by Gavin Larsen | Jul 7, 2026 | Audition Advice, Pointe+, Summer Study, Training
When Philadelphia Ballet corps member Natalie Patel was in high school, she sent audition materials to The Washington Ballet School in hopes of joining its trainee program for her senior year. But even after reviewing her video submission, the artistic staff wanted to...
by Rebecca Corey | Jun 25, 2026 | Pointe+, Summer Study, Training
If you’ve only ever studied at a small ballet studio, attending a large summer intensive can feel like a dream come true. After all, bigger programs generally have a ton of resources at their disposal: spacious studios, sleek health-and-wellness facilities, a roster...
by Amy Brandt | Jul 21, 2025 | Pointe+, Summer Study, Training
American Repertory Ballet dancer Emily Cordies-Maso remembers feeling self-conscious during hip-hop class at her first summer intensive. “I was very shy, and I didn’t want to do it,” she says. The instructor would teach a combination and then turn on the music, asking...
by Gavin Larsen | Jun 30, 2025 | Pointe+, Summer Study, Training
Not long after Mississippi-native Annelise Fagan arrived at Colorado Ballet Academy for her first summer intensive, her excitement about attending the three-week program changed. She was sad, lonely, and desperately missed home. “I didn’t know anyone, not even my...
by Sophie Bress | Feb 9, 2024 | Summer Study, Training
Summer intensives are an undeniably important aspect of a dancer’s training. They provide opportunities for young artists to connect with industry professionals, bolster their technique, and they can even be a gateway to securing a job with a company later on....
by Hannah Chang Foster | Aug 10, 2023 | Pointe+, Summer Study, Training
You’ve just had the best summer ever at your ballet intensive. You got to explore a new city, form new friendships, and make technical breakthroughs without any pesky homework assignments distracting from your 24/7 dance immersion. For five weeks, it felt like what...
by Gavin Larsen | Jun 26, 2023 | Health & Body, Pointe+, Summer Study, Training
Sarah Whitehead, now a dancer with Ballet Tucson, remembers the sinking feeling of getting an injury during a summer intensive. As a teenager hoping to land a spot in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s year-round Professional Division program, she felt pressure to dance to...
by Katie Slattery | Jul 13, 2022 | Summer Study, Training
LeeAnaca Moore, a conservatory student at Florida Ballet, has a busy summer ahead. She’ll be attending the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Summer Program for three weeks, followed by a four-week summer intensive at Philadelphia Ballet. She then plans to stay on at...