From 5-16 years at City Ballet... A Parent's Testimonial by Gina Good
Selecting a ballet school for young dancers involves more than technique and performance standards, It is more than the very best teachers, organized studios, calm demeanor, and professional environment. While those elements are important, even more important is the understanding that the studio will become very much a part of your child's family and will play a pivotal role in the character-building years for your child.
The circle within which a child dances matters tremendously, and at City Ballet, that circle is strong, loving, stable, and built on integrity. At City, professionalism, stability, experienced and expert teachers, organization, and calm are standards and are expected, but City reaches beyond these expectations and offers an element of excellence not found at other studios. At City, there is a unique blend of professionalism and compassion.
City is so professional that no level of negativity is allowed. The leader is a clear leader who leans on decades of experience to offer the strength and stability the company needs to succeed. She is also special in her recognition of the unique qualities of all of the studio dancers. Appreciation is shown to dancers who have academic and leadership commitments, and the director celebrates those achievements with the dance family while still providing an arena for growth in each dancer's own path.
Comparison does not exist at City, and dancers encourage one another. Parents get along and show love that is unusual in this space, but again, that modeling begins at the top. Of course, City is known as the pinnacle of ballet in the region. It was City who first presented the only live orchestra ballet in the area and City who seasonally brings professional quality ballet to the community and beyond. Dancers who take ballet seriously flock to City, and dancers are known as the most polished in the region. But with City, childhood is not lost to professional training. The loving faculty at City recognize the importance of the childhood experience and finds a way to weave in the beauty of ballet in many seasons of a dancer's life.
On that note, it is important to focus and stay the path in ballet, and City is the perfect choice for the journey. There will be times in a dancer's young life where he or she will be tempted by the genres of the world. Temptation even finds a way to dangle shiny opportunities or "greener grasses" outside the existing opportunities. Rest assured, the grass is not greener. In fact, the most beautiful opportunity is often before us and we simply need to stay the path, remain patient, and put in the work to achieve growth. Our own family chose to try other waters and quickly learned that we missed the calming sea of professionalism at City Ballet. When we approached the director about returning, City again displayed professionalism and greeted us with open arms and has been a picture of true joy for our daughter.
At City, enter the doors and hear laughter, joy, music, and hope among dancers fine tuning technique and preparing for the next spectacular event. Find humility and respect among families wishing to help one another as well as to help the studio. Find genuine joy from one dancer to another and from teacher to dancer. One of my favorite things to do is to watch my daughter enter the studio - it is always a treat to see the greeting from other dancers and to see her greet young dancers as well. I can still remember our five-year-old entering the doors for the first time in the fairly new City Ballet's first location. This month, our daughter drove herself to the studio. She has "grown up" a City dancer, and City has helped form the character of our daughter.
At City, you will not find certain things. You will not find gossip or drama. It simply is not permitted. There is too much etiquette, professionalism, technique, respect, and beauty for unkindness to find its way into the portrait being painted at City Ballet. You will not find fear of failure. At City, growth is through individual hard work and progression. You will not find judgement. Each dancer is cherished and encouraged to do his or her own very best.
Weave wise thought into the choice when selecting a studio, and remember that a studio is more than four walls meant for dancing. It is the foundational family of art experienced by a young person which will help grow the love and integrity parents seek for their beloved children. Words cannot express our gratitude for the family at City Ballet.
In kindness,
Gina Good
The circle within which a child dances matters tremendously, and at City Ballet, that circle is strong, loving, stable, and built on integrity. At City, professionalism, stability, experienced and expert teachers, organization, and calm are standards and are expected, but City reaches beyond these expectations and offers an element of excellence not found at other studios. At City, there is a unique blend of professionalism and compassion.
City is so professional that no level of negativity is allowed. The leader is a clear leader who leans on decades of experience to offer the strength and stability the company needs to succeed. She is also special in her recognition of the unique qualities of all of the studio dancers. Appreciation is shown to dancers who have academic and leadership commitments, and the director celebrates those achievements with the dance family while still providing an arena for growth in each dancer's own path.
Comparison does not exist at City, and dancers encourage one another. Parents get along and show love that is unusual in this space, but again, that modeling begins at the top. Of course, City is known as the pinnacle of ballet in the region. It was City who first presented the only live orchestra ballet in the area and City who seasonally brings professional quality ballet to the community and beyond. Dancers who take ballet seriously flock to City, and dancers are known as the most polished in the region. But with City, childhood is not lost to professional training. The loving faculty at City recognize the importance of the childhood experience and finds a way to weave in the beauty of ballet in many seasons of a dancer's life.
On that note, it is important to focus and stay the path in ballet, and City is the perfect choice for the journey. There will be times in a dancer's young life where he or she will be tempted by the genres of the world. Temptation even finds a way to dangle shiny opportunities or "greener grasses" outside the existing opportunities. Rest assured, the grass is not greener. In fact, the most beautiful opportunity is often before us and we simply need to stay the path, remain patient, and put in the work to achieve growth. Our own family chose to try other waters and quickly learned that we missed the calming sea of professionalism at City Ballet. When we approached the director about returning, City again displayed professionalism and greeted us with open arms and has been a picture of true joy for our daughter.
At City, enter the doors and hear laughter, joy, music, and hope among dancers fine tuning technique and preparing for the next spectacular event. Find humility and respect among families wishing to help one another as well as to help the studio. Find genuine joy from one dancer to another and from teacher to dancer. One of my favorite things to do is to watch my daughter enter the studio - it is always a treat to see the greeting from other dancers and to see her greet young dancers as well. I can still remember our five-year-old entering the doors for the first time in the fairly new City Ballet's first location. This month, our daughter drove herself to the studio. She has "grown up" a City dancer, and City has helped form the character of our daughter.
At City, you will not find certain things. You will not find gossip or drama. It simply is not permitted. There is too much etiquette, professionalism, technique, respect, and beauty for unkindness to find its way into the portrait being painted at City Ballet. You will not find fear of failure. At City, growth is through individual hard work and progression. You will not find judgement. Each dancer is cherished and encouraged to do his or her own very best.
Weave wise thought into the choice when selecting a studio, and remember that a studio is more than four walls meant for dancing. It is the foundational family of art experienced by a young person which will help grow the love and integrity parents seek for their beloved children. Words cannot express our gratitude for the family at City Ballet.
In kindness,
Gina Good