3 Benefits of Attending a Summer Dance Intensive
Chances are your ballet school is abuzz right now with talk about summer intensives - where everyone is auditioning, where they hope to attend, and what the “best” programs are.
Summer intensives can be a huge stepping stone on the way to a professional dance career. I remember returning to my home studio after my very first summer intensive at American Ballet Theatre - my instructors were absolutely blown away by the progress I had made! Over the course of my training, I attended a variety of different intensives - lots more ballet, but also modern and contemporary based programs! Each program served me in a different way and helped me develop not only my technique but my artistry and professionalism as well.
Have you been wondering how a summer dance intensive could benefit you? Here are three major advantages of taking the leap!
You get to fully immerse yourself in your dance training without distractions
The growth you can experience in just one month at a summer intensive is incredible. The schedule is designed as a bit of an introduction to life as a professional dancer. You typically start your day around 9 am with a ballet class and continue on with classes and rehearsals until 4 or 5 in the evening. (At some programs, I would come back for more rehearsals after dinner!) The sheer number of hours you spend dancing = exponential growth in your technique, strength, movement quality, and overall dancing.
Plus, during the months you spend at your intensive, you don’t have to worry about school, homework, or other obligations. Your only job is to dance! Not only are you able to fully commit yourself to your training, but you’re also surrounded by other dancers who are in the same place as you physically and emotionally. It is incredible having a built-in support system of people who really get it and are just as dedicated to your craft as you!
You will work with multiple teachers in different styles of dance
The more you can expose yourself to new styles of dance, new teachers, and new ways to approach technique, the more well-rounded you will become!
While at your home studio you may have a syllabus based in the Vaganova technique (for example), at your summer intensive you could be exposed to new techniques such as Balanchine, Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti, Cuban Method, etc. As a dancer who has studied a wide range of ballet techniques, I have been able to pull from each of them to figure out what methods work best for me at different moments.
You will also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in new styles of dance such as modern, character, jazz, and supplemental classes including pilates, yoga, partnering, conditioning, dance history, and more! With the vast repertoire being done by professional companies these days, studying styles outside of ballet will give you a huge leg up.
Not only will you be exposed to new styles and techniques, you’ll also be able to take advantage of new styles of teaching! You know how you can hear the same correction a million times, but then someone says it a little differently and suddenly it clicks? These lightbulb moments are abundant at a summer intensive with so many new eyes on your dancing! While all of this may feel a little bit scary and outside of your comfort zone, the more you can be a sponge and soak it all in, the more you will get out of your intensive!
You will make lifelong connections with other dancers and professionals
The dance world is very small - it is likely that you will cross paths with the dancers and teachers you meet at summer intensives again. When it comes to securing a job, connections are key.
After attending the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, I was asked to stay for their year-round program. This invitation wasn’t just based on one audition class - it was based on 5 weeks of working with me and getting to know how I operate in class and rehearsal. I was able to show my work ethic, attitude, ability to work as part of a team and make corrections quickly - all of the qualities that make someone a really smart dancer! While I opted to return to my home studio to finish high school, these are the sorts of opportunities that can arise during a Summer Intensive!
As you head out into the world of professional auditions, being able to obtain a positive character reference from a colleague could be the difference between getting hired or not. Making positive, lasting connections during your years of training is super important to your future as a professional.
Making the decision to attend a summer dance intensive is not easy! Personally, I have found the payoff to be so incredibly worth it. My annual summer intensive was my favorite time of the year and what really solidified for me that I wanted to be a professional dancer. I absolutely loved getting to dance all day long every day and couldn’t wait to make it my career!
Feeling overwhelmed trying to sift through all of the information surrounding summer intensives? I’m going back to Summer Intensives 101 in my upcoming virtual workshop December 30th. I’m going to break it all down for you and give you actionable tools you can use to find a Summer Intensive that fits your specific needs. In addition to talking more about the benefits, we’ll cover:
→The types of summer intensives that are available
→What the summer intensive audition process is like and what to expect
→A day in the life at a summer intensive
→How to make the most of your summer intensive
→Pros and cons of attending a summer intensive
→Resources for finding a summer intensive that meets your goals
Tap here to secure your spot!
Meet the Author
Caitlin Sloan is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri.
She danced professionally for nine years with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet (now Mareck Dance). Caitlin has taught at schools all over the Midwest, most notably serving as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Youth Company Director for Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She is currently on faculty at the School of Madison Ballet.
Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina® in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Follow @thebrainyballerina on Instagram for your daily dose of dance career guidance and inspiration.
