Summer Intensives
Advanced Arts Training for Ages 9–19

Participants work with professional teaching artists, and meet and collaborate with other talented students while building and refining skills.
Summer intensives are offered in:

Ballet Studio Jr. Intensive
JUL 3–21 | 9:30AM–4:00PM | Ages 9–14 | $700
Ballet Studio is COCA’s Jr. Ballet Intensive. This full-day, 3-week intensive includes ballet, modern, and character technique classes led by American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum Pre-Primary–Level 5 Certified Instructors Norma Gabriel and Carrie Fernandez. Students focus on elements to improve their training as performing artists: musicality, the expressiveness of contrasting movement energies, and character development. Technical focus includes pirouettes, petite allegro, adagio, and pointe (pre-pointe when appropriate). The dancers learn the process of preparing for a performance. The intensive is divided into two sections—based on each dancer’s ability. Dancers must be levels Ballet II, IIA, III, IV, or V (if currently enrolled at COCA) or have completed more than three years of classical ballet training. Ballet Studio Jr. Intensive culminates with a free, open performance for family and friends on Friday, July 21.
Instructors: Norma Gabriel & Carrie Fernandez
Auditions are held at COCA’s annual Regional Summer Intensive Auditions (RSIA) January 14–15, or dancers should contact Norma Gabriel, Ballet Studio Coordinator, at ngabriel@cocastl.org to submit a video audition.

Circus Intensive
AUG 7–11 | 9:30AM–4:00PM | Ages 11–18 | $330
Dive headfirst into this opportunity to create your own circus. Designed for students with experience in circus skills, the Circus Intensive helps you take your work to the next level. Explore aerial work in COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre as we utilize the hoop, silks, and stationary trapeze. Increase your technical skills in trampoline, low wire, juggling, unicycle, acrobatics, ground skills, and clowning. Achieve the perfect balance of grace, athleticism, and comedy as you collaboratively build a production that highlights your special talents. This intensive is for students who have completed Circus COCA, Circus Explorer, or who have gymnastics/tumbling experience.
Instructor: Mariel Reynolds, Performer, Aerialist, & Instructor
Interested students should contact Shawna Flanigan at sflanigan@cocastl.org by July 15.

Film Intensive
JUL 24–AUG 4 | 9:30AM–4:00PM | Ages 14–18 | $650
Aspiring filmmakers enjoy this opportunity to learn from video production company Once Films about their local documentary-style filmmaking processes. Students work on three phases of film creation—pre-production: content creation & storyboards; production: technical camera operation, framing, & shooting and sound recording; and post-production: sound and video editing & adding b-roll and special effects. Students create collaborative shorts in groups of three to be screened in COCA’s Staenberg Performance Lab.
Instructor: Once Films
Interested students should contact Shawna Flanigan at sflanigan@cocastl.org with a statement of interest by July 1. Variable pricing available to admitted students.

Summer Camp Musical: Disney’s The Lion King JR.
JUL 17–AUG 4 | 3:30–9:00PM | Ages 12–18 | $395
Teens, ages 12–18, are invited to audition for COCA’s Summer Camp Musical Disney’s The Lion King JR. The African savanna comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki, and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle…and back again, in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale. This 60-minute production is cast by audition, rehearses 3:30–9:00PM weekdays for three weeks. It is fully produced and performed complete with set, lights, and costumes in the Catherine B. Berges Theatre on August 4–5. Sliding scale tuition is available to cast members who qualify.
Auditions are March 3–4. Register for an audition time.

Songwriting Intensive
JUL 17–21 | 9:30AM–4:00PM | Ages 14–18 | $330
Work with professional singer-songwriter and recording artist Michael Beatty to create lyrics and melodies that tell a story and reflect your own unique voice. Identify the important elements of the songwriting, recording, and performance process. Develop the expressive “star quality” of your music from concept to craft to “capturing the moment.” As you hone your own personal songwriting style you also learn best practices for successfully sharing your music with an audience. Students create, refine, and rehearse their songs and record them at Clayton Studios. All musical genres are appreciated. Price includes field trip and all studio costs.
Instructor: Michael Beatty, NYC actor, singer, & Broadway vocal coach
Interested students should contact Shawna Flanigan at sflanigan@cocastl.org and share your reasons for interest, musical background, as well as any musical instruments you play and would want to include in your work.

Voice Intensive II: The Singing Actor
JUL 10–14 | 9:30AM–4:00PM | Ages 15–19 | $330
This one-of-a-kind intensive is developed for vocalists who have completed the COCA Voice Intensive I and are interested in more advanced study. Utilizing songs that represent a variety of musical theatre styles, students integrate method acting technique into voice and scene work to better express a deeper understanding of the emotional life of the song. Students also learn effective audition techniques and identify repertoire that highlights individual strengths as singing artists. Students leave the intensive with two to three contrasting songs prepared for their vocal portfolio.
Instructors:
Michael Beatty, NYC actor, singer, & Broadway vocal coach
Phil Woodmore, musical director, composer, singer, & Broadway vocal coach
Voice students not currently studying at COCA should audition by submitting a video of one minute of singing to Cameron Tyler at ctyler@cocastl.org.

Architectural Drawing Jr. Intensive
JUN 26–30 | 12:30–4:00PM | Ages 11–14 | $200
Aspiring architects learn the principles of design as they practice drawing techniques necessary to define and explore architectural spaces and geometries. Drawing from observation as well as from imagination, students practice both technical, measured drawings and fluid sketches as the means of developing an architectural process.
Instructor: Axi:Ome llc, Sung Ho Kim
Interested students should send a statement of interest to Shawna Flanigan at sflanigan@cocastl.org by June 1.

Architectural Model Making Jr. Intensive
JUL 17–21 | 12:30–4:00PM | Ages 11–14 | $200
Aspiring architects deepen their understanding of the principles of architectural design as they create scale models that reflect their ideas for interior and exterior spaces. Physical models are tools that architects use to communicate form and spatial explorations. This class develops material and tectonic understandings of architectural spaces. The discipline of constructing detailed models through the process of measuring, cutting, and assembling is explored.
Instructor: Axi:Ome llc, Sung Ho Kim
Interested students should send a statement of interest to Shawna Flanigan at sflanigan@cocastl.org by July 1.

Architectural Digital Model Making Jr. Intensive
JUL 24–28 | 12:30–4:00PM | Ages 11–14 | $200
Aspiring architects deepen their understanding of the principles of design as they work on the digital platform to discover the expansive understanding of architectural design. Using CAD software, students create complete 3D representations of their ideas for a dwelling.
Instructor: Axi:Ome llc, Sung Ho Kim
Interested students should send a statement of interest to Shawna Flanigan at sflanigan@cocastl.org by July 1.

Ballet & Contemporary Dance Intensive
JUN 5–16 | 9:30AM–4:00PM | Ages 14–19 | $800
This intensive is for dancers looking to refine their technique and artistry, while having fun and working toward their artistic goals. Classes include ballet technique, pointe, men’s, jazz, and contemporary dance. Each summer, the Ballet and Contemporary Intensive is headlined by world-renowned guest teaching artists and stars of the dance world. The dancers work on a variety of repertoire and variations during the two-week process as well as improvisation techniques. Participating dancers must have extensive training, with a minimum of two years of pointe work. This intensive culminates with a free, open performance for family and friends on Friday, June 16.
Instructors:
Tommie-Waheed Evans, Founder of Waheed Works, winner of the 2019 Princess Grace Award in Choreography and 2021 Guggenheim Fellow
Caleb Mitchell, Former member of the Houston Ballet and Assistant Professor of Dance at Florida State University College of Fine Arts
Levi Philip Marsman, Former member of Ailey II, guest teacher and Freelance Choreographer
Auditions are held at COCA’s annual Regional Summer Intensive Auditions (RSIA) January 14–15, or contact Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Artistic Director of Dance, at adouthit-boyd@cocastl.org to submit a video audition.
Sliding Scale Tuition
COCA offers a sliding scale tuition program for qualifying students.