By VOICE-TRIBUNE • Photos by Katheryn Harrington
If you’re an emerging dancer with dreams of taking your technique and artistry to the next level, the Louisville Ballet Summer Intensive is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This exclusive program is designed for dancers who are serious about honing their craft, offering them a taste of what it’s like to train as a professional in a world-class setting.
Louisville Ballet is known for its world-renowned faculty, inspiring facilities, and a curriculum tailored to cultivate each dancer’s growth. Their Summer Intensive is no exception. With a commitment to small class sizes, dancers receive personal, one-on-one attention from expert instructors and artistic staff, ensuring that every correction and feedback is tailored to the individual.
The 2024 summer program featured an incredible guest faculty that included ballet luminaries such as Lauren Anderson, former Houston Ballet Principal Dancer, Brandon Ragland, Artistic Director of Dayton Ballet, known for his dynamic and expressive choreography, as well as Louisville Ballet’s own artistic staff and company artists. “I enjoy the culture that is Louisville Ballet, they have some good stuff going. This is a place that I say ‘yes’ to” said Lauren Anderson “I think everybody needs to experience Louisville Ballet, at least once, just walk in the door and see one show.” This was Lauren’s second year as a guest teacher with Louisville Ballet and she is set to return in 2026.
Throughout the program, dancers from all over the country will commit to a robust schedule of daily classes in ballet, pointe, men’s technique, variations, partnering, and conditioning. Complementary dance styles such as modern, musical theater, pilates, and yoga ensure that dancers develop a well-rounded skill set. The program also features a dedicated Men’s Program, which includes specialized men’s technique, strength training, and partnering. This attention to male dancers is rare in intensives and provides a unique opportunity to hone the skills necessary for male ballet performers. Louisville Ballet understands that dance training is as much about physical wellness as it is about technique. That’s why the Summer Intensive includes on-site physical therapy professionals offering guidance and seminars on injury prevention and recovery.
Every day will culminate in rehearsals that prepare dancers for exciting end-of-session demonstrations and performances to experience the thrill of showcasing their hard work in front of an audience. “This week has been amazing. I got really emotional with those girls because we went somewhere this week. I became a better teacher. I feel that they got to know themselves as dancers. There is a lot of trust in the studio. There are moments they get emotional, you know, they’re teenagers. They are changing constantly, right? They trusted me this week and we went somewhere together. It was a journey and that’s awesome and rare, it doesn’t happen everywhere.” Lauren Anderson shared.
Ready to take your dance career to the next level? Don’t miss out on the 2025 Louisville Ballet Summer Intensive. With world-class training, inspiring mentorship, and an environment that’s both challenging and supportive, this program will leave you with not only improved skills but lasting connections and unforgettable experiences.
For more information visit www.louisvilleballet.org
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