ABT, Martha Graham, Pilobolus & The Ailey Organization Partner for Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

Four venerable American dance companies are joining forces with Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts (www.usdan.org), just in time for the 2016 summer camp season. Announced today, the troupes -The Ailey Organization, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Martha Graham, and Pilobolus-- are officially on the Camp's proverbial dance card, further strengthening Usdan's notable offerings for campers from ages four through 18.

As a result of the newly inked collaborations, Usdan's curriculum now includes:

Ailey's Arts In Education & Community Program's teaching artists will lead two

separate hour-long Jazz Dance sessions for the Junior division (grades 4-6), as well as one hour for Dance Ensemble students (grades 4-10);

Martha Graham's Technique classes and Creative Workshop throughout the summer, available to Dance Ensemble students (grades 4-10)

Pilobolus' "Moving and Making with Pilobolus" Masterclass, which allows dancers and non-dancers alike (grades 2-12) to discover their own unique artistic voice, while learning how to work with others to create original material collaboratively;

American Ballet Theatre (ABT) weeklong program is an extension of their "Make a Ballet" program, during which students will explore an existing ballet from the ABT repertoire and create a performance inspired by that piece. The class will be offered to Dance Ensemble majors (grades 4-10) and Junior Ballet students (grades 2-6) during the week of August 8-12.

In addition, the Camp has added Dance Lab: The Art of Dance-Making to its docket. An innovative movement class, Dance Lab students will create their own dance using music, smartphone technology, props, poetry, and personal story, all informed by historical and cultural practices of world-renowned artists. Designed to help students broaden their creative and artistic skills through the art of dance, the daily explorations will be offered to Junior Dance minors (grades 4-6) as well as Recreation students during all sessions.

"
Brandt Schloss, Usdan's Executive Director. "

" says Lauren

Usdan has a history of collaborating with major artists and cultural organizations, and that we

are thrilled to welcome these four companies to our campus for the first time,

We are also grateful to our friend --the wonderful

Dance Educator and Advocate Jody Gottfried Arnhold-- for making the introduction to these

incredible partners.

With these new collaborations in place, we're poised to take the program to even greater heights. I'm more excited than ever to see the performances that emerge from this summer's sessions."

To enroll in the above classes or for more information about the 2016 Camp season, visit www.usdan.org or call 631-643-7900 or 212 772 6060.

The nationally acclaimed summer arts day camp that has introduced the arts to more than 40,000 children since its inception, begins its new season on June 27th. All programs will take place at the camp's magnificent 140-acre woodland campus, located at 185 Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights, NY.

Photo by Jason Varney

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