More on Summer Study - Company School or Conservatory?

Once you've decided to do a summer dance program, it can be a daunting task to decide which one is right for you with the plethora of choices. One way to divide and conquer is to split the choices into two categories - company school versus conservatory. Here are some videos to help you, and an article from Dance Magazine that breaks it down - Dance Magazine: Summer Study Guide 2011: Conservatory vs. Company School.

The main difference? Company schools offer you exposure to join the company, while conservatories offer small class sizes with individualized attention and a chance to join their year-round school. Company schools include San Francisco Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and any other school at a professional dance company. Conservatories include The Rock School for Dance Education, The Nutmeg Conservatory, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Harid Conservatory.

Here, some San Francisco Ballet students share their summer intensive experiences at SFB.



Here is a video from The Rock School for Dance Education on their summer intensive.

2011 Summer Intensives

Auditions start for next year's summer intensives in just a month, so it's time to do your research so you can nail those auditions, apply for scholarships, and make it into your dream summer intensive! To help you get started, here are some websites and information you'll need from some of the nation's top schools. For more affordable and less intense options, check out the colleges, universities, and dance companies in your local area for classes and/or summer intensives. (These are in no particular order).

Alvin Ailey - The Ailey School

• Dates: June 21 - July 29, 2011
• Ages: 16-25 or 12-15 for the Junior Division
• Click here for audition tour dates and other important audition information
• Cost: $2,300
• Financial aid is available through federal grants and loans
• Classes include: ballet, modern, jazz hip-hop, tap, Dunham technique, body conditioning, yoga, Gyrokinesis®, and barre à terre

Julliard

• Dates: July 17 - August 5, 2011
• Program: Ballet and modern, pointe work is not required
• Ages: 15-17, limited to 44 students
• Deadline for online application: JANUARY 7, 2011
• Auditions: Live or by video, preregister online
• Cost: TBA, but last year tuition was $1,160 and room and board was $985
• Financial aid is available based on financial need and merit
• Contact Info: summerdance@juilliard.edu or call the Office of Admissions at (212) 799-5000, ext 223

Boston Ballet School

• Dates: June 25 - July 30, 2011
• Ages: 10-19
• Click here for audition tour dates, no preregistration required. Can also audition by video.
• Cost: Tuition: $2,925 and Room and Board: $2,325
• Financial aid and payment programs are available
• Classes: Five weeks of 5-6 hours of dance classes daily, augmented by professional development lectures. Includes separate men's classes, modern, classical character, Pilates, master classes with guest faculty, professional development lectures
• Contact: SDP@bostonballet.org and 617.456.6269

Joffrey Ballet School

• Dates: June 13 - August 6, 2011, with a minimum attendance of one week
• Cost: Full 8 weeks: $2,599, or $325.00 per week, or $15 per class
• Financial aid is available based on merit or extreme need

Miami City Ballet

• Dates: 
• 5-Week Summer Program, June 27-July 29, 2011 -- for 12 years and older 
• 2-Week Summer Program, August 1-12, 2011 -- for 10-12 year olds
• Classes: ballet technique, pointe, pas de deux, variations, jazz, stretch and weight training
• Audition dates in your area - by live or video audition
• Cost: Tuition - $600 plus $50 registration fee
• Contact:  305.929.7007 or e-mail at school@miamicityballet.org

San Fransisco Ballet

• Dates: June 27 - July 29, 2011
• Cost: Tuition - $2,470, Room & Board - $2,100, Registration Fee - $125
• Audition tour dates
• Classes: ballet technique, pointe, repertory/variations, character, contemporary, pas de deux, floor barre/Pilates
• Financial aid is available but very limited

Alonzo King LINES Ballet

• Dates: 
• Session One: June 14, 2011 - July 13, 2011 (ages 11-16)
• Session Two: July 17, 2011 - August 20, 2011 (ages 17-24)
• Cost: $1,775 (four weeks) or $2,350 (five weeks) 
• Housing is not provided
• Audition tour dates and financial aid information
• Financial aid granted based on application

American Ballet Theater's JKO School

• Dates: New York June 27 – July 29, 2011; Alabama June 27 – July 16, 2011; California August 1 – August 19, 2011; Michigan June 27 – July 22, 2011; Texas July 10 – August 5, 2011
• Audition tour dates
• Classes include:  Ballet Technique, Pointe, Partnering, Variations, Men’s Technique, Men’s Variations, Modern, Nutrition, Acting for Dancers/Mime, Musical Theater, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Character, Dance History, Yoga, Meet the Artist, Music, Injury Prevention, Pilates
• Cost: Varies by location. See details here.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

• Dates: June 19-July 15, 2011, all 5 weeks requried
• Cost: 
• In-state high school: $2,998 (tuition + room and board) 
• Out-of-state high school: $3,649 (tuition + room and board)
• In-state college: $2,762
• Out-of-state college: $3,413
• Classes: ballet and contemporary tracks

Check these Companies Later - Summer Schedules Not Up Yet

Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance

Paul Taylor Dance Company - Modern Dance. E-mail INTENSIVE@PTDC.ORG for more information.
Merce Cunningham Dance Company - they are currently running a winter intensive and frequently have workshops, which would be a more affordable option for a summer intensive.

Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads

Painting from the Nutcracker by Linda Paul

Got a few extra minutes to get into the Nutcracker and holiday spirit? Sit back and enjoy some excerpts and interviews from some of the world's greatest ballet companies and their Nutcracker performances. Many big ballet companies have their own YouTube channels. Search for them and watch clip after clip of not only performances, but interviews and rehearsals.

Miami City Ballet has quite a few back-stage interviews done by the company members themselves, so it really gives viewers a relaxed and real inside-look into the company.
Here's Patricia Delgado interviewing her sister, Jeanette, who is the Dewdrop.

And here is Patricia Delgado's Nutcracker journal, where she tapes rehearsals and interviews the dancers about their parts in the show.

And an interview with retiring ballet dancer, Deanna Seay, who dances the Sugar Plum Fairy.

New York City Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/newyorkcityballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/pacificnwballet

Joffrey Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheJoffreyBallet

Houston Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/houstonballet

San Fransisco Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SFBallet

Annaheim Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnaheimBallet