Summer intensives can be a nerve wracking experience if you’re not prepared. It’s important for to arrive early, stretch before the audition or class begins, keep healthy sleeping and eating habits, relax, be focused, & do your best. Here are a few tips we learned this past summer. Keep these in mind and you’ll be sure to get the most out of your summer training!
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Summer Intensive Experience
Summer Intensive Tip #1: Be Friendly. Summer Intensives are a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends with people who have similar interests.
Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary Summer Intensive NYC Photo Credit: Michael Blake
Summer Intensive Tip #2: Eat Clean & Drink LOTS of water. This will keep your muscles energized and help to fight off fatigue!
Summer Intensive Tip #3: Work harder than you’ve ever worked before! Setting goals and working towards them builds character, gets results and brings new opportunity!
Summer Intensive Tip #4: Be 100% focused during class. If you let yourself become distracted by interruptions, you might miss out on your dreams.
Summer Intensive Tip #5: Review what you learn in class at the end of every day.

Juan Carlos Penuela’s Class at The Joffrey Ballet School Jazz & Contemporary Intensive NYC Photo credit: Michael Blake
Summer Intensive Tip #6: Keep a journal. Write your goals down and keep a permanent measure of success. Writing requires us to think through how’s and why’s, and reminds us to articulate the next steps. Written accounts can increase personal accountability and serve to inspire others.
Summer Intensive Tip #7: Practice your performance choreography outside of your rehearsals. This will help you to arrive at each rehearsal prepared and confident to keep building on.
Summer Intensive Tip #8: Take lots of pictures.
Summer Intensive Tip #9: Keep in touch with your new friends.
Summer Intensive Tip #10: Stay connected with your dance teachers online. Keeping an extended network of contacts can help you study at other schools in the future, seek college recommendations, or help in getting your first professional contract!
Summer Intensive #FinalTip: If you have a great experience at the summer intensive, tell your friends, & attend it again the next year!

Joffrey Ballet School Jazz & Contemporary Program Director, Michael Blake, with Joffrey summer intensive students.
Summer Intensive