<p>I shouldn’t have said “up and out”. I did mean “up”. (Out meant out of their freshman class and into a higher level class). Some kids can test to go up a level but choose to stay with their class. Everyone has to take dance. My understanding is that Freshman take Ballet I and Jazz I. It goes up from there, each year for the 4 levels of dance. They currently have 4 dance teachers, and a 5th is coming next year (Roy Lightner, professional teacher/choreographer who was a guest choreographer on their Legally Blonde). The 1st level of Jazz is more of a foundational class. They don’t really dance - they work more on how to strengthen and stretch and how to avoid injury over the years of dance. Then this gets worked into future classes. Sophomore year they take Ballet II and either tap or modern. </p>
<p>We met 2 boys who clearly LOVE dance. One started at IC and has grown (now a Junior) through the dance program quickly and they’ve supported his desire for more challenge. The other boy came with a lot of training. He audits the upper level ballet (gets no credit for this) and the ballet teacher in his Freshman class gives him harder work compared to the others (i.e. a triple pirouette while others learn to do a single). He went to NYC and made it through 3 callbacks for Newsies, until he was cut. Not bad!!!</p>
<p>Lots of graduates are working as ensemble dancers. A senior from last year is touring with the Addams Family. One went with Evita. Another with Sister Act. Students say IC gets a bad rap for dance b/c they don’t do a dance audition. There is talk to change this in the future and add in dance to the auditions. But students also pointed out that acting is the first and foremost training at IC. </p>
<p>I really liked what the senior told us: He was told by an instructor (from another school) that there is no such thing as a triple threat. There is only ONE threat and that is acting. Acting informs your dance and your song. If you can’t sell it, it doesn’t matter how good your voice or dancing is. That is what IC is focused on.</p>