Students Testimonies
Ballet des Amériques is an unparalleled professional conservatory training program! How fortunate we are to have a school of this caliber right here in Westchester, NY!! Carole Alexis is simply a master teacher and choreographer. Her expertise and care combined with her passion for teaching and skillful technical knowledge of dance pedagogy make for an unbeatable combination. We switched our then 11-year-old daughter to the BdA Conservatory training school last fall (2018) after she completed their four-week summer intensive in August 2018. Her progress after only 4 weeks was significantly measurable. For her and for us, the choice to make the move to Ballet des Amériques was a no-brainer. Having just finished her first year with the Academy in June 2019, we have only more wonderful things to say. She is truly a different dancer, more passionate about her training than ever and progressing by leaps and bounds (literally!) We were concerned at first about making the daily drive (she trains 6 days a week) from Nyack across the bridge all the way to Portchester, but it has proved manageable for us and well worth it! We would drive twice the distance for the quality of training she is receiving. It is simply the BEST!!! I highly recommend it for any serious, committed young dancer and his or her family!! - Harriett Dunkerley
——-
Ballet des Amériques is an unparalleled professional conservatory training program! How fortunate we are to have a school of this caliber right here in Westchester, NY!! Carole Alexis is simply a master teacher and choreographer. Her expertise and care combined with her passion for teaching and skillful technical knowledge of dance pedagogy make for an unbeatable combination. We switched our then 11-year-old daughter to the BdA Conservatory training school last fall (2018) after she completed their four-week summer intensive in August 2018. Her progress after only 4 weeks was significantly measurable. For her and for us, the choice to make the move to Ballet des Amériques was a no-brainer. Having just finished her first year with the Academy in June 2019, we have only more wonderful things to say. She is truly a different dancer, more passionate about her training than ever and progressing by leaps and bounds (literally!) We were concerned at first about making the daily drive (she trains 6 days a week) from Nyack across the bridge all the way to Portchester, but it has proved manageable for us and well worth it! We would drive twice the distance for the quality of training she is receiving. It is simply the BEST!!! I highly recommend it for any serious, committed young dancer and his or her family!! - Zara Touijer
———
All of the students and company members of Ballet des Ameriques posses a desire to learn, and improve. The director of the school and company is a mighty force, full of wisdom and knowledge of the art form of ballet. She works with her students' and company members' individual anatomy and finds ways to encourage them to work harder and more correctly then they ever thought possible. If a student or company member is injured, the director knows a multitude of exercises and techniques that will strengthen them while they heal and make them a better, stronger dancer when they recover. At BdA everyone is expected to work 120% because the director is always working at least that hard, to help everyone improve and become not only great technicians but also artists and lovers of all of the arts. She is knowledgable not only about ballet technique, but of the history of dance, music, and theater. The director is a master of her craft and an incredible instructor. All of the students and company members of BdA are commited to dance. The director encourages her students and company members to understand the importance of the arts in their community and in the world. - Jenna MacVicar
———-
Thanks again for all the job you are doing and we really wanted to tell you how much we appreciate the kindness and professionalism of Mrs. Alexis and yourself. We haven't met so many teachers, directors, and board members so involved in children's success and support. As parents, we are really amazed and, your involvement and your humanity mean a lot to us! Thanks again!
- Gaelle Goarnisson
Ballet des Amériques is an outstanding school! Artistic Director, Carole Alexis, leads by example the high quality of work ethic and mutual respect for all her students, faculty and company members alike. This very special school functions as a home for young dancers-in-training and pre-professionals. Students are encouraged to discover their individuality as artists and developing minds as the next generation of dancers in a safe, respectful, and caring environment whilst maintaining discipline, professionalism, and tradition. The curriculum is designed to produce well educated and technically trained classical dancers but exposes students to an array of styles, resulting in not only well-trained dancers but versatile and cultured artists. From Flamenco and Afro-Carribean to Dance History and Anatomy, students are trained and educated in a diverse, yet complimentary, curriculum of disciplines. I would HIGHLY recommend BdA for both a child who knows they want to become a professional dancer, as well as a child who wants to learn work ethic, empathy and confidence (and so much more!) through the realm of dance. Brava! - Arielle Rosales
———
An Open Letter to my teacher, coach, and mentor, Mme. Alexis, and to all of Ballet des Amériques:
I have been both nervous and excited about my graduation, nervous because it signifies the end of a chapter and excited because it also means the beginning of a new adventure. Now I want to take a moment to reflect on the past 9 years at Ballet des Amériques as Mme. Alexis’ student.
Under Mme. Alexis’ tutelage, I learned essentially everything: from the floor barre exercises and the importance of human anatomy to the physical movement of each step and its terminology; from the importance of rhythm and musicality to the physical aspect of how to coordinate your body; from the essence of the stage to the meaning of the art of dance. This and so much more, I have learned from her.
Thanks to Mme. Alexis’ training and guidance, I was able to attend amazing summer programs: the first being the Paris Opera Ballet in 2014 at the intermediate level, then once more in 2016 at the superior level. I also attended the American Ballet Theatre’s Collegiate program, the Bolshoi Ballet in New York, and the Juilliard Summer Dance Program, all in the summer of 2017. Among the many teachers in these programs, I had the humbling experience of being taught by Mme. Alexis’ own teachers and mentors, M. Nikoloz Makhateli in the Michigan Ballet Academy’s summer program, and M. Larrio Ekson in the Paris Opera summer program in 2016.
While I made great memories and was taught by wonderful teachers in these programs, nothing compares to the care, patience, and encouragement I experienced at Ballet des Amériques. It has been hundreds of thousands of hours of floor barre, ballet classes, coaching, mentorship, guidance, and ultimately love. Of course, I also changed physically because of the training and molding of Mme. Alexis’ teachings, and as I continue to grow and mature, one day I want to give back some of what I’ve received.
There’s a saying that I hear often from Mme. Alexis and my parents, that “it takes a village to raise a child.” I am honored and humbled to have been raised by this village of beautiful people.
Thank you, Mme. Alexis, for the love you’ve given me. Thank you for creating and directing Ballet des Amériques, a conservatory of not only proper and high-class dance training, but also a place of respect, inspiration, passion, and love. Thank you for creating and directing Ballet des Amériques, the company in which I have had the most humbling opportunity to perform your choreography, and to learn and grow in a professional setting. I still remember watching the first Evenings of Dance and being so excited to see Nos Ici et D’Ailleurs (as it was and is one of my favorite pieces), not knowing that a few years later I would be dancing in it as the company’s trainee. Your choreography continues to feed my soul and inspire me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity these past 2 years to learn and grow in a professional environment while performing and dancing your pieces.
Thank you to all of Ballet des Amériques — board members, teachers and administrators for making BdA a place of love, artistry, culture, and passion. To the students of BdA, I am so excited for all of you — the amazing opportunities you’ll experience will compare to no other. You are in remarkable hands.
As the year is coming to an end, I am now less nervous and more excited. Ms. Irene Przywara once said to me that Mme. Alexis has given me wings and now I can actually fly. Thank you for this gift.
Sincerely, Alexandria Ina Rose
——
Ballet Des Amériques is an outstanding and amazing school. The director, Madame Carole Alexis, has created a school where everyone is loving, passionate and hard-working. All the teachers believe in every student’s ability to progress. I have been a student at Ballet Des Amériques for three years, attending 5 summer intensives beforehand. I used to live in France and have attended several ballet schools there. None of these ballet schools compare to the exceptional program Ballet Des Ameriques offers. When I moved to the US and started my first year at Ballet Des Amériques, I was struck by the amount of happiness and passion in dance that this school brought to me. I could see that I was not the only one; every student there was filled with eagerness and dedication to work. There is no favoritism and bullying allowed in this school which is why it is such a positive environment. Ballet Des Amériques teaches discipline and respect so that we all become respectful and humble people. The school teaches excellent ballet technique and other dances, such as character dance, jazz, and musical theatre. We also learn music, dance anatomy, and dance history.
Recently, thanks to Madame Alexis, I have been accepted into the Paris Opera Ballet School summer program. I have so much gratitude for everything Madame Alexis has done for our school; not only has she created a ballet school, but a family as well Beatrice Larzul
——
Наша 5-летняя дочь мечтала о балете с 2х летнего возраста. В этом году решили таки найти для нее хорошую школу балета. Выбор пал на Ballet des Amériques, о чем мы ни разу не пожалели. Ребенок счастлив, ходит с большим удовольствием (в отличие от обычной школы :-)), делает первые успехи под руководством очень классных тренеров!
- Mr. Kozhan,
——-
As a former dancer, as I began the search for a place for my then 4 year old daughter to begin her ballet training, the top of my list was impeccable technique. Ballet des Ameriques checked that box and so many more. Not only am I amazed by the amount of growth my now 5 year old daughter has made, but I am impressed by the diversity in the genres of dance (ballet, acro, Afro Caribbean, Jazz and Hip Hop in the summer). I am also in awe of the positive energy flowing from the older dancers in the conservatory. They have taken the pre-ballet students under their wings and have become role models growing their love of the art of dance. Madame Alexis is beyond knowledgable- she takes each child and ensures that their body is working to the maximum capacity with safety and proper technique in mind. The instructors are superb dancers and teachers. I am thrilled that my daughter is a part of such a passionate dance community - Emily Melissa
As an experienced professional dancer and student of dance for more than 20 years, I can honestly say that BdA is a very rare, unique, hidden gem in the world of dance education. Why? It sets an extremely high standard for all dance schools in every major city in terms of quality of education and individual attention. This school, unlike most other high-quality schools where students often compete for attention, sets a standard of excellence where every single student without exception is pushed to achieve their full potential in both dance and in the development of a respectful, positive personality. Guided by director, Carole Alexis, and teachers whose generosity of knowledge and attention to detail rival that found in expensive private classes, students are given the keys to becoming both professional dancers and exemplary, hard-working human beings. The true merit of a school is shown in its individual students' rapid improvement, a hallmark of BdA. If you are looking to become the best you can possibly be, you should come to BdA, a school dedicated to unlocking the full potential of every single student.- Irene
——
Having 6 years of experience in teaching, I can confidently say this school is unlike any other. As a faculty member of BdA, we are all overseen by the Director Carole Alexis. A unique curriculum is established to create classically trained dancers who want to enter any style of dance if they choose so upon graduation. A nurturing atmosphere is essential to a student's training and that is exactly what we do. If you want quality training, I recommend BdA!! QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY! - Celeste Landa
——-
Ballet des Amériques is more than a ballet school. Children of all ages not only learn the rigorous discipline of ballet but also the art form in full. Students learn from ballet history to crochet or even acrobatics but most importantly, they become well rounded dancers.
I highly recommend Ballet des Amériques. - Adriana Wood
Desde el primer día de clases, quedamos encantados con el profesionalismo y la pasión de los profesores de BdA, así como también con la organización que apunta hacia una enseñanza personalizada. Mi hija, Camila, empezó a asistir a BdA cuando tenía 4 años y desde entonces sentimos que somos parte de una gran familia; y, como tal, vemos con agrado el desarrollo de nuestra pequeña no solo en esta danza como expresión artística, sino también en su crecimiento personal, debido al énfasis en los valores y respeto hacia los demás, mejorando su psicomotricidad, agilidad y coordinacion en sus movimientos.
Dos años después vemos que Camila ha mejorado su confianza y enfoque, aprendiendo el valor de la disciplina como tal.
Somos muy afortunados de tener BDA!
——
As a former dancer, as I began the search for a place for my then 4 year old daughter to begin her ballet training, the top of my list was impeccable technique. Ballet des Ameriques checked that box and so many more. Not only am I amazed by the amount of growth my now 5 year old daughter has made, but I am impressed by the diversity in the genres of dance (ballet, acro, Afro Caribbean, Jazz and Hip Hop in the summer). I am also in awe of the positive energy flowing from the older dancers in the conservatory. They have taken the pre-ballet students under their wings and have become role models growing their love of the art of dance. Madame Alexis is beyond knowledgable- she takes each child and ensures that their body is working to the maximum capacity with safety and proper technique in mind. The instructors are superb dancers and teachers. I am thrilled that my daughter is a part of such a passionate dance community. - Emily Isadori
——
My family and I are thrilled to have found Ballet des Ameriques. The school is a conservatory with a professional dance company. The teachers are outstanding – from Madame Alexis, to the company teachers, to the guest teachers. The curriculum designed by Carole Alexis is extremely well tailored for a student’s age and level. Our daughters started the ballet program later, beginning with the Summer Intensive when they were in 5th grade. They loved the Summer Intensive and auditioned to be part of the Conservatory. The younger students are amazing: to see their recitals is a joy. For parents of boys and girls who love to dance, I recommend you have them try Ballet des Ameriques. - Dorothy Lee
Ballet des Amerique is a beautiful school! Mme. Alexis and her teaching staff have created a very special and unique community among the students, teachers and company. The instruction is rigorous and Mme. Alexis has the highest expectations for each of her students and they thrive under her tutorage and encouragement. The ballerina's are supportive of one another as are the teachers. Mme. Alexis is a superior teacher!!!! Beth Ailanjian
——-
Ballet des Ameriques is a truly wonderful school. Students are not only trained with very high standards, but are also taught how to be self confident and self sufficient humans with loving and kind hearts. Thank you Madame Alexis and everyone who are part of this great school and company. - Idil Barkan
———-