Offering dancers of all levels and abilities classes throughout the summer for over 25 years, Footlight Dance Centre is a well-rounded summer dance experience.
"There is something for everyone," said Footlight Dance Centre Director Hilarie Neely. "It's a nice variety from the standard school year curriculum. In the summer, it's really about the exploratory process and engaging in dance whether your are at a beginner level or an advanced level."
Footlight will offer "Dance in the Mountains" from June 14-18, which offers intensive dance for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12 years old to adults. Classes are held all day in ballet, classical variations, jazz, hip-hop and Pilates. Classes will be taught by guest instructors including Jaime Moore and Dantzel Cherry.
"DANCEcamp," session one, will take place June 21-25 and session two will take place July 12-16. Both camps are for students entering 2nd through 4th grade in September, and it will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day with activities including: ballet, hip-hop, tap, creative, dance history, choreography, craft activities and dance videos.
"Kids go from year to year and progress in a timely fashion," Neely said. "All programs offer kids an opportunity and bringing in guest teachers is always exciting especially when we see results and the programs maturing."
Footlight will also offer the "Cecchetti Ballet Elite Camp" from July 5-9, which is a workshop in the Cecchetti Ballet Method with classes offered in levels 1-4. It is available to students eight years old and older with more than two years ballet experience.
Footlight's "August Dance Refresher" will take place Aug. 16-20, which is a week-long workshop to prepare for fall classes for middle and high school students who are intermediate and advanced dancers. Classes will cover ballet, pointe, Pilates conditioning, modern and jazz dance.
"We have been around for over 25 years and two kids who were Footlight dancers are graduating from college with dance degrees and others have minors," Neely said. "More kids are going on with dance than there ever use to be."
All camps take place at The Community Campus studio in Hailey. For details, call 578-5462.
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Summer Ballet Camp
The Sun Valley Ballet School (726-9876) is offering Summer Ballet Camp for ages 4-8 with two sessions—July 12-23 and Aug. 9-20. The sessions are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Hailey Studio, 400 N. Main. The camps include lots of dancing and ballet-oriented art projects, with healthy snacks and materials included. Cost is $150 per session. Keep in mind that 4-5 year olds must have a half-year of dance experience.
Footlight Dance Centre gives young dancers an opportunity to engage and explore dance beyond the school year.
Courtesy photo by Aubrey Stephens
