About

The UNCSA Summer Dance Intensives at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem are conservatory-level, audition-based training programs for dedicated young dancers. The 2026 season features four-week Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance tracks (June 21 – July 17, 2026) for dancers aged 12–18, and a distinct two-week DANCE | CONNECTION NOW creative intensive (June 28 – July 10, 2026) for advanced dancers aged 15–25. Aspiring pre-professional dancers engage in rigorous daily technique classes, repertory work, composition, and conditioning under faculty led by 2026 Summer Program Director Ilya Kozadayev.

Tuition and room-and-board for 2026 total $5,461 for the four-week residential programs and $3,430 for the two-week intensive. Commuter options are available for students who live within 25 miles or do not meet the housing age requirement (at least 14 years old by June 18). Merit and need-based scholarships are available, with a merit application deadline of March 30, 2026.

Instruction reflects the conservatory ethos of UNCSA and features small faculty-to-student ratios that mirror year-round professional training. The Classical Ballet Intensive blends traditional technique, partnering, and variations with seminars on dancer wellness and injury prevention. The Contemporary Intensive focuses on creative practice and phrase work, while DANCE | CONNECTION NOW emphasizes improvisation and original choreography. This two-week track culminates in a professionally produced performance featuring original works by guest choreographers and a dance film directed by Grady Bowman and Ashley Lindsey.

Participation requires a formal audition (live or video) involving ballet barre, center work, and contemporary movement; video submissions for 2026 opened on November 15, 2025. For students seeking the most demanding summer dance training outside a degree program, UNCSA’s intensives provide a genuine pre-professional experience that bridges high school preparation and collegiate or company-level work.