Summer is an opportunity to hone your studies more intentionally than during the busy school year. But with: plenty of programs to choose from, deciding what to focus on can be difficult. For one thing, doubling up on your main dance style can increase your progress in the next school year. But when it comes to your overall growth as a dancer, is it better to try something new? Both options have pros and cons.
Expect to adapt
Willow Dixon, a current junior at the Union County Academy of Performing Arts and a student at Rahway Dance Theater in Rahway, New Jersey, studied ballet, tap, modern and jazz before her teacher suggested she try a five-week musical theater intensive in New York City . “I’m a shy person at heart, so singing, acting and feeling real emotion while dancing was way out of my comfort zone,” Dixon says. She learned choreography from a number of shows including: Hamilton, Moulin Rouge!and: The prom:. “It showed me how I could apply my previous training to something new, like my jazz background helping me with sharp movements and isolations in Hamilton.”
Unexpectedly, Dixon left the summer with a passion for musical theater and a newfound confidence. “Adapting to a new environment during the summer made the transition to high school smoother, and I later pursued roles as dance captain and choreographer in my high school’s theater productions,” she says.
Take only what you need
While throwing yourself into a new style or environment over the summer can be a great way to resume your studies, for some students it can also be confusing. “It depends on the age and maturity level of the student, but it can be frustrating to have someone tell them to do something—like preparing for a spin or a port de bras—different from what they’ve been practicing at home,” says Rachel Nye, director of the Oklahoma City Ballet School and Studio Company. “This is where studio owners or mentors need to step in to help students keep their bias before they go, and when they return, sort through what they’ve learned to fit into the bigger picture of their training.’
Reid Neuser immersed herself in the life of a Radio City Rockette during a weeklong summer intensive, her first experience with precision dancing. “There were so many new layers to the choreography that I never had to think about before, like spacing, details and dancing in an even group,” she says. Although Neuser is now primarily a contemporary and modern dancer in New York, she still works on principles developed that summer. “It taught me how being strong can help you in any dance style, and the importance of discipline and attention to detail in a professional environment,” she says.
Stay realistic
While switching to a new style can improve the way you approach your main style, it’s important to manage your expectations after taking a break from your regular training regimen. For advanced students who are on the verge of a professional career, “ballet is so sophisticated and specific that even a few weeks off can set you back,” says Erica Fischbach, director of the Colorado Ballet Academy. “Many of our students pursue intensive courses in slightly different styles, such as Alonzo King LINES Ballet or Complexions Contemporary Ballet. But if they want to try a completely new style that will expand their artistry, we encourage them to put this at the beginning or end of other summer studies.”
No matter what your reason for choosing to attend a particular summer intensive course, keeping your “why” in mind can help you get exactly what you want out of the experience. “Our year-round students work very hard, long hours, so summer might be the only time to try something new simply because it’s fun or culturally important to them, not necessarily to achieve something,” Nye says. “And who knows, students may benefit from a summer experience they’ve had in their professional careers.”