Overview

The Summer Dance Intensive program offers a curriculum designed for the serious student who wishes to study both ballet and modern dance in a concentrated, creative atmosphere. All classes provide a positive, focused environment and are designed to challenge every student to develop to the fullest extent of their abilities.

Classes are taught by a distinguished faculty, all of whom are working professionals in the field of dance. In addition to teaching daily technique classes, the instructors restage choreography and create original works in a variety of styles that showcase students. Each three-week session culminates with a public showing of the repertory pieces.

Dance majors will train six hours a day and may choose to attend one or both of the three-week sessions. Applicants can select from either a ballet emphasis that includes pointe technique, or a modern dance emphasis that includes improvisation and composition.

Program Details

• Placement in technique class is determined by skill level.
• Class size is held to approximately 15 students to ensure that students receive individual attention.
• Additional performing opportunities are provided through informal studio showings and interdisciplinary performances featuring works from across the campus.

Because of the vigorous nature of the dance program, participants should be free of injury prior to arrival. Any health-related concern should be acknowledged on the medical form and reported to the dance department prior to arrival. Dancers are expected to maintain a body weight that is proportionate to their height and bone structure.

All students are expected to be well-groomed; long hair must be worn up and off the neck. A complete listing of required dance attire and supplies will be included in the student handbook and posted on the website.

Due to the focused nature of this curriculum, students do not participate in any elective classes outside of the dance curriculum.

Ballet Emphasis

The Ballet Emphasis includes:

• Ballet Technique
• Modern Technique
• Pointe
• Jazz
• Body Conditioning
• Repertory

Ballet Prerequisites: Students must have had five consecutive years of training at the time of application and two or more years of consistent training en pointe.

Modern Dance Emphasis

• Ballet Technique
• Modern Technique
• Improvisation/Composition
• Jazz
• Body Conditioning
• Repertory

Modern Dance Prerequisites: Students should have had at least three years of previous training.

Audition Requirements

An audition is required for acceptance into either the ballet emphasis or modern dance emphasis programs, and may be accomplished by submission of a video/DVD or by attending a regional audition.

All applicants should include the following with their application:

• A photograph taken in first arabesque (ballet) or full body pose (modern).
• A list of training experiences. Please include subject (modern, ballet, jazz, composition, other), dates, names and locations of schools and names of teachers.
• A video audition, if not attending a live regional audition (See below).

Applicants who apply by February 1 will be notified of admission decisions by March 15. Late applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.

Video Audition for Ballet Emphasis

Center floor exercises (no barre):

Part I:

• Grand Adagio - including développés in each position, promenades and pirouettes.
• Petit Allegro - including jêtés and assemblés.
• Grand Allegro - including grand jêtés, grand jêtés entrelacé and tour en l’air for men.

Part II: A solo piece no longer than two minutes that best exemplifies the applicant’s technical and artistic abilities. (Ladies are encouraged to perform en pointe).

Video Audition for Modern Dance Emphasis

Center floor exercises (no barre):

Part I: A three-minute modern dance warm-up that includes basic vocabulary; the warm-up should give a sense of the applicant’s placement, line, body awareness, flexibility and control.

Part II: Performance of one solo piece no longer than two minutes. The choreography for the solo may be the applicant’s or another person’s creative work and should include dynamic range, ability to move in space, change levels and use of the floor. Please identify the choreographer and piece.