Introduction
 SOCAPA’s Summer Dance Program is a Jazz and Hip Hop intensive that also features specialty classes in Breakdancing, Lyrical, House, Wacking, and African. Classes are geared towards learning cutting-edge choreography at a professional pace and preparing routines to be featured in live theater performances and in dance videos shot by SOCAPA instructors. This provides students in our Dance Program with a video portfolio featuring a number of their performances in a variety of projects.
Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances.
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| --Maya Angelou |
Curriculum
SOCAPA’s Dance Program is divided into Intermediate and Advanced levels (with an additional Step One level offered in New York City). There will be a placement and assessment class on the first day of the Program that will include a warm up, across-the-floor progressions focusing on technique, and short combinations performed in small groups. Students will be evaluated by the SOCAPA Dance faculty and assigned to a level based on skill, performance, and which style best suits them (Jazz, Hip Hop, etc.). While all classes are taught at their respective level, instructors work to cater to each student’s individual needs.
Although most classes are geared towards learning choreography for the videos and performances, others will concentrate on improving technique, body conditioning, improvisation, and developing style, stage presence, and confidence. In addition to regularly scheduled classes, there are special guest instructors, make-up and costuming sessions, audition and theater etiquette classes, dance-related field trips, and a headshot session with SOCAPA’s Photography students.
 To round out the curriculum and provide them with their own creative outlet, SOCAPA Dance students will be assigned a choreography project and work in small groups to prepare a short, original piece. There will be allotted time to work on the projects outside of class, and faculty guidance when needed. Dancers will perform their video number as well as their original work on stage for a live audience in conjunction with the Acting Program’s monologue/scene presentations. In this way, students gain invaluable experience in both commercial and concert styles of dance and performance.
Step One Dance Program: The Step One level is only offered at our New York City campus and is designed for dancers with less than three years of formal training who are primarily interested in Hip Hop. At least one year of dance experience is highly recommended, and students should expect a challenging intensive that will also include some Jazz technique fundamentals.
 Intermediate Dance Program: The Intermediate level has been designed for dancers with a minimum of three years of consistent training. Students should have experience in a variety of disciplines, be familiar with basic dance terminology, and be comfortable with a single pirouette.
Advanced Dance Program: The Advanced level is intended for more experienced dancers with a minimum of five years of consistent dance technique, including ballet. Students in this Program should be well versed in dance terminology and should be proficient in turns and leaps (e.g. pirouettes, chaines, fouettes, jetes, etc.). Dancers at this level will focus more on strengthening and expanding their Jazz and Contemporary skills but will also be exposed to the aforementioned disciplines.
| Dance is music made visible. |
| --George Balanchine |
Schedule
Students in the two week dance program perform in one professionally shot and edited dance video and perform for a live audience at the end of the program. Three week students have the opportunity to do each twice. Although most classes are geared towards learning choreography for the videos and live performances, others concentrate on improving technique, body conditioning, and improvisation, as well as developing style, stage presence, and confidence. In addition to regularly scheduled classes, there are special guest instructors, make-up and costuming sessions, audition and theater etiquette classes, dance-related field trips, and a headshot session with SOCAPA’s Photography students. To round out the curriculum and provide students with a creative outlet, SOCAPA Dance students are assigned a choreography project and work in small groups to prepare a short, original piece. There is allotted time to work on the project outside of class and faculty guidance when needed. Dancers perform their video number, as well as their original work, on stage for a live audience in conjunction with the Acting Program’s monologue/ scene presentations. In this way, students gain invaluable experience in both commercial and concert styles of dance and performance.
VIDEO PLAYER - PLAY ME!
[ more dance vidoes ]
Showcase Festival
On the final Friday afternoon of the three-week program, SOCAPA holds its "Showcase Festival" followed by a reception for friends and family. All the acting reels, photography slides, music videos and student films are shown on the giant silver screen. In addition to the projected work, there are live dance performances, actor monologues, and a photography exhibit. We encourage you to invite your fellow collaborators, friends and family. Although we do have a final live performance/film screening of all the two-week work just for the camp, please note that students in the two-week program do not have a final showcase festival for friends and family.
We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.
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| --Nietzsche |
College Credit Option
High School students in the three-week Filmmaking, Acting for Film, Photography and Dance Programs may opt to take the course for three AP College Credits issued by Long Island University. [ More Info on College Credit ]
Extra-Curricular
We at SOCAPA believe that you should work hard and play hard. Discipline and drive are two of the most important attributes of all successful artists, but hey, what's a summer without the beach? Every evening, Monday through Friday, we plan an activity for the students, whether it be a barbecue on campus, a dinner in the city, a cool-off swim, a theater/musical performance, or a film screening. On the Saturday afternoons that are not devoted to shooting and performing, we organize a group excursion. This could include a trip to a museum, the beach or a Broadway show. Past evening and Saturday excursions have included trips to Coney Island Amusement Park, live tapings of MTVs "TRL," Shakespeare in the Park, shopping in SoHo, Unity Sessions Hip-Hop Concert in Prospect Park, Universal Studios, Pilobolus Dance Group at the Joyce Theater, Jones Beach, Off-Broadway Shows De La Guarda, Stomp and Rent, Six Flags Amusement Park, Fourth of July Fireworks, and Bryant Park Film Screenings, to name a few.
SOCAPA - The Best Choice
For the aspiring young dancer, SOCAPA is by far the best choice! We’ve had former students go on to study at prestigious dance schools, appear in professional music videos, and even go on tour with major artists. SOCAPA offers small classes and an accomplished teaching staff comprised of industry professionals with recent and ongoing experience as performers, educators and choreographers. Drawn from some of the top universities and dance programs, including Alvin Ailey, Broadway Dance Center, NYU and LIU, and having taught and performed all over the world, the instructors at SOCAPA guide the students through the Program with delicacy, energy and skill.
LA Dancers during video shoot on Venice Beach
Summer Dance Program Sample Videos
DANCE PROGRAM LINKS
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