DOAD #36: Master Ballet Academy - a postlude

Hello friends! We’re wrapping up our Master Ballet Academy series with this one, and this time it’s just me — no Atticus — giving you the full parental debrief on his three-week summer intensive in Phoenix, Arizona. You’ve heard his side over the last couple of weeks; now I’m here to talk about him behind his back. Lovingly, of course. 🎭 How we got here (again) * MBA was recommended by Atticus’s dance coach months ago — you have to audition to get in, and you can do it in person or online * We went the online route, which added a layer of stress: glitchy Zoom, audio lag, and a nervous kid on pins and needles trying to follow instructions through a spotty connection * In hindsight, I’d love to have flown us out for an in-person audition — there’s an energy you just can’t replicate through a screen * He got accepted, and then came the question: three weeks minimum? Really? (Spoiler: yes, really — and it makes sense) 💪 The arc of three weeks * Week one nearly broke him. He came in thinking the days wouldn’t be as long as his CLI Conservatory experience in Massachusetts — he was, as he later admitted, “sorely mistaken, literally and figuratively” * By Wednesday of week one he was saying, “I don’t know if I can do another day of this” * His coaches had strongly recommended building up stamina beforehand — hitting the rowing machine was the big suggestion — and he passed on that. He felt it big time by day three * End of week one into week two: things started clicking — stamina, choreography, the works * Midway through week two: he hit his stride * Week three: “I can’t believe it’s over already” The three-week minimum isn’t arbitrary. You need that first week just to survive, the second to adapt, and the third to actually thrive. 🏋️ The coaching style: tough love, emphasis on tough * Atticus is surrounded by wonderful, encouraging people in his dance world — and I love that for him * But sometimes the vibe is a little “Atticus, you can do no wrong, you’re a dancing tornado of joy” * MBA pushed these kids hard. The message was closer to: unless you’re paralyzed, it’s not rest time, it’s dance time! * As his dad, I genuinely appreciated that. I’m glad he got his butt kicked for three weeks — and I mean that in the nicest way possible ✈️ The real talk: logistics and cost * My wife and son were away for three weeks — hard on everyone at home (especially when my father passed away right before the 3-week MBA stint was set to begin) * We were lucky to have family in the Phoenix area who let them stay and use their car — but they were about 45 minutes from the academy, so it was three to four hours of driving per day - and a heck of a lot of gas money * We haven’t fully tallied the credit card damage yet, but: it’s going to be a lot * There’s an option for students to stay in dorms on-site, which could reduce some of the logistical complexity — but we weren’t quite ready for that this year * Bottom line: if you’re considering MBA, especially out of state, go in with eyes open about the financial and time commitment. It’s real, it’s significant, and you should weigh it carefully 🩰 The verdict * Would we do it again? He says absolutely — learned a ton, loved the teachers, made great friends * Next summer he wants to explore other dance styles, so the plan is probably to double-up on CLI weeks instead of returning to MBA * Ballet, as multiple smart dance people have told me, is a foundational core that everything else is built on — so the investment wasn’t wasted (even if ballet isn’t his professional destination) 🤝 The bonus win: a new solo piece * He connected with a teacher he really clicked with, and that teacher choreographed a new solo for him * That’s a tangible thing he’s bringing home for competition season * It’s also a good reminder that even if the core experience isn’t what you expect, events like this are networking gold — in dance, like in any industry, the world gets small fast, and you never know who you’ll need to know someday This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com