Academy Student, Elizabeth, Shares her Summer Experience

 We recently spoke with Academy Student, Elizabeth Cotter (age 16), about her experience at CFB's Summer Intensive. Enjoy our chat below!

Academy Student: Elizabeth Cotter

Describe a typical Summer Intensive day:
A typical summer intensive day actually changes depending on the day, which is one of my favorite things about the intensive. We usually have ballet and pointe in the mornings and sometimes variations afterwards, then lunch. On other days we might have yoga in the morning, which is a really fun and relaxing way to start your day. After lunch we usually have 3 classes such as character, jazz, contemporary, repertoire, dance history, yoga, pilates, and acrobatics. It’s really great because these other genres of dance will alternate day by day.

Elizabeth works on her technique at CFB Studios
Photo by Lisbet Photography 

What makes CFB's intensive stand out when compared to other programs?
The positive energy of CFB definitely stands out. Kids from all over the country, and even from other countries come to CFB’s summer intensive, and every year we always seem to bond quickly and become one big family. The studio is always a safe place with positive energy.

Also, CFB has a much larger range of classes that we take other than ballet programs. Some intensives that I have been to only have two or three genres of dance other than ballet, and doing that for 4-6 weeks straight can become slightly boring. CFB’s summer intensive has sometimes 6 other genres of dance other than ballet that can alternate day by day and that makes the intensive much more interesting than others.

Elizabeth posing for a dance portrait
Photo by Lisbet Photography 

What is one tip you would give to those auditioning for CFB's Summer Intensive?
One tip I would give for auditioning for the program would be to be confident and just be yourself because there’s no such thing as failing if you are being yourself and trying your best.

CFB's Summer Intensive introduces dancers to new classes like Acrobatics, Improv, Hip-Hop, and Nutrition & Acting Seminars to name a few. What was your favorite new class and why?
My favorite class would be improv because as a ballet dancer, we do not have a lot of artistic freedom, especially with movements. An improv class gives you the ability to show your inner emotions and really helps you get the stress of the day out by showing your emotions through movement.

Elizabeth displays her flexibility in a dance portrait
Photo by Lisbet Photography

The program concludes with a Showcase performance. Tell us about the pieces that are performed and the rehearsal/learning process.
The performance is always a super fun way to end the summer.  We usually have one dance per genre and each level gets to perform. The learning process is definitely fun. We usually spend the last two weeks of intensive learning the pieces for each of our classes.

Do you get nervous to perform? What are some tips you would give to overcome nerves?
I usually get slightly nervous like most people do. To overcome the nerves I just remind myself that I definitely know the choreography and that if I just try my best then things will go smoothly. I also try to realize that a mistake is just a mistake and even if you mess up pretty bad, although it might seem like the world is ending, in a few years it will just be another thing to laugh about.

For information on CFB's Summer Intensive, visit www.centralfloridaballet.com or call 407-849-9948 ext 10.

 

Madeleine shares her experience at CFB's Summer Intensive

CFB Academy student, Madeleine Hall (age 15), has participated in Central Florida Ballet's Summer Intensive for three years. She recently shared why she has enjoyed the program, enjoy our chat below!

Pictured: Academy Student, Madeleine Hall

Describe a typical summer intensive day:
The day starts off with a ballet technique class followed by pointe, variations, or partnering depending on the day and level that you’re in. After that there’s about an hour break for lunch and then more classes. Usually the second part of the day isn’t just ballet. There are other classes including modern, character, tap, contemporary, jazz, acting, and pilates/yoga. In a few of those classes, each level begins working on a repertory piece to perform at the end of the intensive. Each level always performs a ballet piece and a few other different styles from what they’ve been working on in class.

How is CFB's Summer Intensive different from the full year program?
During the intensive you spend more time each day dancing. We have 6 hours of classes each day, which is different than the full year program which is about 3 1/2 hours each day. The training is more intense but the level of focus and commitment is definitely the same as during the year.

Madeleine (front) at CFB Studios

What benefits do you gain through the program?
Since you’re dancing all day long, you have more time to work on your technique and grow as a dancer in a shorter period of time. Summer intensives help you gain more strength, versatility, and confidence.

CFB offers new classes during the Intensive not available during the year long program. What have been your favorite new classes? 
I really like that they have a Nutrition Seminar because it’s important to know and understand how to keep your body healthy. As dancers, food is very important to us because it gives us the energy to keep dancing. I also like that there’s an Acting Seminar because when we dance it’s not enough for us to only do the steps, we also have to convey emotions which we do with acting. Learning more about these two topics can be super helpful for us to know so we can apply it.

Madeleine receives extra inspiration on acting 

during a weekend excursion to a nearby theme park: Walt Disney World

What do you enjoy most about the intensive? 
One of the best parts about the intensive, aside from the dancing, is meeting new people and making friends with those who share the same love of dance as you do. It’s kind of a way to put yourself in the dance community and make connections with people that you wouldn’t have known before.

For information on CFB's Summer Intensive, visit www.centralfloridaballet.com or call 407-849-9948 ext 10.