Summer Dance Youth Academy | WVU College of Creative Arts and Media

This week-long day program focusing on dance and movement training and exploration. The program is geared towards children ages 5-11 years old, with little to no previous dance experience.

The program offers exquisite instruction by current students and alumni of the WVU Dance Program who have all been hand-picked specifically to work with your child. Dancers will experience and receive daily instruction in a variety of dance styles, including Ballet, Creative Movement, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, and more. The mornings will begin with a full group yoga class specifically for this age group. Class periods will also include activities in the visual arts and crafts. Classes will break for water and snacks to allow students to rejuvenate and continue through the rest of the day’s schedule. There will be an extended lunch break in the middle of the day. Participants should bring their own lunch. Parents will not be allowed in the studio during class time as this might distract the child from fully engaging in the activities. A closing informal showcase is scheduled for the final day of the program to highlight material covered during the week. The showcase is free and will be open to parents, family members, friends, and teachers. The showcase allows the students to “show off” and perform short routines that they have practiced during the 5-day academy.

Classes Offered

Daily Technique Classes:

Ballet
Creative Movement
Jazz
Tap
Hip-hop
Yoga
Acro
AND MUCH MORE!

Schedule

Monday, July 13 – Thursday, July 16

8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.	Student Drop-off/Preparing for Dance Class
9 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.	Period I
9:50 a.m. - 10 a.m.	Break
10 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.	Period II
10:50 a.m. - 11 a.m.	Snack Break
11 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.	Period III
11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.	Lunch Break
1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.	Period IV
2 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.	Period V
2:50 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	End of day wrap-up
3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.	Parent/Guardian Pick-up

Friday, July 11 (Final Day Showcase)

8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.	Student Drop-off/Preparing for Dance Class
9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.	Warm up
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.	Rehearsals for showcase
12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Preparing for showcase
12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.	Final showcase

This short informal performance will begin at 12:30pm. This will take place at E. Moore Hall, in the dance studio. At the conclusion of the Young Academy Showcase, parents will be allowed to take group photos and photos of their child with the instructors. A certificate of completion will be awarded to each participant at the conclusion of the showcase.

*NOTE: The day ends at 1pm!

What to Bring

Dance attire and footwear are strongly suggested but not required. Bring what you have.

Ballet shoes
Jazz shoes
Tap shoes
Leotard
Footless Tights (shorts and form-fitting clothing are also accepted)
Daily Snack
Water Bottle

Parent Involvement

Parents/guardians can wait for their child in the E. Moore Hall lobby, but they will not be able to sit and observe classes, as this might distract their child from fully engaging in the classes. Parents/guardians, as well as family and friends, are welcome to watch their child during the showcase on the final day of the program.

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Policy

Drop-off and pick-up will take place at the E. Moore Hall lobby. Children must be brought into the lobby, and parents/guardians should confirm with one of the instructors that they dropped off their child. Parents/guardians must make sure that the instructors are aware of any other drop-off and/or pick-up arrangements before the beginning of the day’s classes. This needs to be done verbally as well as in writing (a signed note) with contact information and the name of the person who will be picking up the child at the end of the day.

Tuition

First-time SDA dances: $525.00
Returning (2025) SDA dancers: $475.00
Two or more siblings: $375.00 each

WVU Dance Instructors

Sydnie Tetrick

Lead Instructor

Sydnie Tetrick is a senior dance major at West Virginia University (WVU), originally from Martinsburg, West Virginia. She began dancing at the age of four at Tari Jo's Dance Studio and later served as captain of the Martinsburg High School Velocity Dance Team (VDT). Sydnie is an active member of the Student Dance Association, where she serves as the Fundraising and Events Chair, as well as the National Honors Society of Dance Arts, serving as Vice President. She has performed in multiple WVU Dance productions, including Celebration of Dance, Dance Now!, and Spring Showcase. Sydnie has also attended American College Dance Association conferences, the National Dance Education Organization 2025 National conference, and WV Dance Festivals. She currently teaches tap and acro to dancers ages 4-12 at Morgantown Dance Studio. Sydnie has trained extensively in a wide range of styles, including ballet, jazz, modern, tap, pointe, acro, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and pom.

Meredith Ballard

Instructor

Meredith Ballard is a Senior at WVU graduating in May 2026 with a B.A. in Dance and minors in Public Relations, as well as Personal Training & Group Fitness. She studied dance for 9 years in Martinsburg, WV, at Tari Jo’s Dance Studio, and was a member of the Martinsburg High School Velocity Dance Team from 2020-2022. She currently serves on the Board for the WVU Student Dance Association and is the WVU chapter president of the National Honor Society of Dance Arts. Meredith has choreographed for and performed in Celebration of Dance, Dance Now!, and the Spring Showcase annual concerts. In 2025, her piece titled It is Written was chosen to represent WVU and be performed at the ACDA

(American College Dance Association) Mid-Atlantic conference at the University of Maryland. Meredith has attended the Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary Intensives in Las Vegas, NV, and in New York City. In addition, she attended the ACDA Conferences and NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) national conferences. Additional performance credits include the West Virginia Dance Festival. Meredith is a certified Yoga instructor. She currently teaches ballet, jazz, and acro at the Morgantown Dance Studio. She has studied a variety of styles, including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, acro, and Kathak. This will be Meredith’s third year as an instructor for the WVU Youth Academy Summer Dance program.

Lileighana Kail

Instructor

Lileighana Kail is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently a sophomore majoring in dance and journalism with a minor in communication studies. Lily grew up dancing at Lori Allen Dance Studio, where she also had the opportunity to teach little kids. She has been dancing for 15 years and continues to enjoy dancing at WVU. She currently serves as the WVU Dance Program ambassador for the American College Dance Association.

Abby Cox

Instructor

Abby Cox is a current junior dance major with minors in finance and insurance at West Virginia University and is from St. Albans, WV. She has been dancing for 18 years and grew up in her hometown studio, Spotlight Dance and Acrobatics. She danced competitively for 8 years and traveled with her studio, attending many competitions and conventions. She attended Dance West Virginia through her high school years and has performed at the West Virginia Dance Festival. Since coming into the WVU Dance Program in 2023, she has performed in every WVU showcase and is now a 3-time student choreographer. She received an opportunity to perform at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and attend the American College Dance Association Mid-Atlantic South Conference for the past two years, including performing in the 2024 Gala. Abby has always had a passion for dance, and she is excited to work alongside her peers in being one of the instructors for the Summer Dance Academy this year!