Dear BPG,
I've been with my local studio since I started dancing and it's the only studio I've attended. I'm beginning to question if I should continue training at this studio or looking to switch. I feel a little stagnant with where I am and that I am not making the type of improvement that I should be. I am 13 years old, and another girl and I were the only two chosen not to move up to the next level of training in the fall out of a class of fifteen. I asked the instructor what I need to do to continue to improve but she couldn't really give me a concrete answer. She mostly suggested vague things like give it time and I just didn't feel like you were ready. Throughout the year she has hardly corrected me, which I thought meant that I was doing well enough. This instructor has not been my favorite and although I held in those feelings and endured this past year, the idea of being in her class again is a bit frustrating. I love my friends and I love the fun events and performances that the studio does. I just feel hopeless being stuck in this one level with this bad teacher.
Is it time to move on?
Hannah in Phoenix
Dear Hannah,
I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling right now with this decision as it is a large one to make. I might not have the yes or no answer that you're looking for, but hopefully I can provide some more guidance on helping you make your decision.
Let's look at your question first: Should I change ballet schools? I have one simple philosophy for this question. If you are not learning and growing where you are currently, something needs to change. Now of course I'm not talking about not learning a new trick over a day or a week, but more like an observed lack of progress in technical development and refinement over 4 to 6 months. Sometimes it's about what's occurring inside the studio (like one particular instructor teaching a bad class) and other times it's might be the atmosphere of the studio itself. Additionally, sometimes you just need to hear corrections from a different person. As we move into the summer, it could be a good time to explore what other ballet studios have to offer if you are thinking about this now. The summer is a great time to explore other options without fully committing to a new program.
Now let's talk about your instructor. A studio's training should be based on a curriculum that contains instructions on what each level should be working on for instructors to work off of. Schools normally don't post the curriculum, but instructors should be able to tell you exactly what you need to work on in order to improve. This is very important to have as a student so that you know where your strengths and weaknesses are in class. I would recommend pushing back a bit on your instructor's (lack of an) answer. Questions you can ask are- What can I focus on over the summer? If I take private lessons, would that help my chances of moving up? Can I be re-evaluated to move up after working hard over the summer session? Try to ask specific questions about certain areas too like do I need to improve my turnout? Am I executing steps cleanly? Do I need to work on timing or musicality? Do I need to improve strength in my core or arm positions? If your instructor continues to be vague about the situation, it could be time to have a conversation with a separate staff member that you've worked with in the past. They might be able to provide insight into what you need that can help give you some answers. Additionally, as a former director, I would want to know if one of my staff can't adequately communicate what a student needs to gain to move up. Consider letting the studio's director know about your frustrations if you are still having issues getting any answers.
We hope these suggestions help in your journey! Please let us know how it goes and write back!
Sincerely,
Niki Maple
Former Artistic Director
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