The Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC

Kirov is a place for the serious ballet student, and few schools in the US that can match it in terms of teaching and care of full-time academy students. Kirov instructors pay attention to all students, not just the best ones. My 15-year old daughter has been in the academy for 3 years, and she has grown tremendously, not only in technical ability but in artistry and emotional understanding of her craft. Kirov, like any ballet school, has had its ups and down. But we have always appreciated the deep commitment of the teachers and staff.
5 7 years ago (26-04-2018)

I attended Kirov as a student last year and it was the worst year of my life, let me tell you a couple reasons why. First of all, the ballet teachers there hate on the students so much it will most likely give them horrible eating disorders. They said things to me and my friends like "Stop eating" and "Skip lunch today" or "You have too much back fat" as a teenage girl hearing these things it crushed me and caused me to develop eating disorders that I will struggle with for the rest of my life. The majority of the girls and some boys at Kirov have eating disorders or extreme body image issues. These very skinny girls are looking in the mirror everyday thinking they are too fat to make it in the ballet world. Well I hate to break it to you, but its gross to watch a barely alive girl dance. Moving on, every morning I would wake up and do my hair in the bathroom while all around me girls were weighing themselves in the bathroom stalls, getting off the scale and throwing up, then get back on the scale to weigh themselves again. There is no way that the RA's did not know this was going on, but what did they do? NOTHING. Ask any student at the school right now, and they will say that these things are normal. I thought so too when I was there, and it was not until I got home that I understood how brainwashed I had become. I would greatly suggest that before you send your child here you make sure that they are mentally ready for all the hate they will encounter.
1 7 years ago (21-03-2018)

I have not attended their academy but they have illegally hung signs throughout the Brookland community permanently damaging light posts and literring the community. Can not recommend a business that does not respect the local neighborhood
1 7 years ago (03-04-2018)

I attended a student performance and was unexpectedly moved to tears by the purity and integrity of the artists and their transcendent presentation. The Vaganova method is not for all dancers but Kirov Academy is a brilliant light in our nation's capital, upholding the standard of this demanding art form. Every Kirov graduate blesses the world with sublime beauty honed by inestimable hours of sacrifice and discipline-not in isolation, but surrounded and supported by a team of uncommonly dedicated teachers and staff.
5 9 years ago (18-08-2016)

I would really give this school a -5 = NEGATIVE 5 if I could. It's a waste of your time and money. The teachers are partial, they pick their preference, this usually means the girls with a "Russian look" receive much better treatment than the rest of the class. There are other local schools in this area, cost one tenth of what Kirov costs. I would recommend dance elsewhere, but use your money for private lessons. By the way, their ballet camp is mediocre.
1 9 years ago (28-03-2016)