Summer Intensives at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance

2008 Summer Intensive Programfor Advanced Students ages 14-23

Session 1: June 2 - July 12 (6 weeks)
Session 2: June 16 - July 12 (4 weeks)
Session 3: July 14 - August 9 (4 weeks)

The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance continues to expand its educational horizons, having added to its curriculum the pedagogy and choreography of Ohad Naharin. Students now have the opportunity to study existing works of three of the world’s foremost choreographers—William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian and Ohad Naharin—as well as to create new works with highly accomplished choreographers Robert Moses, Alex Ketley, Christian Burns, and Summer Lee Rhatigan.

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 (Enrollment limited to 24 advanced dancers ages 18-23)

Following morning technique classes taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, weeks one and two will be largely devoted to learning and practicing William Forsythe’s “Improvisation Technologies”—as taught by his longtime colleague Thomas McManus, former principal dancer with Frankfurt Ballet. During week two, Thomas will begin adapting/setting selected Forsythe choreography on the students, which he will continue through week three.

Morning technique classes will continue throughout the six-week program, with Alex Ketley and Chiharu Shibata rotating with Summer Lee Rhatigan as teachers. In addition to the ongoing rehearsal of the Forsythe pieces, students will begin the fourth week studying selected Kylian repertory, adapted and set on them by Mr. Kylian's representative Elke Schepers, ballet mistress of Netherlands Dance Theater. They will also begin creating a new piece with Alex Ketley. The program will culminate with two showcases presenting the works developed, joined by the Session 2 dancers.

Showcase One: July 11 at 7:30pm
Showcase Two: July 12 at 2pm

Tuition: $3,000 for six weeks

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

Depending on which of three “companies” students are assigned to, they will develop new works with Alex Ketley, Robert Moses, and/or Summer Lee Rhatigan. All students will have the opportunity to study Kylian repertory, adapted and set on them by Mr. Kylian's representative Elke Schepers, ballet mistress of Netherlands Dance Theater. Morning technique classes will be taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, Alex Ketley, and Chiharu Shibata. The program will culminate with two showcases presenting the works developed, joined by the Session 1 dancers.

Showcase One: July 11 at 7:30pm
Showcase Two: July 12 at 2pm

Tuition: $2,000 for four weeks

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

Students will be divided into four “companies” determining which teachers/choreographers they will work with. All students will have the opportunity to study Kylian repertory, adapted and set on them by Mr. Kylian's representative Elke Schepers, ballet mistress of Netherlands Dance Theater. Depending on which of the four companies students are assigned to, they will also develop new works with Alex Ketley, Robert Moses, Christian Burns and/or Summer Lee Rhatigan.

Two of the companies (each limited to 28 advanced dancers, ages 18-23) will devote a great deal of its attention to studying the dance language “gaga” and choreography of Ohad Naharin, artistic director of the internationally acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company, as taught by Mr. Naharin's representative Bobbi Smith.

Morning technique classes will be taught by Summer Lee Rhatigan, Alex Ketley, Christian Burns and Chiharu Shibata. The program will culminate with two showcases presenting the works developed throughout the session.

Showcase One: August 8 at 7:30pm
Showcase Two: August 9 at 2pm

Tuition: $2,000 for four weeks

2008 Choreographic Apprentice Residency

Aspiring choreographers generally face a formidable challenge finding ways to pursue their dream. The Conservatory’s Choreographic Apprentice Residency, designed to nurture aspiring choreographers ages 18-23, is open to a maximum of twelve students in the three sessions of the Summer Intensive Program.

Those selected (on the basis of their audition, an essay and interview) will be given nine hours of studio time per week, assigned at least two dancers upon whom to choreograph, and receive four weeks of guidance by a professional choreographer. At the conclusion of each of the three sessions, the residents will have an opportunity to present their work to the student body, faculty and guests.

This residency takes place in addition to, and after, the already very long hours of the Summer Intensive Program. It is not for the faint-hearted, as it requires an extraordinary amount of mental and physical stamina.

Applicants are asked to state their interest in the Residency clearly on their application form and to submit no later than February 28, 2008 an essay describing their interest in choreography and what they hope to accomplish through the Residency.

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