r/BALLET • u/pinkpinkpink222 • 12h ago

Constructive Criticism Is Joffrey NYC Trainee Program a Good Program?

Does anyone know if this program is good for producing good quality dancers? That would most likely make it into being at a good company? Is their 4 year ballet trainee program actually worth the money they charge? Please leave your thoughts below.

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18

u/justadancer 11h ago edited 11h ago

No it's not, it's a waste of money. Have had several friends go through the program. If you aren't ALREADY good going in you won't come out as good as the top dancers and fall through the cracks. Most of the dancers that come out of there look acceptable at barre then fall apart in centre, and they have weird movement affectations like starting the reverse of circular port de bras with a flat back forward.

A good pre pro program won't train you into weird movement tics that have to be corrected when you get a job

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u/pinkpinkpink222 1h ago

Thanks for your input. Do you have any recommendations of good trainee programs that actually make their dancers get into good companies?

11

u/GrumpyChashmere 9h ago

The Joffrey school in NYC has a very very special place in my heart. That said, it is not a feeder school for its Ballet company in Chicago and hasn’t been a top school since probably the 70-80s when they were forced to split. The feeder school was established in Chicago around 2007 when they got their new beautiful studios. So long story short, if the student can get into a better school in NYC then go there if not, think about moving the student to a new state.

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u/pinkpinkpink222 1h ago

Thanks for your input. Do you have any recommendations of good trainee programs that actually make their dancers get into good companies?

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u/GrumpyChashmere 35m ago

CPYB. I will always say they are one of the best. But at the end of the day it’s down to the kid and their age.

9

u/Slydownndye 11h ago

A good trainee program should be effective at completing a dancer’s training in 1-2 years. Four years in traineeship would be a huge red flag.

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u/sleepylittleducky 10h ago

No, not good. Joffrey NYC in general is not regarded as reputable, unfortunately.

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u/BubblyRhubarb9611 6h ago edited 3h ago

There have been two girls that I know from the studio we go, neither is a great dancer, so they accept everyone, and they did not learn anything either. My two cents