Summer is an opportunity to hone your training more intentionally than during the busy school year. But with so many to choose from, deciding which ones to focus on can be tricky. On the one hand, working extra hard on your primary dance style can accelerate your progress into the next school year. But when it comes to your overall growth as a dancer, wouldn’t it be better to try something new? Both options have advantages and disadvantages.
Expect to adapt
Willow Dixson, a junior at the Union County Academy for Performing Arts and a student at Rahway Dance Theater in New Jersey, was inspired by her teacher’s suggestion She studied ballet, tap, modern dance and jazz before she tried a five-week musical theater intensive. “I’m a shy person at heart, so having to sing, act and really express emotion while dancing was way outside of my comfort zone,” Dixon said. She learned the choreography from a range of performances including hamilton, Moulin Rouge!and prom. “It showed me how to apply my previous training to new things, such as my jazz background helping me with sharp movements and isolated movements. hamilton”.
Unexpectedly, Dixon left the summer with a passion for musical theater and a newfound confidence. “Getting acclimated over the summer made my transition to high school smoother, and I later took on dance captain and choreographic roles in high school theater productions,” she said.
only take what you need
While immersing yourself in a new style or environment over the summer can be a great way to reinvigorate your training, it can also be confusing for some students. “It depends on the age and maturity of the student, but it can be frustrating if someone tells them to do something different than what they practice at home, such as turn preparations or port de bras,” Racheal Nye told Oklahoma City Ballet Director of regimental schools and studio companies. “That’s where a studio owner or mentor should step in, helping students keep an open mind before they go, and when they come back, organize what they’ve learned and integrate it into the bigger picture of the training.”
Reed Neuser gets an inside look at life as a Radio City Rockette during a week-long summer intensive where she experiences precision dance for the first time. “There were a lot of new layers to the choreography that I had never considered before, like spacing, detail, and unified dance,” she said. Although Norther now works primarily as a contemporary and modern dancer in New York City, she still adheres to the principles she established that summer. “It taught me how being strong can help you adapt to any dance style, and the importance of discipline and attention to detail in a professional environment,” she said.
stay realistic
While branching out into new styles can improve how you approach your core style, it’s also important to manage your expectations after a break in your regular training system. For seniors who are about to enter their careers, “ballet is so delicate and specific that even a few weeks off can set you back,” says Erica Fischbach, director of Colorado Ballet Academy. “Many of our students pursue intensive courses in slightly different styles, such as Alonzo King LINES Ballet or Complexion Contemporary Ballet. But if they want to try a completely new style to expand their artistic talent, we encourage them to put it into At the beginning or end of other summer studies.
Whatever your reasons for choosing to attend a summer intensive, remembering your “why” can help you get what you want from the experience. “Our year-round students are working long and hard, so summer may be the only time to try something new because it’s fun or culturally important to them but doesn’t necessarily lead to something, “Nai said. “Who knows—students may be able to leverage the summer experience into their careers.”
