Our family has been at Southold for 16 years. Our 5 children have completed or are completing the entire preprofessional ballet program. Each child on his or her own has chosen to remain in ballet over remaining in other sports. We have been there through 3 sets of artistic directors. Each AD has had a different personal style of running the program. But each has always, to the best of their ability, worked hard to create excellent dancers and an excellent program. It’s never easy for the kids to see, but the teachers love them and want them to learn to the best of their ability. What roles to give students and whom to move up to the next level has always been painstakingly, carefully thought out. For instance,, I appreciated that my younger son did not get lead roles -even though he wanted them - before he was strong and steady enough. I appreciate that the current directors valued the work ethic of my daughter, and recognized both her strengths and weaknesses. The current directors ( and past ones, too) hold the entire student body to be dear to them, and they make decisions that are reasonable. Given that, we have always taught our kids that in ballet you don’t question the artistic director’s decisions. You make the best of them you can. Hard? Yes! But imagine the mess if everyone were allowed to question the AD!! We have not found decisions to be random; they are always based on the AD’s best assessment of the entire program and the total abilities of each student .
In the end, being at Southold has been one of the best opportunity for my kids to learn poise ( not just physical!), grace, picking up instructions quickly,how to deal with dashed hopes, physical and personal strength, creativity, challenge,. All of these have been so so valuable in their formation as human beings.
Southold, from my long experience there, has always strived to be professional. It is very difficult to produce good dancers and deliver good dancing to the public. Southold does an excellent job of cf this. We are extremely fortunate to have such a good company in our relatively small town!!