Summer study guide 2002 - Directory

Dance Magazine, Jan, 2002 by Janet Weeks

Whether your main interest is a great summer experience or a long-term program, deciding where to go can be a daunting task. There are many wonderful schools and programs that differ widely. Becoming familiar with their different focuses and offerings will help you find a program that meets your goals and interests.

At Idyllwild Arts Academy, for example, the emphasis is development of the individual through the arts. Summer programs for students in every age group are offered: ballet, jazz, tap, and theater dance, among an abundance of other art forms. Situated in the mountains above Palm Springs, California, the academy's curriculum concentrates on classical technique and artistic expression. All dance students take courses in ballet, modern, and jazz. Says Tia Dixione, a graduate of the year-round program, "It's not competitive. It's all about inspiration. I'd like to get into a company, but there are a lot of other things I'm planning, too. The teachers here give you the tools you need to make it." Most graduates of the year-round program go to college and into a variety of careers.

According to William Lowman, the headmaster, "Idyllwild students are highly individualistic. They represent a cross-section of the world, but they share one important character trait: a burning desire to do something different with their lives." Students view themselves as valued members of an artistic community and explore multiple avenues for self-expression. Nearby Los Angeles, a forty-five-minute drive away, provides opportunities for year-round students to view performances and enjoy the city.

Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan is distinguished by its affiliation with the University of Michigan and its 1,200-acre rural setting. Although more than 2,000 students attend summer camp, just 100 are dance majors. The rest study creative writing, music, theater, and visual arts. Dancers live in cabins with students from any or all of these programs, and in addition to dancing five to six hours per day, engage in a variety of outdoor activities. The focus of the dance program is modern and ballet, with courses in improvisation, composition, and repertoire. For school-year students, the academy offers an outstanding academic education to students in grades three to twelve. Distinguished alumni include Tom Hulce, who played Mozart in the film Amadeus, and Tom Rawe of Twyla Tharp Dance.

Summer dancers are involved in two performances during each four-week session. (There are two dance sessions each summer.) The school also hosts prominent guest artists during the summer who perform and offer master classes.

The Kirov Academy of Ballet offers a more urban experience. Located in Washington, D.C., the school shares facilities during the summer (swimming pool, residence hall) with nearby Trinity College. The five-story building contains two large, world-class studios and three smaller ones, air-conditioned dormitories, a library, a Pilates studio, a costume shop, and classrooms.