Performing Arts schools for grade school kids in Susquehanna River Valley? (Lancaster: home, theater)

[uRabbit]

Hello all!

My partner, child, and I live in Seattle, WA, one of the most expensive cities in the United States. Neither of us works in tech, and neither of us make high incomes, so we're quickly being pushed out.

I've recently been offered a job in Lancaster making ~$10,000 more than I make now, and ~$20,000 less than we make together. This puts us, according to [Numbeo](Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site), about $10,000 over what we would need to make in Lancaster to live a comparable life to what we live here in Seattle.

Money isn't everything, however. Our kiddo is involved in ballet and acting here. The ballet school is prestigious, and we're fortunate that we've able to send her there for the past four years.

Browsing towns near Lancaster - York and Harrisburg, mainly - it doesn't appear that there are many ballet companies in the area, or even dance academies that are serious about children's levels of ballet. I'm also unsure about acting companies, but it seems Harrisburg has a couple?

I'd love to have some of you to chime in that are more familiar with these areas and the performing arts communities in these areas.

Performing Arts tend to have stronger communities on the east coast anyways, but as PA is a bit removed from NY, it may be less of a thing? We just really don't want to ruin our kid's creative outlets!

[Wells5]

There are very few schools in PA that specialize in the performing arts. There's an arts charter school in Harrisburg. That's the closest to Lancaster.


https://www.casa-arts.org/


There is also the PA Ballet Academy, which is located in Camp Hill across the river from Harrisburg.


https://www.paballetacademy.org/


And have a look at the thread below relating to the general friendliness of the folks in and around Lancaster.


//www.city-data.com/forum/penns...lancaster.html

[rowhomecity]

The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania is considered to be among one of the top youth Ballet schools in the country. Youth from all over the world train at this school. https://www.cpyb.org/about

Carlisle is a bit of a trip from Lancaster. Lancaster is home to Vy Ballet, which is also a good school, although not as prestigious as Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. https://vyballet.com/

If you are interested in Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, I would suggest looking around Elizabethtown, PA which is about 30 minutes to Lancaster City. 30 minutes to Harrisburg City and 45 minutes to Carlisle.

It is a nice smaller town, located within a good school district and home to a small liberal arts college.

If you prefer more of the urban vibe, than I would stick with living in Lancaster (which is a beautiful historic small city) and attending the Lancaster school.

[Wells5]

Originally Posted by rowhomecity

If you are interested in Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, I would suggest looking around Elizabethtown, PA which is about 30 minutes to Lancaster City. 30 minutes to Harrisburg City and 45 minutes to Carlisle.

It is a nice smaller town, located within a good school district and home to a small liberal arts college.

The OP mentioned the word "partner," which to me implies LGBTQ- please correct me if I am wrong.


If that is the reality, living in Elizabethtown, which is mostly populated by Mennonites, would present problems.

[uRabbit]

Originally Posted by Wells5

There are very few schools in PA that specialize in the performing arts. There's an arts charter school in Harrisburg. That's the closest to Lancaster.


https://www.casa-arts.org/


There is also the PA Ballet Academy, which is located in Camp Hill across the river from Harrisburg.


https://www.paballetacademy.org/


And have a look at the thread below relating to the general friendliness of the folks in and around Lancaster.


//www.city-data.com/forum/penns...lancaster.html

Thank you! Those are fantastic resources!

Originally Posted by rowhomecity

The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania is considered to be among one of the top youth Ballet schools in the country. Youth from all over the world train at this school. https://www.cpyb.org/about

Carlisle is a bit of a trip from Lancaster. Lancaster is home to Vy Ballet, which is also a good school, although not as prestigious as Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. https://vyballet.com/

If you are interested in Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, I would suggest looking around Elizabethtown, PA which is about 30 minutes to Lancaster City. 30 minutes to Harrisburg City and 45 minutes to Carlisle.

It is a nice smaller town, located within a good school district and home to a small liberal arts college.

If you prefer more of the urban vibe, than I would stick with living in Lancaster (which is a beautiful historic small city) and attending the Lancaster school.

This is great information, thanks! It's definitely a bit tricky when simply searching "children's theater" or "children's acting near x" when you're not familiar with the area.

Originally Posted by Wells5

The OP mentioned the word "partner," which to me implies LGBTQ- please correct me if I am wrong.


If that is the reality, living in Elizabethtown, which is mostly populated by Mennonites, would present problems.

We're actually a heterosexual couple, but lean very progressively. In this part of the States, folks are using partner in place of other terms no matter what their couple/gender preference/alignment.

This is great information, though - thank you for noticing. We definitely want to be closer to more progressive areas, but we also know that PA is a red state with only a couple of blue pockets.

[rowhomecity]

Originally Posted by uRabbit

Thank you! Those are fantastic resources!



This is great information, thanks! It's definitely a bit tricky when simply searching "children's theater" or "children's acting near x" when you're not familiar with the area.



We're actually a heterosexual couple, but lean very progressively. In this part of the States, folks are using partner in place of other terms no matter what their couple/gender preference/alignment.

This is great information, though - thank you for noticing. We definitely want to be closer to more progressive areas, but we also know that PA is a red state with only a couple of blue pockets.

I would suggest sticking around Lancaster. Lancaster city is actually quite progressive and it truly is a beautiful city and one of the oldest inland colonial cities in the USA. There is great deal of art galleries, shows, events, etc.

i.e Lancaster is home to a Whole Foods and Apple Store. Not that it 'makes' a place, but gives you a sense of its amenities.

[uRabbit]

Thank you all for your comments. Lancaster seems like a great place. However, I'm noticing on SchoolDigger.com, GreatSchools.org, and Niche.com, that public schools in Lancaster are pretty bad. Seems like you'll want to be zoned for a school just outside of Lancaster if you want a good one. Thoughts on that?

[Wells5]

If you still insist on moving to Lancaster, the only area that I recommend is Manheim Township (not to be confused with Manheim Borough). The school district is widely regarded as the best in Lancaster County. Many Lancaster area professionals and F&M faculty members live there.


Have you seen the thread linked below?


//www.city-data.com/forum/penns...ople-rude.html

[uRabbit]

Originally Posted by Wells5

If you still insist on moving to Lancaster, the only area that I recommend is Manheim Township (not to be confused with Manheim Borough). The school district is widely regarded as the best in Lancaster County. Many Lancaster area professionals and F&M faculty members live there.

Lancaster is just where the job will be. We've also looked at York and Harrisburg, since they're not terribly far away. We will be starting with one vehicle, however, and I haven't yet seen a bus route between the cities.

[Wells5]

There are trains between Lancaster and Harrisburg. Time is 35-40 minutes, cost currently is $12 one way.