Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 2/13/2011

Question
I have a 14 year old son who has been training at a pre-professional level for 4 years. He has been looking at dance programs at boarding schools for admission next year.(His school ends at 9th grade.) One school does NOT have a dance dept. but we know of a student who took classes daily at The New Haven Ballet. I know their director just passed away and his wife is now running the company. Do you know anything about their program/company?

Answer
Hi Sarah. I am not personally familiar with this dance faculty. I have never heard anything negative about the school.

Viewing their backgrounds in training and teaching dance, it looks like they have a fabulous variety of cross training, excellent dance medicine and physiology training, and an assortment of non-ballet dance to offer. They all look well grounded in the best of dance tradition.

I see that the school offers 3 or more classes per week for Intermediate and Advanced. Have you visited the school yet? I am sure they will be happy to promote their successes and you can get an idea of where their students are able to move on to, for professional training.

The musicians on the faculty also have impressive credentials. It looks like a very good school. Certainly worth checking into.

All the best to your son's dancing - and to you too. Regards, Dianne.