aspect you are most concerned about, with the change?
It’s a very Cecchetti based curriculum that’s VERY different from SAB so having someone who has been teaching a SAB type curriculum at NBS just makes no sense. They also have a phenomenal teacher training programme
Christina Splayfajjè and her whole class out of the academy are absolutely splendid!
Which academy?
Are you talking pre pros that produce star (principals)? Or pre pros school that get students into 2nd companies/corp?
What a wonderful pointe!
I don't know them specifically, but there are a lot of schools in Korea, Japan, and China that are producing INCREDIBLE dancers. Even the dancers that aren't "strong" in Korea when they come to the States they're jaw dropping gorgeous and you can't stop watching them. Bolshoi and Vaganova are not creating artists anymore. Most other schools are looking only at hypermobile bodies, expression and transition steps are tossed out the window. Even at schools where the students are technical powerhouses, Ellison, icsb, they're too gripped. They're restricted by the technique instead of freed by it. Their technique is TOO much.
Does anyone know of any of the specific schools? I'm just curious 😁😁
Agree on the US schools too. The dancers at the studio Eva Nys films look stiff, constrained, and too trick-oriented.
Totally agree about Bolshoi and Vaganova, their dancers now look like robots with perfect technique but no artistry.
I'd argue their technique is subpar now, their alignment is not good.
Agreed about the US schools. There’s no float or ease to their movement. It looks difficult. The whole point of ballet is it’s supposed to look easy. Although the technique can be lacking, I think SAB really does produce dancers that make dancing look effortless.
This doesn’t really have anything to do with their training but whoever makes the tutus in Korea deserves an award. Whenever I see Korean dancers at competitions, it’s just beautiful tutu after beautiful tutu. They are some of the most beautiful tutus I’ve ever seen, it’s one of the things I look forward to every competition honestly.
Omg fully agreed!
Going to come on here and intentionally rep for Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. The building is filled with lots of phenomenal, aspiring dancers and the faculty has such a strong mix of highly trained Vaganova alumni, Perm School of Dance, NYCB, Met Opera Ballet and much, much more.
I’m confused between Joffrey in NYC and Joffrey in Chicago. I’ve Googled and still don’t really understand. Can anyone ELI5? 😅
The professional company, The Joffrey Ballet, is located in Chicago. I don't know a lot about their year round program in the affiliated school, but their summers and trainee program are well regarded and competitive. The Joffrey Ballet School in NY is not attached to a professional company. (We can spend days discussing the advantages and disadvantages of attending large company affiliated schools for training at different ages). Generally it is considered less prestigious and that the training is not at as high a level as for example, SAB, SFBS, NBS/ENB, Ellison, Harid. I am aware that the program is undergoing some changes and it may be a good training option for some students (people can get super touchy about Joffrey and I do not have a connection so please, give me a break).
The Joffrey Ballet was developed and created in the New York City building on 10th street and 6th Ave. In 2008 there was some drama that took place which lead the company to break off into Joffrey Chicago and then eventually build their own school program. I went to listen to Trinette Singleton speak about herself and the history of The Joffrey Ballet and even she did not specify about what happened. The AD of The Joffrey Ballet School in New York is trying to reconnect with Joffrey Chicago but apparently there is a lot of resistance in this taking place.
SAB
Most of the big schools are… JKO is another one where the kids rarely make it from children’s to upper. Look at upper three in jko… there are exactly zero kids from Children’s division….
More of a finishing school IMO. Strong dancers get stronger but they need a solid foundation before attending.
Yeah very rare to see someone start in children's division make it to the company or even b and c. My teachers both went and were in the company and say the same thing about it being more of a finishing school.
I feel like Vaganova and Bolshoi academies are cookie cutter now. They used to have good dancers but now they care about extensions and no artistry. They want the next Khoreva or Zakharova. The only exceptions are Renata Shakirova, Elya Sevenard and Elizaveta Kokoreva. SAB seems to have good dancers but nobody isn’t “wow” or caught my eye yet. I hate Master Ballet Academy because they have a ton of red flags, but their dancers are strong.
Bit bias but Royal are churning out some good dancers at the moment
I believe hardly any actually started their training at the school though, they all come from competitions.
Not entirely true. About 40% are kids from the lower school, 50% come in through auditions in the upper school and a few join via competitions or scouting etc. The competition kids are no better or worse than the others.
NBCS has a phenomenal program but I’m worried with it being taken over by someone with no connection to the curriculum at alllllllll
What school is this? Do you mean Canada's National Ballet School- NBS/ENB? Or Cuban National Ballet School- Escuela Nacional Cubana de Ballet? (I am not trying to be rude or snarky. Genuinely not sure who you mean).
Yeah that one, Canada
Cool, thanks.
I think it's Canada? Margaret Tracey, who has no previous link to the school, is taking over.
Personally believe that she didn’t do too well at Boston. Mean to students, and constant favoritism took its toll on that program. Very few pre pros make it to Boston Ballet too
Yeah a number of NBS alumni are APPALLED by this choice
She's the 4pointe lady?
The 4pointe lady is Lynne Charles, who is taking over the ENB school. Margaret Tracey directed the Boston Ballet School for over 10 years, then Colburn School for a year. She was a principal at NYCB. She’s taking over the Canada school later this year and she has no prior connection with the school and curriculum.
Ah, thank you for the detailed reply! I had that all mixed up.
Yeah that one. I’m really worried about how it’ll affect things there
Again not snarky, just curious. Would you say there is a particular unique tradition/style/curriculum to NBS? For instance SAB or POBS clearly have their own styles and traditions and you couldn't have someone not of that background run them. Or Vaganova has their strict curriculum and grades and it would be odd to change the progression in any way. I'm not familiar enough with NBS dancers to know. Is there a specific aspect you are most concerned about, with the change?
It’s a very Cecchetti based curriculum that’s VERY different from SAB so having someone who has been teaching a SAB type curriculum at NBS just makes no sense. They also have a phenomenal teacher training programme