The Dance Institute

of The University of Akron

Photo of dancers rehersing at the Ballet Center

Summer Session: 2008

Schedule:
  • Pre-Professional Children's Program
    • June 9 - July 3
  • Adult Non-Credit Dance Classes
    • May 27 - June 30
    • July 7 - August 7

Dance Institute's 4 week summer session is planned in the phenomenal new state-of- the art studios in Guzzetta Hall. Schedules include classes for children ages 3-7 in pre-ballet, children ages 8 -18 in the pre-professional levels, and adults in the outstanding adult non-credit evening program.

The academic year professional faculty of Dance Institute (D.I.) will be joined by many guest master teachers to provide the community with an invigorating, challenging and inspiring month of dance. With the expansiveness of the new Guzzetta Hall facility, D.I. is fortunate to have the ability to offer a full range of classes, teachers, and styles. Students will study the nuances of classical ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballroom, and both classical and modern repertoire. Summer brings a wonderful opportunity for students to study dance in a more focused, concentrated, manner. Without the rigorous demands of their academic schools and other activities, students can gain deeper understanding, strength, and dance technique in the summer. Due to the accelerated schedule of our 4-week summer session, the students' progress is noticeably visible, improving technically while gaining self-confidence, pride, and artistic pleasure. They also have fun while developing meaningful new friendships.

Call: 330-972-7949 for registration & information.

Auditions

Please note, all Intermediate and Advanced level pre-professional students must do a placement audition.

    Audition I:
    • Saturday February 23rd 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
  • Audition II:
    • Saturday April 12th 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
  • Audition III:
    • Friday May 2nd  6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

* Please fill out a placement audition registration form and indicate which audition date you will be attending. Visit the Summer Audition page for more information.

Tuition

  • All UA faculty and staff and their immediate family receive 20% off tuition.
  • Summer Special: UA Students and their children receive 10% off tuition!

Summer of Master Teachers

MaryAnn Black
Adjunct dance faculty for The University of Akron and Kent State University. Starred in her own ABC sitcom “Sugartime,” guest starred in “Three’s Company,” and appeared in three Jane Fonda workout videos. Original L.A. cast of “Chorus Line.” Current associate artistic director of Porthouse Summer Theatre.
Nick Carlisle
A dance artist with 20 years of professional experience.  He has both a BFA from Ohio University and a MFA from Case Western Reserve University in performance and choreography.  Nick is a former member of the Tom Evert Dance Co. and Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels.  He is currently teaching for The University of Akron dance program.
Andrew Carroll
Current Associate Professor of Dance at The University of Akron and Director of The University of Akron Dance Company. Toured the United States, South America, Europe, and China as a soloist with Pennsylvania Ballet Company and Ohio Ballet. Guest master teacher throughout the United States.
 
Mary Kay Finn
Former Ohio Ballet member. Has served as an executive agency lobbyist, an administrative judge, assistant professor and litigator in the public and private practice of law. Current adjunct dance faculty for The University of Akron, School of Dance.
Christina Foisie
Soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet Company for seven years. Dance Institute faculty since 1994, working closely with students at every level of ballet and pointe. Current adjunct dance faculty member at The University of Akron.
Travis Gatling
Dance faculty member of Ohio University. Nationwide soloist, master teacher and choreographer.
Julie Goncy
Co-founder and former dancer with “illuminata dance company”. B.A. in dance from The University of Akron. Part-time faculty member for UA dance program. Certified Pilates instructor in the Akron area. Received Outstanding Teacher Award 2007 from Dance Institute.
 
Gladisa Guadalupe
Founding Artistic Director of Cleveland School of Dance, official school of Cleveland Youth Ballet Company. Former principal dancer with Ballet de Caracas and Cleveland San Jose Ballet.
 
Lana Carroll Heylock
Head of Dance Institute and full time modern instructor for The University of Akron and Dance Institute. Former soloist, rehearsal director, and Special Projects director for the Jennifer Muller Dance Company in New York City. International master teacher. Received her B.F.A. in dance from The University of Akron.
Pauline Howe
B.A. in ballet from The University of Akron, M.A. in dance, specializing in pedagogy. Former member of St. Paul City Ballet. Current adjunct faculty for The University of Akron, School of Dance.
Kimberly Lawver
Received her B.F.A. from University of Akron. She has been an adjunct faculty member at UA since 2001. Director and choreographer for performance and competition teams where her students have won national titles and scholarships. Currently she is pursuing her Masters degree at UA.
Amy Miller
Current Artistic Associate, founding member, and dancer with Groundworks Dance Theater. Former soloist with Ohio Ballet. Represents Groundworks through an ICARE-funded educational partnership with the Cleveland Public schools.
Brian and Scott Nicholson
Artistic Directors and choreographers for internationally known dance group ILL’U’SYN. Performing Nationally and Internationally on such television shows as BET’s 106 & Park and Revamped Dance Contest, ESPN/ESPN2, MTV,and MTV2. They have received Worldwide recognition for their choreography from Shane Sparks from his worldwide-web Battle Of The Choreographers and received 1st place at the national BET’s dance talent showcase, Blaze The Stage 07’. 
 
 

DAAF Instructors

The Dance as an Art Form (DAAF) instructors are still to be determined. DAAF lectures and classes pertain to the art of dance. Master classes or lectures from the following topics may include: pilates, yoga, stretch class, sports medicine and injury prevention, acting for dancers, nutrition, dance video, theatrical make-up and hair, amongst others.

Outstanding Musicians

In order to provide the most professional experience possible, Dance Institute students are very fortunate to take class with live musical accompaniment.

Musicians: Cindy Badran, Julie Carlson, Karan Gless, Jason Jedlicka, Jason Little, Natasha Musaelyan, and Jeffrey Rolf