Pre-Professional Summer Intensive

Designed for Pre-Professional dancers 11 and up, our 1-week program will take place on July 22 – July 26, 2024. Classes during our Summer Intensive will take place at Mareck Center for Dance from 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday. Auditions are required for this program, and online video auditions will be accepted until June 17th. Please read the additional information below!

Junior Summer Intensive

Designed specifically for dancers ages 7-13, our Junior Summer Intensive focuses on the younger student’s desire to develop technique, strength, and artistry in preparation for further dance studies. The week-long program will take place July 15-19, 2024 at Mareck Center for Dance. Dancers do not need to audition to be accepted into this program. Further information on our Junior Summer Intensive can be found here!

Pre-Professional Summer Intensive 2024 Audition Dates & Requirements
There are two ways to audition for the Mareck Center for Dance Summer Intensive this year! We will be offering two in-person auditions and will be accepting recorded video auditions via email. To register for auditions please have the corresponding material for your entry. Each audition will be $25 and will be payable online once materials and registration information is received.

In Studio Audition Requirements:

  • $25 audition fee
  • Resume
  • Headshot
  • First arabesque photo

Recorded Video Audition Requirements: If you are unable to attend our in person audition, you may submit a video audition by emailing the following materials to school@mareckcenterfordance.org.

  • $25 audition fee
    • Please Venmo to @MareckCenterforDance and include “Summer Intensive Audition” and your name in the memo
  • YouTube or Vimeo video link
  • Resume
  • Headshot
  • First arabesque photo

**Videos should be no longer than 5 minutes and must include ballet center work consisting of pirouettes, adagio, petite & grand allegro, and pointe work, if applicable. A contemporary solo (no longer than 1 minute) is also preferred. Results will be sent within three weeks of video submission.

Video auditions must be submitted no later than June 17th

Register for Auditions Here

Click here to submit a video audition

Tuition

Tuition: $500

Applicants must submit a $100 non-refundable deposit (credited toward tuition) with the registration form. Full balance must be postmarked no later than June 25, 2024 or you may jeopardize your place in the program. Applicants are able to receive a 5% discount on tuition by paying tuition in full by May 1st. There are no refunds on tuition. Scholarships are available on a talent and need basis.

Housing

Host Family

Limited host family housing is available for $250/week. This fee covers housing, all meals, and transportation. Host families will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Once matched, host family information will be given to the incoming dancer’s family.

 

Extended Stay Hotels

There are several affordable options for extended stay hotels within 10 miles of the studio. Prices to be determined.

Testimonials

“I am currently enrolled as a Dance Pedagogy major at Butler University in Indiana. This past summer, I chose to attend the Mareck Center for Dance Summer Intensive. Having never been to Missouri before, I was graciously welcomed by my host family and their two adorable dogs. My host family made the transition and stay comfortable and showed me all that Columbia had to offer! While training at the Mareck Center for Dance Summer Intensive, I was able to work not only with company dancers and artistic director Karen Grundy, but two guest artists as well. Kristopher Estes-Brown and Meg Paul were able to spend a substantial amount of time each day with us, which resulted in each creating and rehearsing a piece on us for the final performances. The personalized corrections and relationships which the Mareck Center for Dance Summer Intensive fosters are truly exceptional and I am so grateful that I was able to experience them. As I embark on my senior year of college and completing my undergraduate career, I believe that the Mareck Center for Dance Summer Intensive was the perfect choice to attend, as it immersed me into the professional dance world and gave me a glimpse of professional life for two weeks in the heart of Columbia under an impeccable faculty and other dancers!” -Ashley Tomaszewski, 2017

“I have been going to Mareck Center for Dance summer intensive since 2015 and it’s amazing. I enjoy it because I get a lot of one-on-one attention and it helps me improve. I recommend it to dancers everywhere! They do many different styles of dance with an emphasis on ballet and contemporary. They bring in spectacular guest teachers and I love their resident staff. The focus is on technique as well as artistry.” -Sophia Schepers, 2015 & 2016

 

“I have taken the Mareck Center for Dance summer intensive for the past 2 years! I am so impressed with the faculty and program. It took me to the next level in my ballet and the guest teachers were incredible!!” -Savanah Wozny, 2015 & 2016

 

“I am currently enrolled at Grand Valley State University, located in Allendale, Michigan. This past summer I attended the Mareck Center for Dance’s summer intensive. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have had thus far in my dancing education. I stayed with an amazing host family and their four adorable dogs. They were very welcoming and made the transition and stay comfortable. My host family made me feel very at home and even helped me experience Missouri. While attending Mareck Center for Dance’s intensive, I was fortunate enough to not only take classes from Mareck Center for Dance’s company dancers and director Karen Grundy, but also from two guest artists, Megan Pulfer and Peter Pawlyshyn. All of the instructors gave me feedback that helped me grow as a dancer. Megan instructed with impeccable technique and artistic choreography, while Peter was inspiration in work ethic and had a true gift for helping me understand and apply corrections to my ballet technique. Overall I was truly impressed by the personal attention and care that was given to all the students in the program, from the first contact through to the final presentation. My Mareck Center for Dance experience was phenomenal and I feel that it shaped me into a more confident and strong dancer.” –Sarah Byington, 2015

 

“Last summer, I attended the School of Mareck Center for Dance’s summer intensive. It was a fantastic chance to take class and learn repertoire at a high level and see improvement in just two weeks, and it was a safe environment to grow as an artist and benefit from the diverse faculty. In addition to personalized feedback and corrections, we also had a brief lecture on how best to take care of the body while dancing at a professional or college level. Skills such as managing nutrition and preventing or recovering from injury are often forgotten but are essential tools for every dancer. The rigorous schedule prepared me well for the university schedule I am now in the midst of and equipped me to continue making the most out of every class I’ve taken since.” –Stephanie Bonham, 2014

 

“The Mareck Center for Dance summer intensive was a great experience. Dancing all day gives it the same feel of a large institution, yet you get great one-on-one attention here. I highly recommend it for anyone who aspires to dance or wants to get a feel for dancing professionally.” — Camille Laboile, 2013

Guest Instructors

Mareck Center for Dance Guest Instructor 2024

Noelle Kayser

Noelle Kayser’s professional career began in 2011 at Luna Negra Dance Theater with an apprenticeship under the direction of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano—where she performed the company’s repertoire domestically and internationally. In 2013, Noelle joined glo, an Atlanta-based collaborative performance platform founded by Lauri Stallings. Other credits include the Proia Dance Project, Erik Thurmond’s Ripple, Gathering Wild, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Goodman Theatre, and Scrap Theater Group’s one-woman play Leda (title role).

Noelle was a member of Visceral Dance Chicago under the direction of Nick Pupillo from 2015 through 2018. While at Visceral, Noelle had the opportunity to perform works by Marguerite Donlon, Danielle Agami, Kevin O’Day, Alice Klock, Stephanie Martinez, and many others.  Noelle was a member of Northwest Dance Project under the direction of Sarah Slipper from 2019 through 2020. While at Northwest, Noelle had the opportunity to perform works by Sarah Slipper, Wen Wei Wang, Ihsan Rustem, and Patrick Delcroix. Noelle has also performed with Benjamin Wardell’s The Cambrians, Fly On A Wall (ATL), Open Space Dance (PDX), LED (Boise), and The Lyric Opera (CHI). In addition to dance, Noelle has narrated 16 audiobooks for Listen Up Productions / audible.com, co-starred in ‘Death in the Desert’ a short film written and directed by Anna Long, and appeared in industrial advertising for Grey Television, Kitchenaid, and Whirlpool.

Noelle was the founding rehearsal director, dancer, and administrator for PARA.MAR Dance Theatre under the direction of Stephanie Martinez until the spring of 2023. AT PMDT, Noelle performed works by Jennifer Archibald, Robyn Mineko Williams, Helen Simoneau and Stephanie Martinez. Noelle was the assistant and repetiteur for Ms. Martinez for her creations on PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, BalletX, Tulsa Ballet II, Bruce Wood Dance, South Chicago Dance Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater and Lyric Opera.

Noelle has choreographed for Ballare Carmel/Carmel Dance Festival, Boykin Dance Project, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater, Chicago Dance Crash, COMMON Conservatory, Dance in the Parks, DanceWorks Chicago, Hedwig Dances, Kit Modus, Moonwater Dance Project, Open Space Dance, SALT LINK Choreography Festival, SALT2, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Visceral Dance Chicago Trainee’s. Her piece for Kit Modus – The Excursion: Realized – was named one of 2018’s Highlights of the Year by ArtsATL. Noelle was the assistant choreographer for Lyric Opera’s Carmen in 2023. Noelle was the Ballet Mistress and the assistant choreographer for the Lyric Opera’s Jenufa in 2024.