Things are definitely brewing at MCA. We are so excited to be planning for a variety of spring and summer programming for all ages. It is going to be an exciting summer with new offerings inside, outside, and online. All in-person classes will follow the MCA COVID Code of Conduct (this is being continuously evaluated to ensure that we are following or exceeding all state and Saint Mary’s University recommendations) in order to help keep our employees, students and community safe. Registration is open now for visual art classes and will open the week of April 5th for May/June classes and most camps.

Please keep in mind that due to COVID class sizes will be limited, so early registrations is recommended.

BEGINNING & AGE BASED DANCE CLASSES

Dance Adventures

Day/Dates: Mondays, May 17-June 14 (no class 5/31) Time: 5:45-6:45pm  Ages: 4-6  Instructor: Rachael Ryan Location: Outside Valencia Arts Center Fee: $32 (includes dancer prop kit)

Ballet I/IIA

Day/Dates: Thursdays, May 20-June 17 Time: 5:15-6:15pm Ages: 7+ Instructor: Rachael Ryan Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center  (Virtual option available upon request) Fee: $50

Contemporary Dance (ages 8-10)

Day/Dates: Tuesdays, May 18-June 15 Time: 5-5:45pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Courtney Harms Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center Fee: $45

Contemporary Dance (ages 11+)

Day/Dates: Tuesdays, May 18-June 15 Time: 6-7pm Ages: 11+ Instructor: Courtney Harms Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center Fee: $50

Teens Tappin’

Day/Dates: Mondays, May 17-June 21 (no class 5/31 or 6/14) Time: 4:30-5:30pm  Ages: 12-18* Instructor: Becca Braun Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center Fee: $40

LEVEL BASED DANCE CLASSES

(If you are new to MCA or if you have taken more than a year off of dance, please contact the MCA office at mca@smumn.edu for placement recommendations prior to registration)

Ballet IIB/III

Day/Dates: Thursdays, May 20-June 17 Time: 6:30-7:45pm Ages: NA Instructor: Rachael Ryan Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center (Virtual option available upon request) Fee: $63

Int./Adv. Contemporary 

Day/Dates: Mondays, May 17-June 21 (no class 5/31 or 6/14) Time: 5:45-7pm Ages: NA  Instructor: Becca Braun Fee: $50

Ballet IV-VII 

Day/ Dates/Times: May 17-June 17 (no class 5/31) Mondays- 4-5:30pm, R. Ryan, Wednesdays- 5:15-7:15pm, T. Schmidt, Thursdays- 4-6pm, T. Schmidt Ages: NA Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center  (Virtual option may be available upon request) Fee: $247 (14 classes, 26 hours)

PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique)

Day/ Dates: Wednesdays, May 19-June 16 Time: 4-5pm  Ages: NA Instructor: Tammy Schmidt Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center Fee: $58 (dancers will be asked to bring a yoga mat and will be checked additional equipment for the session)

Pointe

Day/ Dates: Thursdays, May 20-June 17 Time: 6:15-7:15pm Ages: NA Instructor: Tammy Schmidt Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center Fee: $50

National Tap Dance Day Workshop- Tap II-V

Day/ Dates: TBA Time:TBA Ages: NA Instructors: Christine Martin & Carter Full Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center Fee: TBA

Virtual Art Classes

Colored Pencil Techniques

Day/ Dates: Mondays, April 14-May 31 Time: 7-8pm Ages: 13+ Instructor: Lisa Douglas Location: Virtual via Zoom Fee: $25

Doodle Club

Day/ Dates: Wednesdays, Ongoing Time: 7:30-8:30pm Ages: 12+ Instructor: Lisa Douglas Location: Virtual via Zoom Fee: Free

Intergenerational Playful Postcards

Day/ Dates: May 30-June 29 Time: Self-paced Ages: Adults 55+ & Girl Scouts Instructors: Brianna Haupt & Catherine Deysach Location: Virtual via Zoom and Self-paced Fee: $12 Adults, $5 Girl Scouts

Theatre Production

The Thirty-Three Little Pigs

Ham it up in this fantastic new twist on an old tale! Squeal with delight as the 33 pigs in the meadow continuously outsmart the hungry wolf, much in the style of Roadrunner and Coyote or Tom and Jerry. From Straw, Stick, and Brick pigs to Pirate, Chef, and Ninja pigs (plus 27 endearing others!), they each have their chance to misdirect, heckle, and hound the bumbling Big Bad Wolf, who only finds himself further and further from getting his fill of little piggies! Full of classic, pop-culture, and world-inspired piggie characters and references, actors and audiences alike will go hog-wild for this show!
Auditions: June 28, 2021 6:30-8:30pm, Sign up here for a 20-minute audition time slot.
Mandatory Cast & Parent Meeting: June 30, 2021, 7pm
Participation Fee: $35
Rehearsals: TBD based on role, July 6-29, 2021, 6:30-8:30pm Monday-Friday, with possible weekends
Performances: July 30-31, 2021 (outside in green space between MCA’s Valencia Arts Center & Alverna Center), $5 per ticket

Summer Camps

Dance Me a Story

Are you ready to step on stage? Then you will love this camp. During this one week experience you will work with classmates to tell a story using ballet, creative movement, and theatre. Participants will even have the opportunity to craft their own costumes and design scenery in preparations for an informal outdoor performance on the last day of camp for friends and family. Campers (and friends and family on the last day) will be required to follow MCA’s COVID Code of Conduct.

Day/ Dates: Monday-Friday, June 21-25

Time: 1-4pm

Ages: 6-9 

Location: Outside Valencia Arts Center (moved inside if inclemete weather)

Fee: $109 (early bird) $129 (after May 1, 2021)*

* Campers will need to bring a towel or sit-upon, water bottle, and snack daily. 

Junior Training Program for Dancers

Are you ready to dance your day away? Here is your chance! Each day dancers will warm up in a ballet class; build foot and ankle strength in pre-pointe; dabble in different theory classes such as dance history, composition (choreography), and theatre; and round out their dance experience with a “genre of the day” class, including jazz, modern, musical theatre, and hip hop. Each day will end with a rehearsal in preparation for a final showcase for up to two family members per dancer. Dress rehearsal and performance schedules, July 16-17 may vary from the above times, but will be communicated in advance.

No auditions are required, but it is recommended that dancers have at least three  years of training.

Due to COVID the capacity is only 10 dancers.

Day/ Dates: Monday-Friday, July 5-17

Time: 9am-4pm, M-F, Dress rehearsal and performance schedules, July 16-17 may vary from the above times, but will be communicated in advance.

Ages: 9-18

Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center

Fee: $429 before 5/15/21, $450 after 5/15/21(Fee includes over 60 hours of instruction. Students will need to bring a lunch and water bottle daily.)

Summer Dance Intensive

MCA’s 18th annual Summer Dance Intensive offers intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12-25 a wonderful well-rounded and personal experience. Due to COVID we are unable to offer boarding this year, however we do plan for in-person classes and virtual options for accepted dancers.  More details including fees and schedules will be released on May 1.

Day/ Dates: Monday-Friday, July 5-30, 2021 (option to attend 2 week or 4 weeks)

Ages: 12-25 (Virtual option may be available upon request)

Location: Inside Valencia Arts Center (Virtual option available upon request) 

Fee: TBA on May 1

Mindful Moves and Artful Journaling

Kids will love this camp that infuses creative journaling, movement, yoga, and mindfulness. Campers will explore their senses as they create, listen to music, build their sensory awareness, while they enjoy the sunshine during this outdoor program. Parents will also breathe a little easier knowing that their kids are learning new tricks to regulate their emotions, build positive self-image and ways to explore with new art materials. Campers will be required to follow MCA’s COVID Code of Conduct.

Day/ Dates: Monday-Friday, Aug. 2-6

Time: 9am-12pm

Ages: 6-12 years (separated in groups)

Instructors: Megan Peterson & Brianna Haupt

Location: Outside Valencia Arts Center (moved inside if inclement weather)

Fee: $109 (early bird), $129 (after May 1, 2021)*

* Campers will need to bring a towel or yoga mat, waterbottle, and snack daily. 

Tap Camp

Join us for an exciting week of rhythm!  TAP CAMP will include classes in tap technique, repertory, improvisation, body percussion, music theory, and concepts for the tap dancer, tap history, and tap in films. TAP CAMP will hold new challenges for beginning, intermediate, and advanced tappers. An informal demonstration for family and friends will be held on Friday. Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, come on dancers, it’s TAP CAMP time! Campers (and friends and family on the last day) will be required to follow MCA’s COVID Code of Conduct.

Dates: August 9-13,  M-F

Time & Ages: Tap for Kids and Tap I: 10-Noon p.m. (ages 6+, no experience- two years experience)

Tap II-V: 9-12 p.m. (Intermediate & advanced Tap Dancers 

ages 11+ or MCA Tap levels II-V. Tappers will participate in a

placement class on day one.)

Fee: Tap for Kids and Tap I: $85 (Early Bird Special), $99 (after May 1)

Tap II-V: $135 (Early Bird Special) $149 (after May 1) 

*Dancers should bring a water bottle and snack each day.