I’m the proud parent of a senior in the Professional Trainee Program at Draper. My daughter has wanted to dance ballet since she was two. We did many other programs before we enrolled at the Draper Center. When my daughter was 12 she attended Draper’s Summer Intensive. Every day she came home more excited by dance. By the end of the first week, she said: “Mom, I’ve learned more this week than I have in three years!” We enrolled her for classes that September. In our six years at Draper I’ve learned what an outstanding school this is. The faculty of the Draper Center is top-notch. Each instructor teaches the whole student, focusing on each students’ needs, strengths and weaknesses. All of the instructors at Draper have challenged and nurtured my daughter. They are friendly, caring, and demanding. The attention to detail and technique is amazing. Students work on refining and perfecting their technique, while at the same time learning to express the artistry of dance. While ballet is the major focus, students also receive instruction in modern and jazz during the school year. During the summer students have had the opportunity to do all sorts of different styles from character to ballroom! This is the dance school for the serious student, not for the casual dancer. In the upper levels, the commitment is huge, but the pay-off is outstanding. My daughter has had numerous performance opportunities as well, from Rochester City Ballet performances to local and regional competitions. I feel that my child has been exceptionally well-prepared here for a future dance career.
Deb Buckley, Parent of a Draper student