Summer Intensive Choices

<p>Interested in a summer dance intensive summer before junior year. Plan to major in dance (modern, jazz or contemporary). 11 years of ballet but shorter and more athletically built. 3 years of jazz, contemporary and other. Little modern experience. Accepted to a few summer intensives via video and don't know which to choose: Mark Morris Dance Group, Joffrey Jazz (all programs- NYC, LA, Georgia, Dallas, Miami and Mia Michaels NYC), and Cornish Dance College Prep. It may be possible to go to more than one and likely will stay with family if in NYC, Seattle or LA. Don't know which were the most competitive nor which will offer the greatest opportunity for growth? Any and all advice welcome. </p>

<p>If you have not yet made a decision, I would hazard a guess that the Joffrey programs would be the least competitive on your list. If Cornish is a place you hope to go, that should be your first choice so you can get a feel for the place and they can see you. </p>

<p>I did Joffrey Jazz NYC, last summer before my senior year and while I agree it’s not that competitive to get into, once your there it is more competitive in class and if your auditioning for dances, it also has the name recognition. I had a great time, loved my teachers and classes, thought it prepared me pretty well as to what to expect for upcoming auditions, I’m also close to some of the dancers still and have seen them at college auditions. There’s a large variety of classes during the time there too, I was even nuts after a full day of classes to go take other classes at Broadway Dance Center. I would suggest Cornish so that you can see what it’s like to be in a BFA dance program, well really any intensive is like that, but by going to Cornish you can see how it’s taught to see if you enjoy the teaching style as well as what the audition might be which is important. This doesn’t mean you will be accepted into the program when you apply though. Mark Morris Dance Group seems impressive, but I don’t know much about it. If you could do more than one, definitely do it, it’s good to study with a variety of dancers and teachers which is what I enjoyed about Joffrey.</p>