Summer Intensives at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance

2010 Summer Intensive Programfor Advanced Students ages 14-23

Session 1: May 31-July 10 (6 weeks)
Session 2: June 14-July 10 (4 weeks)
Session 3: July 12-August 7 (4 weeks)

Incorporating advanced training in ballet and modern technique by a stellar faculty together with the study of William Forsythe's Improvisational Technologies and Ohad Naharin's "gaga" dance language, the three sessions of our 2010 summer program aim to advance students' artistic development through the close collaboration involved in developing new works with acclaimed resident choreographers Alex Ketley and Christian Burns and guest artists (to be announced), as well as learning selected pieces from Mr. Naharin's repertory. While Mssrs. Forsythe and Naharin are best known internationally as ground-breaking choreographers, they have both devised their own proprietary systems to help dancers expound upon and refine their choices as movers and thinkers. The opportunity for dancers to gain exposure to the teachings of these masters is rare, and we are delighted to welcome back for the third summer their personal envoys Thomas McManus and Bobbi Smith. A highly-accomplished choreographer in his own right, Thomas will also create a new work. Technique classes will be taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, Chiharu Shibata, Tristan Ching, Alex, and Christian.

All three sessions will keep students fully challenged and productively occupied six very full days, 45-plus hours per week. The high faculty-student ratio insures that students will receive ample individualized attention.

Session 1 (Open to advanced dancers ages 18+)

This session will begin with a 3-week immersion in William Forsythe's Improvisational Technologies conducted by Thomas McManus. The material generated by the dancers from this study will be incorporated into a new work to be choreographed by Thomas. During weeks 3-6 students will also develop new works in collaboration with Christian Burns and Alex Ketley. Highly-challenging technique classes will be taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, Chiharu Shibata, Tristan Ching, Christian, and Alex. For advanced students and professionals 18 and over.

Showcase One: Friday, July 9th, 7:30 pm
Showcase Two: Saturday, July 10th, 2:30 pm

Tuition: $3,000 for six weeks

Session 2 (Open to advanced dancers ages 14-23)

Highly-challenging ballet and modern technique classes taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, Christian Burns, Alex Ketley, Chiharu Shibata and Tristan Ching will provide the daily laboratory in which experimentation, focus and physical commitment lay the groundwork for uninhibited collaboration in the choreographic process with Christian, Alex, Summer and guest artists.

Showcase One: Friday, July 9th, 7:30 pm
Showcase Two: Saturday, July 10th, 2:30 pm

Tuition: $2,200 for four weeks

Session 3 (Open to advanced dancers ages 14-23)

Batsheva dancer Bobbi Smith will teach daily "gaga" classes and set selected works of Ohad Naharin on the students. Highly-challenging ballet and modern technique classes taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, Christian Burns, Alex Ketley, Chiharu Shibata and Tristan Ching will provide the daily laboratory in which experimentation, focus and physical commitment lay the groundwork for uninhibited collaboration in the choreographic process with Christian, Alex, Summer and guest artists.

Showcase One: Friday, August 6th, 7:30 pm
Showcase Two: Saturday, August 7th, 2:30 pm

Tuition: $2,200 for four weeks

Physical Therapist and certified Yoga teacher Brion Charles will teach classes in all sessions and will be available to provide counseling on injury prevention and treatment. As the program days are 8-10 hours long, six days a week, we are careful to accept dancers who demonstrate not only great passion for their art form, but also physical strength, stamina and mental fortitude. Advanced dancers ages 14-23 are invited to audition.

2010 Choreographic Apprentice Residency

With guidance from the faculty's resident choreographers, six aspiring choreographers enrolled in the Summer Intensive Program will create their own work on other dancers in the program. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain new insight into the choreographer's perspective on the collaborative process. As all activity takes place in addition to, and following, an already extremely rigorous schedule, applicants should feel confident they have plenty of mental and physical stamina. Applicants must include all residency-related materials described on our website together with their application for the Summer Intensive Program. Must be 18 or over.

For specific information and the residency application, contact Summer Lee Rhatigan.

“A Summer of Forsythe, Kylián and Naharin”
—From Dance Magazine, January 2009
“On a July afternoon, 22-year-old Victoria Canelos rested…”
Read the full article of January 2009