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

Monday, July 15 - Friday, July 19, 2024

This weeklong dance 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, which will include Ballet, Creative Movement, Jazz, Hip-hop and Tap. Classes will break for water and snacks to rejuvenate and help students continue through the rest of the day’s schedule. 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 gives the students an opportunity to “show off” and perform short routines that they have practiced during the 5-day academy.

Classes Offered

Ballet; Creative Movement; Jazz; Tap; Hip-hop and much, much more!

Instructors

Lead Instructor - Abbigale Snyder is a senior at West Virginia University graduating in December 2024 with a double major in Dance and General Business. She served as the President of the NHSDA WVU Chapter and the secretary of the Student Dance Association. She attended Kat and Company Dance Studio in Morgantown, WV for 15 years and began teaching in 2017 in a multitude of genres, such as ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics. Since attending WVU, Abbigale has performed and choreographed pieces in the public and mainstage concerts. After graduation, Abbigale has plans to continue teaching dance and is looking forward to furthering her dance education and knowledge. chapter.

Meredith Ballard is a Junior who will graduate with her B.A. in Dance in May 2026. She studied dance for 9 years in Martinsburg, WV at Tari Jo’s Dance Studio, and she was a member of the Martinsburg High School Velocity Dance Team from 2020-2022. She is currently a member of the WVU Student Dance Association, and has performed in Celebration of Dance, Dance Now! and the Spring Showcase annual concerts. In 2023 she attended the Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary Intensive in Las Vegas, NV. In addition, she attended the ACDA (American College Dance Association) Mid-Atlantic South Conference, as well as the NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) National Conference in Denver, CO in 2023. She has studied a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, Acro, and Kathak.

Kylie Dempsey is from Harpers Ferry, WV. She is a Junior double major in Dance and Exercise Physiology. She has been dancing for 19 years and has performed in 8 shows here at WVU and has choreographed 2 of her own pieces so far. Kylie used to teach the littles at her hometown studio, Allegro Dance Company for 5 years in ballet, tap, and hip-hop. She currently serves as the President Elect and upcoming President of the Student Dance Association for the 2023-2024 school year.

Sydnie Tetrick is a freshman dance major at West Virginia University (WVU). She started dancing at the age of 4 in Martinsburg, WV at Tari Jo’s Dance Studio. She was a member of the Martinsburg High School Velocity Dance Team where she served as captain. She had the privilege to attend and compete at NDA Nationals with VDT, as well as with the WVU Hip Hop Dance Team. Sydnie is a current WVU Student Dance Association member and has performed in the productions of Celebration of Dance, Dance Now! and the Spring Showcase. This past spring, Sydnie attended the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Mid-Atlantic South Conference at Meredith College, NC as well as the WV Dance Festival in Charleston, WV. She has trained in multiple genres of dance throughout her career including ballet, jazz, modern, tap, pointe, acro, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, pom, and Kathak.

Daily Schedule

8:30am – 9:00am: Student Drop-Off/Preparing for Dance Class
9:00am – 9:50am: Class I
9:50am – 10:00am: Break
10:00am – 10:50am: Class II
10:50am – 11:00am: Snack Break
11:00am – 11:50am: Class III
11:50am – 12:00pm: Break
12:00pm – 12:50pm: Class IV
12:50pm – 1:00pm: Review of the day’s material
1:00pm – Parent/Guardian Pick-Up

Final Day Showcase

Friday, July 15

This short informal performance will begin at 12:15pm. Venue to be determined. 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.

Location

The Young Academy is scheduled to take place at the Canady Creative Arts Center (CCAC) located on the uptown Evansdale campus in Morgantown, WV.

Click here for WVU Campus Maps

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 CAC lobby but and 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 CAC 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 prior to 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 name of the person who will be picking-up the child at the end of the day.

Tuition

First-time SDA dancers: $300.00
Returning (2023) SDA dancers: $270.00