You’re students have just received the email. They've been accepted to a premier summer dance intensive. This acceptance means so much—the student has enough talent to attend and he or she must be ready to endure the rigors of such a program. Plus, the parents must deal with the logistics of getting their children to and from programs that might be across the country and unchaperoned.
Here are some things for both parents of dancers and dancers to consider as they get ready for their big experience—probably the best experience they have ever had as a dancer—and some tips that might make the program more successful for both parents and dancers.
1. If the parents have to find accommodations for their unchaperoned children, choose them carefully. At American Ballet Theatre in New York City, for instance, quite a number of children in the 15-18 age group stay in dorms without chaperones. They seem to enjoy this and handle it quite well. Many moms also stayed in New York University dorms with their daughters, although they aren’t a cheaper alternative to finding a sublet.
Know that for unchaperoned programs like ABT and San Francisco Ballet, by far, finding housing is the hardest part of going to these summer intensives. It’s time consuming and housing is expensive.
2. Make sure your son or daughter adds extra classes, weight lifting or exercise into his or her day prior to attending the intensive. Unlike some of the other programs, the ABT summer intensive really is intense. The first week has the kids dancing, doing yoga and Pilates six hours a day. They come out tired and sore. The boys may actually be muscle sore from 'pressing' girls and partnering them. Dancers should add in some sort of cross training—running, jumping rope, swimming, or something else in the weeks prior to the program’s start to increase their stamina, although some experts advise against running because it can cause tendon issues.
3. Be prepared for the difference in weather if you travel far from home. Tell dancers to carry--and use--electrolyte packets and other sports drinks along with water to keep them hydrated.
Also bring a variety of clothing. New York can be rainy and chilly early in June--or beastly hot and humid. San Francisco can be freezing cold and foggy all summer long or beautiful and just 70 degrees. Boston or Houston temperatures also can vary, so never assume you know the summer weather in a particular city.
4. Be sure your son or daughter takes advantage of the physical therapist provided by the program if they run into any problem. (Most of the kids at the really intensive programs up with some sort of foot problems or shin splints.)
5. Dancers need to know going into the program that it may be harder than anything else they may have participated in before. At the end of the first day they are tired. The next morning, they may be wondering how they’ll make it through the second day. At the end of the first full week, they will wonder if they can make it through the whole program. However, by week three, they have settled into the routine and adjusted to the strenuous nature of the program. At the end of the six weeks, they will be in great shape and wish the program wasn’t ending yet. They’ll know they are capable of dancing for six hours a day every day…and they’ll want to do so.
6. For chaperoning parents, know that you’ll be in a strange city on your own while your dancer dances. For instance, parents are not allowed into the ABT building or up to the ABT offices in general until the one—yes, one—parent observation day. So, find something to do or bring something to do.
About the Author
Nina Amir is a freelance writer, nonfiction book editor and writing coach who often writes about dance and is working on a book about how to mentor boys who want to become professional dancers. She also blogs about being the parent of a male dancer at www.mysoncandance.wordpress.com.
