Hello all!

I was hoping to find someone here who could suggest a few colleges or conservatories that are known for their ballet standards -- but that teach Vaganova. And I mean real Vaganova, not just some teacher that says he/she teaches Vaganova!

Thanks!

For the real Vaganova you have to go to Russia. But even their teachers have their own approach of Vaganova. A Russian trained teacher who is now teaching abroad, can be a great Vaganova teacher, according to Vaganova standards.

You didn't say where you live. In what country would you like to study?

I can't give you a list, but my college (Birmingham-Southern College, in Birmingham, Alabama) is Vaganova based.

Yes, lidwina, thank you, I am aware of this. I have been Vaganova-trained my entire life. My teacher is Natalia Shevchenko, originally from Ukraine and performed in Moldova but also principled in the Bolshoi. I have also had four other teachers from Russia, two of which studied in the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg. In fact, last spring I was supposed to go to St. Petersburg to perform Dulcinea's variation from the Dream Scene in Don Quixote, but unfortunately I have to have surgery on my ankle one month before and that prevented me from going.

I currently live in Georgia but I have no prefference for where to study -- most likely in the USA, Israel is always an option, and of course I would love to have the opportunity to go to Russia again, although raising the money will be difficult (but worth it, I know.)

If you have any suggestions I would be forever grateful. Do you know if it is possible to study ballet in Russia if I am from abroad? I will be 19 when I would go. Are you in Russia?

Thank you lidwina!



Thanks, MJeanette!
I'm actually not interested in going to study in Alabama, but thanks for the tip, it might come in handy one day!

Russian ballet academies in recent years have enrolled foreign students. The price is not cheap, the academies ensure that they profit from the situation. You also have to be admitted, of course.

I don't think you will find a school in the US that will fit these standards. Most colleges in the US that I am aware of have a mixture of all different styles. There will be some Vaganova, but I don't think there is one that is all Vaganova.
There are several very good university ballet programs out there though!

Butler University has quite a few teachers who teach in the Vaganova style.

Yeah um being from a college (not anymore actually) my answer is None. There are teachers who say they teach vaganova, but the only vaganova "based" college is Point Park in Pittsburgh, Pa but knowing where you're from and how much training you've had and I also have 2 friends who go there they say it's not what it seems.

Honestly if you really want to get a dance degree the only place to go is Juilliard. or maybe Butler. Not to put down any other college, I'm speaking from my experience, but the training and everything just is not what you are used to getting...it's worse/

I'm going to stop here because I will start picking apart college programs and it will just become a huge dispute. I don't mean to say there are bad dancers in other programs or that a certain program is bad, if you like it, great! I don't want to say any more

~brooke~
PM me if you still feel like talking college dance

May I ask what you are hoping to do with your degree? Teach? Choreograph? Perform? Etc. Then I will give you my two cents on college dance programs, as I have some experience with them as well.

Also, if you don't mind me asking where in GA are you from? I'm wondering because a good friend just moved to Atlanta and she is looking for a good dance studio. You can pm me if you don't want to share here.

Hey there tittle, I just now remembered I had started this post, so excuse my delay!

Thanks to all the other posters, I mst say that I have had a change of plans for now. If I had continued with the plan I proposed in this thread, I would have chosen to perform.

I will PM you the info you asked for!