As one of the top ballet companies in the country, American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) Summer Intensive program provides world-class instruction in a variety of dance techniques. Although ballet is the clear focus of the summer curriculum, students may take additional classes in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Yoga and Pilates along with Musical Theater, Injury Prevention, Dance History, Music and Nutrition. All students must participate in four classes per day, rehearsals and separate choreography sessions. The summer program concludes with a final student performance. ABT offers summer intensives at five sites across the U.S. including New York City (five week program), Michigan (four-week program at Wayne State University or Detroit Opera House), Alabama (three-week program at the University of Alabama), Texas (four-week program at the University of Texas in Austin) and California (under-three-week program at the Orange County Performing Arts Center). Students must apply and audition for entrance to the ABT summertime intensives.
The School of Creative and Performing Arts (SOCAPA) offers a variety of summer dance intensive opportunities for students ages 13 through 19 years. The school's three campuses in New York City, Los Angeles and Vermont all provide the serious dance student with the opportunity to learn and expand skills through either Contemporary Jazz or Hip-Hop Intensives. Additional classes include African, Musical Theater and Breakdancing. The school places students in one of two age groupings (13-16 or 16-19) and levels (Intermediate and Advanced). Level assessments are made during the first day of class. Beginning students with less than three years of dance training may opt for the Step One summer program, which the school only offers at its New York City campus. All students will be able to participate in at least one professionally filmed dance video as well as an end-of-session performance.
The North Carolina Dance Theatre's Summer Intensive is a three-, four- or five-week course of study for serious intermediate and advanced level students ages 11 through 22. Students train with professional dancers six days per week in classes such as Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Contemporary Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Ballroom. Additionally, students may take classes in Audition Techniques, Costume Design, Nutrition and Injury Prevention. Students must audition for this competitive program. Merit and financial aid scholarships are available to those who meet Federal Free and Reduced Lunch guidelines.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) offers two summer intensive programs. The HSDC Los Angeles summer intensive is a four-week long program for 14- to 17-year-old students. Mandatory classes are held Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and include ballet, modern, repertory, improvisation and Pilates. HSDC's Chicago program is also four weeks in length and features the same schedule and course offerings as the Los Angeles intensive. The Chicago-based summer dance intensive is only open to advanced or professional students 18 to 24 years of age. Students must audition for program acceptance.