Classes & Programs / Dance / Summer Dance Intensive

MCA’s 2023 Summer Dance Intensive Audition Options

Des Moines, Iowa
Saturday, March 4, 5:00-7:00pm
The Pointe Academy of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
6151 Thorton Ave- Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50321

 
Winona, Minnesota
Saturday, March 25, 10:00am-12:00pm
Valencia Arts Center
1164 W 10^th St.
Winona, MN 55987

Video Auditions– Accepted through May 1, 2023. Visit our SDI Audition Q & A for submission details.

*Please note that any student who has previously participated in MCA’s SDI is invited back at 25% discounted rate off tuition fees and is not required to attend auditions unless they want to be considered for a talent based scholarship for the Intensive. Video audition requirements are below.

Please include the following on your video:

A ballet barre including the following on alternate sides:  

• plié 
• tendu, dégagé
• rond de jambe and fondu
• frappe 
• developpé or adagio
• grand battement

A ballet center including the following on both sides:

• adagio, pirouette combination with en dehors and en dedans turns 
• petite allegro
• grand allegro

Optionally dancers may include; a jazz, modern, tap, or character dance center combination of at least 64 counts or 16 bars.

Summer dance intensive participation is by audition only. In-person auditions include a 90-minute ballet technique class and approximately 20 minutes of pointe work. Students with less than one year of pointe should take the pointe portion of the class in their flat shoes. The class is open to intermediate, advanced, and pre-professional students ages 11-22. Dancers should dress appropriately for a ballet technique class, including hair secured up off of the face and neck.

Following the ballet class, students will have the option to show a prepared jazz/contemporary, modern, tap, or hip hop center combination of at least 64 counts or 16 bars. This portion of the audition is valuable for those students who excel at a dance discipline other than ballet.

Dancers should arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of class in order to register for the audition and properly warm themselves up. Please bring a bottle of water with a secure lid. A surgical, KN95, or N95 mask is required throughout the Valencia Arts Center and the audition.

Students who are considering attending Saint Mary’s University of MN in the fall and would like to be considered for a dance scholarship should also bring a dance resume and photo to be included with their audition form.

Yes, for dancers who are unable to attend one of our live auditions we do accept video submission. The cutoff date for video submissions is, May 1, 2023. Due to the special circumstances, video submissions will also be considered for scholarships this year. Send videos along with dancer name, age, phone number, email, address and parent or guardian name to:  Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Attn:  Tammy Schmidt, 1164 W. 10th St., Winona, MN 55987 or virtually to tschmidt@smumn.edu through Google Drive or YouTube.

Please include the following on your video:

A ballet barre including the following on alternate sides:  

• plié 
• tendu, dégagé
• rond de jambe and fondu
• frappe 
• developpé or adagio
• grand battement

A ballet center including the following on both sides:

• adagio, pirouette combination with en dehors and en dedans turns 
• petite allegro
• grand allegro

Optionally dancers may include; a jazz, modern, tap, or character dance center combination of at least 64 counts or 16 bars.

No, it is free to attend an in-person audition or submit a video audition.

No, if you have been a participant in the MCA Summer Dance Intensive you do not need to audition to participate in the program unless you would like to be considered for a talent based scholarship. We also offer returning students a 25% savings off their tuition fee (unfortunately there is no discount on room & board fees)

We value returning students and the experience they bring to the program as well as we love to provide them with new challenges year after year.

Dancers selected for talent-based scholarships will be notified at the time of acceptance and will have a two-week time period to accept and register. If a student who received a scholarship does not choose to attend the MCA Summer Intensive, that scholarship will be passed on to another student. Your child will be contacted if additional scholarships become available.

MCA will notify you by email within one week of your audition and within three weeks of digital submissions. If you have auditioned for MCA’s Summer Dance Intensive and not heard from us within this time frame, please contact us at: mca@smumn.edu or 507-453-5500.