It's that time of year when students are starting to think about auditions for vocational training and the question I often get asked by parents is how do you know which school to choose? What should you look for?
This is difficult to answer as every dancer is different and what will suit one will not suit another but for me, the answer goes beyond looking at the standard of training and who is on faculty to the pastoral care and the way the students are supported and nurtured.
The very first question to ask is what does the wellness programme of the school consist of? Do they have one? Do the students have access to counselors, dance psychologists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists whenever they need them?
There is glamour and prestige surrounding certain schools and most will give you a great sales pitch so you need to look deeper for yourself as a prospective parent and student.
THE STUDENTS
You should always look around the school, preferably more than once and be able to watch classes. First, observe the dancers, are they excited and enthusiastic to be in class? The first years' maybe, but what about the final year students, do they still have that same passion, do they look happy and confident or are they listless and dejected? The demeanour of the senior students will tell you a lot about the overall environment of a school.
Also, watch how the students interact with each other, are they kind and supportive, lifting each other up or do they seem unfriendly, competitive, and even hostile towards each other? There will always be jealousies but if it is obvious across age groups, that could be an indicator that the school is not fostering a healthy environment and dancers are not developing the resilience and self-esteem that they need to be happy and thrive.
THE STAFF
How does the teacher interact with the class? Is the feedback given in a positive constructive way or is it negative and critical? Is there are lot of shouting and drilling or is there an atmosphere of calm and support? Do the teachers use a variety of different methods and approaches to reach as many students as possible or is it a one size fits all approach? Is it a place where dancers are built up or are they crushed? Is every student seen, or is the attention focused on a select few?
Also, look at how the teacher approaches the class. Do they seem fresh and enthusiastic to teach, excited and engaged with the work or do they seem tired and burnt out? If a school is not caring for the wellbeing of it’s staff, are they doing so for their students.
PHYSICAL WELLBEING
Next take note of how many students are injured, if half the class is sitting out or doing modified movement this could be an indicator that the training programme is not suitable or following best practice.
If there is an injured student are they sitting looking bored or are they still being integrated into the class in some way, taking notes, being asked questions, giving feedback.
MENTAL WELLBEING
Be sure to watch the body language of the students, are they constantly checking themselves in the mirror in between exercises, scrutinising their bodies? Dancers use mirrors to self-correct but over scrutiny can be an indicator of body image issues which are more prevalent in some environments than others. Is there body shaming from the teachers or amongst the students? The golden rule is, that no comments should ever be made about a dancers physique.
How do the students deal with making mistakes? Do they look upset and beaten when things do not go well or are they able to rise to the challenge and try again with equal enthusiasm. Do they have the courage to push beyond their limits or are they playing safe for fear of messing up? A nurturing environment encourages exploration and mistakes as part of the learning process.
INCLUSIVITY
This may or may not be a topic that is of importance to some, but I do think that it is something that still speaks volumes about the values and ethos of a school. So look at the diversity of both the student body and faculty? Are there people of colour studying and teaching at the school? Are girls welcome to take classes that have traditionally be geared towards male dancers, and are boys able to do pointe work and heels classes if they wish?
There are so many things to consider, but no matter how great the training, if you are not in an environment that cares for your mental wellbeing, it may well be of no use to you.
Good Luck!
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