**This post has been updated**

In our last post we focused on sending younger dancers for their first summer intensive. In this post, we’re focusing on the older kids, primarily those ages 15-18. 

Parents, by this time, you know the drill, right? We’re assuming your kids have been to summer programs before. And, if not, we’d really suggest you listen to our podcast on summer programs or read our previous blog post.

We’re assuming you know the drop-off plan, how pick-up works, whether or not there will be a show and if it’s worth attending. So, we’ll dispense with all of that and jump right into the meaty stuff.

Making Healthy Choices 

At this age, the issues you’ll be dealing with have more to do with the kinds of shenanigans you’re probably seeing in many high schools – drugs, vaping, alcohol and all that stuff you hope your kids don’t get mixed up with. And, even eating disorders. All of this happens at summer intensives and don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t. Ideally, your dancer won’t be involved, but we can tell you that it has been an issue at every single program our kids have attended. 

The most important thing that you can do is coach them through how to handle these situations and explain to them why it’s best to simply avoid being caught up in any of it. Most important, it’s dangerous, and there is a strong likelihood someone will get caught. You really don’t want to get that phone call that your kid was the one caught vaping or something even worse.

Being Strategic About Summer Programs

For dancers at this age, choices of which summer programs to attend should be much more strategic than when they were younger. And, they should be looking at rounding out the holes in their technique or picking up skills they may not be getting in their year-round program. 

More important, though, it’s all about networking and exposure!

When a student is 15 or older, they should be looking at summer programs where they might be interested in attending the school for year-round training, joining the trainee program or second company and even whether or not they might be interested in dancing for that company some day. 

And, at this stage of the game, your reputation matters even more than when you were younger! Your dancer might be coming in with a good reputation and all they need to do is maintain it. Or, you might have a kid who may need to engage in a little reputation rehab! If you have one of those, this is the time to do it!

Let’s also be really clear. All of the schools talk to one another. We found out that before my son joined his current program, many conversations were had with his former school. The moral of this story? Your reputation follows you whether you like it or not. 

In addition, it is not uncommon for teachers to talk with current students. They might ask a student if they know a particular dancer who happens to be at the school for an audition. It is so easy for the student to sway opinions one way or the other toward the dancer who is auditioning. Both of our kids have had this happen several times, where a teacher would ask them if they knew a particular student. Fortunately, it always involved students they respected a lot.

On the other hand, my son had a friend who recently attended an international dance festival where she ran into a fellow dancer who had been her (fairly difficult) roommate at a summer intensive when they were both younger. And, guess what? She hadn’t changed a bit. At some point, that dancer’s reputation will catch up to her if it hasn’t already.

In addition your dancer should be careful what they post on social media. Give your student a few tips on keeping their feed positive. If they have an issue with the school, another student or a teacher, keep it off social media! You just never know who might screenshot the post and pass it along. And, for the love of all things ballet, DO NOT post about all the ways you were sneaking out of the dorms or sneaking someone into your room!

Building Relationships

The other important aspect of the summer intensive game at this age is that you want your dancer to connect with four different groups –  the teachers from the school, guest teachers, any students who attend that school year round and, of course, the other students there for the summer.

If your dancer is interested in staying for the year-round program, it helps to establish a great relationship with their primary technique teacher. When the time comes to audition for the school, it will be important that someone remembers your dancer. When my son auditioned for his second company, he had to go through a screening round first. Fortunately, the two who were running the audition remembered him from his prior summers there. It always helps to have teachers who are in your corner!

It’s also a great idea to get to know guest teachers as well as you can. You never know where else they might teach and they may even run a school or company you might be interested in joining. For example, a well-known choreographer might teach a class at a summer program and spot someone they’re interested in working with. Next thing you know, your dancer might be headed off to that company to continue working with them. This is not a hypothetical – it happens!!

Also, get to know the other year-round students. They’ll be able to give your dancer a sense of what the vibe at the school is. They can also provide the inside line on how many students may have left the school and how many new spots might be available in the fall.

And, as we mentioned before, teachers, and the current students, talk. It’s important to make sure your dancer has great relationships with the year-round kids. First, because it’s always nice to have more friends and second, you never know where you might find allies to give that extra nudge to help your dancer get into the school!

It’s also a good idea to establish friendly relationships with as many of the other summer students as possible. At this age, they are only a year or two from heading into trainee and second company positions. And, once they’re all in professional careers, this is their peer group. You want them to love your dancer and to want to dance with them!

One other note – if your dancer has been given a scholarship to attend their summer program, take it seriously. At this age, scholarships mean that they’re truly interested in you as a potential candidate for attendance in the full-time program. 

Avoid The Drama And Be Professional

Here are a few more tips for making your summer the most effective it can be. First, stay out of the drama. These are teenagers and we all know that drama follows teenagers like flies to honey. Our advice – avoid it. Of course, every kid wants to know what’s going on and that’s fine. You just don’t want word getting back to the administration that your dancer was involved in any way.

Your dancer is only a few years removed from being a professional. It’s time to act like one. It’s probably second nature at this point, but sometimes it bears repeating. Part of acting professional is presenting as professional. Invest in some decent cover ups. And, no, flannel pajama bottoms don’t count. The old cliche of dressing for the job you want, not the one you have, really holds true here.

Whether we like it or not, appearance counts. Make sure your hair is neat and out of your face. Guys, this goes for you too. You may love those golden locks, but get them out of your face. Also, avoid heavy jewelry. This goes for the women as well as the men. Until you get a sense of the “unwritten” dress code, keep it simple and keep it professional.

And, please, show up to class on time! We know they’re teenagers. And, no one is around to wake them up, except maybe their roommate (if their roommate is nice). But, get up on time and eat a decent breakfast before you get to class. My son had a roommate who had a hard time waking up. So, he set three alarms. And, he put them across the room, which forced him to get out of bed. Did it always work? No, but my son happened to be a morning person and so he served as the alarm of last resort

Finally, if you’re interested in potentially staying for year-round or even auditioning to become a trainee or second company member, be sure you’ve done your homework. Does the school hold a formal audition during the summer? Or, is it more informal where you may get pulled aside and invited to stay? Regardless of how it happens, know this going in. 

And, if it does happen, be prepared to respond appropriately. We’d suggest keeping it a bit vague and not making any commitment until you see what the school is really talking about. Offers always come in writing and decisions shouldn’t be made until you see what’s on paper.

If your dancer is truly interested in a particular school or company, they should watch as much of this company as they can on YouTube. And, if your dancer has a chance to attend a live performance of the company while at their summer program, absolutely go. That’s by far the best way to get a sense of how you might fit there.

We’re sure your kids will have a great time and will come back much improved as dancers. 

Have a great summer!

P.S. Be sure to check out our Summer Intensive Essentials Guide for must-have items every dancer needs for their summer training.