How to Make the Most of a Summer Intensive Dance Program
Summer is when traditional schooling is out of session, which means there is plenty of time to make the most of a summer intensive! This is a time when dancers sharpen their technique, build confidence, and immerse themselves in movement for weeks at a time. For many students, it is also where artistic breakthroughs happen and lifelong friendships begin.
To better understand how dancers can thrive in a summer intensive ballet program, we spoke with Rochester City Ballet School Director John Deming about training, mindset, mentorship, and what helps students truly grow during an intensive experience.
Discover what’s possible when dedicated training meets a supportive artistic community. Register for the School of RCB’s Summer Intensive Program today.
Key Takeaways
- Summer intensives allow dancers to focus deeply on technique and growth without the usual distractions of the school year.
- The School of RCB’s Summer Intensive Program combines professional instruction, supportive mentorship, and immersive training rooted in the Vaganova technique.
- Dancers from many different training backgrounds can benefit from a summer intensive by building confidence and strong foundational skills.
- Students can excel during a summer intensive by prioritizing recovery, staying open to feedback, building connections, and trusting the growth process.
What Is a Summer Intensive?
A summer intensive is a focused dance training program that allows students to fully immerse themselves in technique and artistic development over several weeks. Most programs run Monday through Friday for multiple hours each day and include:
- Ballet
- Pointe
- Repertoire
- Contemporary
- Partnering
- Jazz
- Additional skills
One of the biggest benefits of a summer intensive ballet program is the ability to focus deeply without the distractions of school, homework, and busy schedules.
Deming explained, “Without a million other things on your brain, it’s a time to really sharpen the blade. When you dedicate time to concentrate and practice your skills for a week or more, you’re bound to see results.”
Summer intensives are the perfect opportunity to dedicate consistent time and energy to improving dancing skills.
A Peek Into the School of RCB’s Summer Intensive Program
At the School of RCB, students train in a welcoming environment that is both passionate and professional. Our summer intensive program provides focused training rooted in the Vaganova technique, emphasizing strong classical foundations, discipline, and artistry. Typically running from July through August, dancers can enroll for anywhere from one to five weeks, creating a flexible yet immersive experience.
Note: See the School of RCB’s summer programs to find updates and schedules for this year’s summer intensives.
The School of RCB stands apart as Rochester’s only ballet school with a fully professional teaching staff, offering students experiences like:
- A talented faculty actively working within today’s ballet industry, who understand current choreography and training expectations
- An inclusive environment that emphasizes supportive growth and strong foundational technique
- Instructors who balance professional rigor with mentorship and positive encouragement
- Opportunities to perform, including select productions alongside Rochester City Ballet’s professional company
Who Benefits From a Summer Intensive?
A summer intensive is ideal for participants who already have some dance experience and want to seriously improve their skills. The School of RCB’s summer intensive program generally serves dancers around age 10 and older and Level 3 and higher who are ready for dedicated training.
Students complete a placement assessment to help determine the best level for their abilities and experience so we can set them up for success and growth. If needed, we may recommend private lessons to prepare.
Additionally, summer intensives can benefit dancers from many different backgrounds and training styles, ranging from those focused on ballet to hip-hop to jazz.
While ballet-focused students often attend to strengthen technique and prepare for future opportunities, dancers involved in jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, or commercial dance can also gain valuable foundational skills through focused ballet training.
“It's worth it to look beyond any specialty or genre that you have and kind of try out different things,” Deming explained. “Practicing various disciplines makes you more versatile and well-rounded as a dancer, regardless of your specialty.”
5 Ways Dancers Can Excel in Their Summer Intensive Program
Summer intensives can feel exciting, demanding, and deeply rewarding all at once. So how can dancers truly make the most of the experience? Director John Deming shared five encouraging tips to help students grow with confidence and artistry during their summer intensive at the School of RCB.
1. Prioritize Hydration and Recovery During The Summer Intensive
With just a few weeks to take your dance skills and techniques to the next level, the summer intensive classes can be rigorous yet rewarding. These long training days require hydration, rest, and recovery to prevent burnout and support physical growth.
Deming’s first tip to make the most of a summer intensive program is that students should “drink water, go to bed, and take care of your body.” Consistent recovery allows dancers to stay focused, energized, and ready to learn each day.
2. Be Open to Different Teaching Styles
One of the most valuable parts of a summer intensive ballet program is learning from multiple talented instructors and staff. Every instructor teaches a little differently, and dancers may naturally connect more with certain teaching styles than others. However, staying open-minded allows students to absorb new perspectives, corrections, and artistic approaches that support meaningful growth.
At the School of RCB, students learn from current professional dancers who understand today’s choreography, rehearsal expectations, and evolving ballet industry standards. Dancers who stay adaptable often improve the fastest!
3. Build Friendships and Professional Connections
Summertime in Rochester is known for socializing and spending time with friends. Just because you are in a summer intensive doesn’t mean that you can’t build connections! Some of the friendships dancers make during intensives can last throughout their careers and reconnect in unexpected ways later on.
We have found that building community and connections during a summer intensive can help dancers:
- Learn from dancers with different backgrounds and strengths
- Develop communication and collaboration skills
- Build future professional relationships within the dance world
- Create meaningful memories beyond the studio
The techniques and skills that you learn during a summer intensive can last a lifetime, and the connections you build there can, too!
4. Welcome Feedback as a Signal of Potential
Receiving corrections can feel intimidating, especially during rigorous training. However, the truth is that repeated feedback is often a positive sign. Teachers usually continue correcting students because they recognize strong potential and want to help them improve.
“When a teacher is on you to fix something, it's because we care and we remember those light bulb moments going off for ourselves,” Deming recalled. “We love to see and help be a part of putting those lights on for people. But you have to experience it as a dancer for it to click.”
Feedback and corrections from the teachers at the School of RCB are opportunities for breakthroughs that will contribute to a dancer’s ability to thrive long after summer is over.
5. Be Patient With Your Progress During Summer Intensives
Summer is an entire season, so you can’t expect progress during a summer intensive to happen overnight! Teachers frequently see improvements day by day that students may not recognize until much later.
Deming revealed, “I want students to remember that you often don't feel the progress happening. It's a cumulative thing that builds over time. Then all of a sudden, you'll realize, ‘Oh, my Arabesque is at 90 degrees!’ But as teachers, we see the progress day in, day out. Before you know it, the little corrections that I used to have to say over and over and over again get corrected. That's a huge win!”
Improved techniques and increased confidence can develop gradually over weeks of focused training. Like building choreography count by count, technical progress takes patience, persistence, and trust in the process.
Find a Summer Intensive in Rochester, NY
If you are searching for a summer intensive in Rochester, NY, the School of RCB offers an immersive and supportive training experience designed to help dancers grow technically, artistically, and personally. Students train alongside dedicated faculty while building confidence, discipline, artistry, and lasting connections within the dance community.
Ready to elevate your skills and step confidently into your dance journey? Explore the School of RCB’s summer intensive ballet program and register today.