The West Virginia University Summer Dance Academy, a weeklong intensive to be held June 16-22, is offering three distinct programs this year to meet the needs of every dancer’s skill level.

The Academy offers both dance students and dance teachers opportunities in professional development and technique refinement through the Young Academy (ages 5-11), the Teen Academy (ages 12-18) and the new Teacher’s Academy.

The Young Academy offers daily classes in ballet, jazz, movement, hip-hop, and tap. The classes will be held in Elizabeth Moore Hall located across from the WVU Mountainlair on the Downtown Campus. The students will present a showcase performance at the end of the week.

Instructors for the Young Academy include WVU dance students Lauren Carter, Corinthia Rilko, Alexandra Dennis, and Rachel Frye.

The Teen Academy will offer various specialty classes, including tumbling, Israeli folk dancing, clowning, hip-hop and dance improvisation.

WVU faculty members for the Teen Academy include WVU School of Theatre & Dance professors General Hambrick, Lee Blair, Renee Nicholson, and WVU Director of Dance Yoav Kaddar. Guest artists include Barry Blumenfeld, from New York City, founder of TAPFUSION, and Michael James Garber, a yoga instructor with We Are Yoga, Salt Lake City.

Housing is provided for participants of the Teen Academy at Evansdale Residential Complex located on the WVU Evansdale Campus. Students who elect to stay in the WVU residence halls will be supervised by WVU Dance program chaperones.

Along with the Young Academy and Teen Academy, the newest addition this summer is the Teachers Academy, offering a flexible schedule that will facilitate both movement sessions and professional enrichment for dance teachers from the private and public sectors.

Teachers Academy classes include Technology Integration, Dance in Popular Media, and National Standards in Dance, as well as practicum classes in various dance techniques.

“We’re excited for this summer’s Dance Academy,” Kaddar said. “Word is getting out that WVU has something new to offer dancers of all ages and abilities. This will be our third year and with the new addition of the Teachers Academy the summer dance program at WVU will augment the exciting future of dance at WVU as we launch the first bachelor’s degree in Dance this coming fall.”

For more information on the Summer Dance Academy, including what participants should bring with them, the week’s schedule, tuition, and registration forms, please visit, http://theatre.wvu.edu/summerdance, call 304-293-2020, or email theatre@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

cl/05/20/13

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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