Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, the nation’s preeminent arts summer day camp, today announced its new Choreographic Institute, an innovative new program launching in Summer 2018. Students in the inaugural Choreographic Institute will be taught by some of the most visionary choreographers today including Brian Brooks, Beth Gill, and Angie Pittman. Open via application and geared towards those with a passion for choreography and dance making, the seven-week program will act as an incubator for young dancemakers who want to expand and develop their choreographic voices.

Students interested in auditioning for a spot in the newly-minted Choreographic Institute should visit www.usdan.org and submit a short video of their choreographic work and answer a few basic questions.

“We are creating a summer program that doesn’t exist anywhere in the New York Metro area for young choreographers in high school,” says Choreographer Juliana May, chair of Usdan’s Dance Department and person driving the launch of the new Institute. “Students will have the opportunity to work with three visionary choreographers to create their own solo and group works throughout the summer. It will focus on experimentation, risk taking, and discovering new compositional forms with an emphasis on improvisation and experimental choreographic systems.” In addition to working with our young dancemakers, each choreographer will also set a new work on our advanced technical students through the Usdan Dance Ensemble in the afternoon.

The Choreographic Institute is part of an expanding Dance department, under May’s leadership. With options for both advanced and newly minted dance artists alike to engage with multiple dance forms and ideologies, the innovative program offers a three-track course of study with an emphasis on creativity and composition. The goal: Cast a wide net that responds to Usdan’s diverse student body but while creating an intimate and challenging learning environment where risk taking and play are integral to each class.  

This program dovetails with the recently announced Uniquely U Scholarship Search, which invites young creative ages 7 through 18 to apply for a chance to receive a full seven week scholarship to the Camp. Those applying for Usdan’s Uniquely U Scholarship can also be considered for the Choreographic Institute. More here at uu.usdan.org.

For more information about Usdan’s Dance Department or other classes offered during the 2018 Camp season, visit www.usdan.org or call 631-643-7900 or 212 772 6060.