Summer Academy in Dance
Course
Ballet/Jazz/Modern/Jazz Funk Dance Intensive
June 24-July 6, 2013 (No Class July 4)
10am-4pm
The Ballet/Jazz/Modern/Jazz Funk Dance Intensive is designed for students ages 12 to 19 at the beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. The course provides a sample of the undergraduate program for Dance majors at UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts. The focus of the course is on skill development in technique and creativity through improvisation and choreography. The instructors will offer diverse and exciting approaches in ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop dance techniques. Special sessions on topics such as injury prevention, dance for camera and pursuing a college education in dance will be scheduled for small group sessions. The course will culminate in an informal studio showing open to the public on Saturday, July 6, 2013. The course is a great way to prepare students for the next level, to round out a student's technique base, and to stay dance fit during the summer.
Course Fee: $800
Instructors
Saleemah E. Knight holds an MFA in Dance the University of California, Irvine and was a featured dancer in Disney’s Broadway Musical, The Lion King. Saleemah is a choreographer, instructor, and performer whose background includes training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, and hip-hop from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, River North Chicago, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Edge Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, and Broadway Dance Center. Saleemah has performed with Beyoncé, Tyrese, Chris Brown and The Pussycat Dolls.
Jackie Kopcsak holds an MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine. She received her dance training through Pacific Northwest Ballet and has performed as a principal dancer with Ballet Bellevue and Wade Walthall’s Evergreen City Ballet. Choreographic credits include works for The Washington Academy of Performing Arts, San Marino Unified School District, The Red Chair Production Company, Beverly Hills’ Theatre 40, Pasadena Civic Ballet, Inland Pacific Ballet, and Pacific Symphony. Jackie is also a certified teacher in Primary through Level 3 of American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum®.
Jessie Ryan, originally from New Jersey, is a dancer, choreographer and educator. She has a long history of various movement techniques (from ballet to capoeira) and has performed and directed her own works nationally and internationally. She has shown work at HATCHed Presenting Series, Broadway Dance Center, American College Dance Festival and Laguna Dance Festival, among others. She was a co-founder of The Moving Company, a non-profit performance group in Denville, New Jersey. This fall she will be joining Diavolo Dance Theatre in Los Angeles.
2012 Summer Academy in Dance
From contemporary and modern to jazz, tap and hip-hop, the 2012 Summer Academy in Dance scholars worked in many styles of dance. They learned dance history and tips for injury prevention, how to choreograph a dance and cut music, and audition strategies. It was a busy couple of weeks, culminating in a performance showcase of their work. A great job done by all, to see the dancers at work click here!
