I want to open an independent performing arts & science boarding school in DR....I have a few ideas of where but not sure how the legal aspects work on an outside company opening a school of education in DR. We own land and may build from scratch or purchase an existing structure and fix it up. The curriculum is in place already and we know about the certifications. I guess the question is what do I need to do to open a school in DR? How do I do market research in DR to find customers for my school? I understand that the Internet is not as easy to access in DR as in the states so I'm sure this is a challenge. Are there companies in DR that get target market information for new schools? SUB][/SUB]
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Want to open a performing arts and science boarding school
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It's best to come here and talk with those involved with the arts already. They would be happy you are taking on this endeavor.
I don't know how a boarding school would be accepted. Families are important here and when a family has a child who is gifted, they want to be involved. Most people with financial resources and a desire to send a child to a boarding school would probably send them out of the country.
I work on a very limited basis giving instrumental lessons to kids through my foundation. I have found it difficult to find teachers because many musicians here who consider themselves qualified to teach cannot read music or are not fluent site readers.
There is a notable foundation in Santo Domingo that takes promising musicians and pairs them with professional, classical musicians from abroad for one year. The professionals come to the DR for that time to live and teach. This program has been very successful, with their students receiving full scholarships to pursue music at universities abroad.
If you would like to contact the director of this foundation and bounce ideas off her, send me a message and I will give it to you. As for me, af first glance, I think your idea is lofty and commendable, but I don't know if the DR is ready for it.
Lindsey
I don't know how a boarding school would be accepted. Families are important here and when a family has a child who is gifted, they want to be involved. Most people with financial resources and a desire to send a child to a boarding school would probably send them out of the country.
I work on a very limited basis giving instrumental lessons to kids through my foundation. I have found it difficult to find teachers because many musicians here who consider themselves qualified to teach cannot read music or are not fluent site readers.
There is a notable foundation in Santo Domingo that takes promising musicians and pairs them with professional, classical musicians from abroad for one year. The professionals come to the DR for that time to live and teach. This program has been very successful, with their students receiving full scholarships to pursue music at universities abroad.
If you would like to contact the director of this foundation and bounce ideas off her, send me a message and I will give it to you. As for me, af first glance, I think your idea is lofty and commendable, but I don't know if the DR is ready for it.
Lindsey
I would love to get in contact with the director!! After I learn how to send a private message to you LOL
I think you have to have 10 posts before you can send a PM to someone on here.
Is he on DR1 or should I shower Googel for his email...I'm sure I could at least find the school he has
To answer some of your questions, after 20 years of ballet ....boarding is the best option when you want your child to compete with the world in Arts.I have been to many boarding summer programs all over the world but was homeschooled during the year from 8 th grade through high school. The money my parents spent on me dancing and homeschooling they could have just sent me to boarding school but in my case I was already on track to become a principle dancer with the ballet company I was dancing with everyday. While I love my mother to pieces I would have opted to have a trained teacher to help me through my education...don't get me wrong I was an A student besides math in high school and college but imagine seeing your mom allllllll day as a teenager lol. She was my mom,teacher,and the administrator of the ballet school.
Families are extremely important to boarding schools because they are part of the board and committees at least at our school the local community and parents will be encouraged to be very involved in the school. We expect if all goes as planned that 40% will be out of country boarders, 30% in country boarders ( middle class wealthy) and 20 % will be a mixture of scholarships ( for those amazing kids who can't afford it but deserve the opportunity) and day students who only come for the education or the arts. These numbers are just a ruff estimates but just so you get the idea. Now Lindsey I know that I can hire 20% outside DR and 80% inside DR and our staff is going to be quit big but I do expect to keep my ties and connections with NY as well as age old dance friends around the world. I only want the best for these little leaders on the new world 
Just to clarify....you want to start a boarding school for ballet. Am I correct? So, by referring to "the arts" are you including music and art besides dance? There are some very good ballet schools in this country.
Lindsey
Lindsey
Yes that would include Music, Visual Arts ( Film) and Dance, I was able to see two ballet schools and a belly dancing school. I also saw the Joffrey Ballet does auditions there for the summer program in Chicago, that's a very big deal! The Palace didn't have any you tube videos or any photos....I wish they would advertise more.
I have been talking with some Master Teachers of STEM but the only issue is its American based only. So if a student wanted to go to Europe for college it may not be a recognized credited curriculum there. The Sciences and Music have always had a direct connection as with the Waldof curriculum as well as some Cooperative curriculum. Then there is STEAM which is arts based curriculum and is currently being studied and a pilot program being put together in Colorado.
The pros of an independent school is you can create your own curriculum, the cons are creating an international curriculum where children can go anywhere after high school.
Personally I am not sure whether the boarding modality would work in the DR. It might - it's not unheard of among the elite to send their kids to expensive summer camps in the US, but the wider middle class? You would need to do some surveys.
Otherwise there is a demand for classical ballet in the country, again, mainly among the middle and upper class, but you would have to see how much this is already being satisfied by the existing academies. Not surprisingly most are in the larger cities. As well as Santo Domingo and Santiago, I know of one in San Pedro de Macor?s and there is a small one here in Punta Cana.
Otherwise there is a demand for classical ballet in the country, again, mainly among the middle and upper class, but you would have to see how much this is already being satisfied by the existing academies. Not surprisingly most are in the larger cities. As well as Santo Domingo and Santiago, I know of one in San Pedro de Macor?s and there is a small one here in Punta Cana.
And we have a thriving ballet school here in Sosua, Emily Watson School of Dance, with a teacher/owner trained by the British Ballet. Additionally, the Casa de Arte in Sosua teaches ballet, and on a much lower level, my foundation, Strength for the Journey has 2 ballet classes, given free for poor and underprivileged girls.
Lindsey
I am currently looking at some of the suggested marketing companies on DR1 as well as some other finds, we will certainly be doing an extensive survey! Thank you for your input
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