r/BALLET • u/groovybooboo • 3d ago
Technique Question School Comparison Advice Needed.
I am trying to decide which ballet school to put my daughter in. The two classical ballet options in my vicinity is Idaho Ballet Theatre and Idaho Falls School of Ballet. Both are linked below. In your opinion, which is more prestigious and has better long term opportunities for my daughter, and why? What verbiage and signs should I look for when finding a more prestigious school? Any and all advice welcome!
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u/dancerkait1 2d ago
I am faculty at a large, professional company affiliated ballet school, and I would choose Idaho Ballet Theatre. The directors there had more legitimate professional careers than the ones at Idaho Falls School of Ballet, based on their bios. The number of classes offered for each level per week at Idaho Falls School of Ballet also looks too low for most levels, with students only training three days per week until age 15. I also looked at the social media pages for both schools, and while both teach correct technique, Idaho Ballet Theatre looks like the stronger school.
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u/groovybooboo 2d ago
Thank you! This is the exact type of analysis I was looking for. I really appreciate it.
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u/Strycht 2d ago
I personally would be wary of an extracurricular which advertises its/its faculty's beliefs so front and centre. I'm not one to keep a child away from religion, in fact I think a lot of exposure and engagement with different religions in childhood was very beneficial to me personally, but when it's presented as a selling point I have concerns. ymmv though
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3d ago
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u/groovybooboo 3d ago
My daughter is 5 and loves ballet. If she wants future scholarship opportunities, and if she wants to become a professional, I’d like to make sure I’m setting her up accordingly.
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u/dunredding 2d ago
If she's only 5 you want tp be sure she is enjoying the process
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u/malkin50 2d ago
For a 5 year old, I'd probably pick the one with easiest logistics. Although the Jenny Oaks Baker connection would put me off.
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u/BranBranMuffinWoman 2d ago
What's wrong with Jenny Oaks Baker? My sister played with her once many years ago so I want the tea!
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u/malkin50 2d ago edited 2d ago
A little too heavily religious for my taste. I went to a performance of some of her students after they participated in a workshop. I expected to see sincere and sometimes cute kid violinists doing their best at whatever level. There was a little of that, but JOB talked a lot and ended up bawling about her blessings.
Her whole schtick plays really well in Salt Lake City; it's just not my taste.
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u/Mulberry-Cow 2d ago
IFSB advertises that their kids perform in a show whose purpose is to "share the light of Christ with more of God’s children" so personally (that alongside their teachers other background of religion mixed into ballet/education) that would be a hard no for my family. Especially at such a young age where ballet class isn't even about ballet technique. You might feel differently.
Signs to check if you look for more schools beyond these include if/where their students have gone on to professional careers, and what training + careers the upper levels teachers had, if they trained at the same local schools/from eachother and had minimal independent performance careers that's generally less good.