What to look for in a good ballet school
If you are a parent of little girls like me, you will probably have heard phrases like these at one point or another:
“I want to be a ballerina!”
“Ballet looks fun – can I try it?”
“Ballerinas are great dancers; I wish I could dance like them!”
Indeed, most, if not all, little girls probably have thought of becoming ballerinas at least once in their lives – I know I did!
This is why choosing a good ballet school for your child is important, should she really choose to pursue ballet classes. So, if you are one such parent who is considering enrolling her child in ballet, here are a few tips:
1. Look for a ballet school that offers age-appropriate classes.
Choose a ballet school that has an age-appropriate ballet curriculum. Photo courtesy of Halili-Cruz School of Ballet
2. Make sure the ballet school’s teachers are properly trained and qualified.
With the growing number of local ballet schools, it is important for you to ensure that the teachers in your selected ballet school have the proper qualifications. Being trained internationally is definitely a plus for any ballet teacher!
3. Look at the ballet school’s list of accomplishments.
Not all ballet schools are created “equal” – some have garnered more awards and recognitions than others, thus reflecting the school’s standards of excellence in teaching and training.
You can tell the quality of a ballet school from its “output,” especially in terms of its students’ achievements. Photo courtesy of Halili-Cruz School of Ballet
As an example, let’s look at Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, which has garnered more than 300 national and international awards and prizes, which are as follows:
4. Assess the school’s ballet program and syllabi.
A good ballet school should have an appropriate and comprehensive program. Taking Halili-Cruz School of Ballet again as our example, we can see that its director and founder, Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz, actually authored a 2-level Tiny Tots Syllabus, 5-level Baby Ballet Syllabus and a 12-level Classical Ballet Syllabus – all of which are specifically based on “the Filipino physique, innate artistic ability and culture.”
Photo courtesy of Halili-Cruz School of Ballet
The school also augments its ballet program by letting its teachers and students attend different local and international dance workshops, festivals and competitions.
5. Get feedback from parents of the ballet school’s students, and even from the students themselves.
Doing this will help you paint a bigger, actual picture of what classes at the ballet school is like. One of the biggest compliments any ballet school could get is when students refer to it as their “second home.”
Are you looking for a ballet school for your kids? You might want to consider Halili-Cruz School of Ballet – I was able to attend an event they organized for media and bloggers recently, and I was quite impressed by their programs. Feel free to check out this video for a comprehensive overview about their school, or check out their website at www.halilicruzballet.com:
