a male instructor teaching hip hop to students in a large studio

Should You Try a Summer Intensive in a New Dance Style?

On one hand, doubling down on your primary dance style could supercharge your progress going into the following school year. But when it comes to your overall growth as a dancer, is it better to try something new? There are pros and cons to both options.

a male instructor guiding a female dancer's arm while taking class in the studio

Why High Schoolers Should Consider a College Summer Dance Program

When you think of a summer dance intensive, you might not immediately picture a college campus. But many higher ed dance departments do host summer programs, which can offer a chance for holistic growth and often function as a preview of life as an undergraduate. A summer on campus might help high school students plan for their futures—whether at the same school or elsewhere in the dance world.

Your Week-by-Week Guide to Prepping for Your Summer Intensive

Alexandra Wells can always tell when a dancer hasn’t read her summer intensive information packet. Sometimes, says Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s director of artist training, there’s a quick fix for the lack of preparation. “You can go and buy a long-sleeve shirt after you burn your shoulder really badly in that first floorwork class,” she […]

What To Do When You Hate Your Summer Intensive

You’ve spent all spring preparing for this. You killed it in the audition, obsessed over the packing list, connected with your roommate on social media, and taken so many extra pointe classes that your Band-Aids need Band-Aids. Bring on the summer intensive! A summer spent studying with a well-known company or prestigious academy can be […]

Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Summer Intensive

Summer intensive audition season is almost here. But how do college students decide which program they’re aiming for? With the number of intensives available, it can be overwhelming to choose the one that will serve you best. We talked to outgoing Juilliard dance division artistic director Lawrence Rhodes about how he advises his students: If […]

2015 Summer Study Guide: Considering Choreography

Could an intensive’s repertoire offerings be the key to your summer growth? Students of The School of Pennsylvania Ballet. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev, courtesy Pennsylvania Ballet. Ballet students live for “aha” moments, those little revelations that change the way you dance. And surprisingly often, those moments come outside of technique class, when you’re pushing yourself […]