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Home > Dance Performance
Summer Dance Intensive Guide
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Summer is here and it’s time to decide on which dance intensive to sign up for. Every dancer must take advantage of the summer months by choosing the right intensive: one that provides focus in the areas that most needed improvement during the season. This way a dancer can come back to class with increased strength where they lacked it most. Perhaps it was turns, leaps or petit allegro. Or maybe it was a certain technique or style of dance, or partnering specifically. A lot of dancers just take class for fun and to stay in shape as well during the summer. When looking for a summer dance intensive, there are many things to keep in mind; location, dates, cost, staff, focus and performance opportunities.
Many of the greatest dance intensives are located in certain areas that are not local. New York or Los Angeles, for instance, are locations that attract the most famous intensives. A dancer may have to travel far to get top notch training. A lot of dancers chose a more convenient option by sticking with a local dance intensive. They are either at a local dance studio or college. A list is published yearly in Dance Magazine and Dancehelp collects this information as well.
Another thing to consider when choosing a dance intensive, is the cost. Any intensive that is far away comes with a high cost. There are travel expenses, room and board to be paid, food, the classes themselves and of course the price of shoes and dance supplies. Think of this as a mini-vacation that you will have to save up for during the year. It takes dedication and commitment to attend an out-of-state dance intensive! Do your research if you do chose this option so you use your money wisely and get the most out of your experience. A local dance intensive will be more cost effective and convenient since you can just go home at the end of the day.
Research is the key; search websites for the information and record your top picks. This way you can compare all the details and make the right choice. When searching for the right dance intensive, a good thing to research is the staff. Who will be teaching you? What kind of background do they have in dance? Are they well known? Did they perform with a prestigious dance company? Are they masters in the particular discipline you are seeking advancement in? All of this information will certainly help with the decision.
The focus of the intensive is also very important to look into. Look at the daily class schedule; does it satisfy what you’re looking for? Do you want an extreme focus in one area of dance, or a plethora of styles together in the class schedule? Are you interested in partnering? Turn intensives? Perhaps you wanted to learn character dancing or Afro-Brazilian jazz dancing… Make sure the intensive covers all that you wish to improve upon or learn for the first time.
And last but not least, an aspect of dance intensives worth looking into is the performance opportunities. Perhaps you are not looking to perform much, or maybe you are looking to increase your performance skills specifically. Oftentimes a student will seek out a dance intensive solely for the prestige of the performance opportunities. Maybe it will give them exposure to top schools for a possible career or entrance into the school. This is a great way to get noticed and to broaden the horizons.
Summer dance intensives are certainly an advancement tool. With the proper research and choices a dancer will be well on their way to advancement and opportunity. Don’t miss your chance to fine tune your dancing this summer, check out all the wonderful dance intensive programs that are available to you!
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