RDA National Choreograpy Intensive

July 23 through August 2, 2012

The RDA National Choreography Intensive (CI) is a multi-faceted program, providing dancers, emerging choreographers and seasoned choreographers the unparalleled opportunity to work, study and create under the guidance of nationally recognized professionals in the fields of music and dance. The NCI provides a vital training ground/working environment for choreographers and a one-of-a-kind experience for dancers to work within a variety of styles and train with some of the best teachers in the world. Tracing its roots back to 1961, it has been guided by luminaries from the professional dance world. NCI 2012 is a culmination of this history plus so much more.

Director of Choreography

Nelly van Bommel
Nelly van Bommel was selected as one of Dance Magazine’s ‘25 to Watch’ in January 2010. Her work has been featured in France, Taiwan, Canada and the US in major venues and festivals. A native of France, Ms. Van Bommel moved to the US in 2002 thanks to a fellowship from the Conseil Régional d’lle de France. Upon completion of the MFA dance program at Purchase College, she was presented with an Outstanding MFA Graduate Award for excellence. Ms. Van Bommel is also an alumna of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, as recipient of a full scholarship. In spring 2007, Ms. Van Bommel won 1st Jury prize at the Genesis International Choreographic Competition organized by the Milwaukee Ballet. Also in 2007 she was a finalist at the A.W.A.R.D Show in NYC. She has been an artist-in-residence at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (MAD AIR), a guest choreographer at Springboard Danse Montreal, and a guest teacher at the Taipei National University of the Arts where her work has been presented at the Kuandu Arts Festival. In spring 2010, Ms. Van Bommel was one of the three choreographers selected for Ballet Austin’s biennial choreographic project New American Talent/Dance. Her most recent work Pinguli, Pinguli choreographed for the Baryshnikov Arts Center Fall Gala premiered on September 20, 2011. Upcoming projects include a new production of Hansel and Gretel for Ballet Austin II in the spring of 2012.

Director of Music

Rob Wood
Rob Wood has been Adjunct Associate Professor, Director of Music and Principal Pianist for the University of Utah Department of Ballet for the last twelve years. He is currently Assistant Professor Lecturer in the Department of Modern Dance as well as being guest faculty in the Ballet Department. Rob’s professional music-for-dance career spans 30 years having worked closely with many professional dancers, teachers, and directors. This includes recording ballet CD’s with international master teacher David Howard, which are marketed worldwide by Roper Records in New York City. It also includes performing on stage with ABT Principal Ethan Stiefel at the Vail International Dance Festival. He has accompanied classes taught by such teachers/directors as Willam Christensen, Alonso King, Laura Alonzo, Bruce Marks, Toni Lander, Edward Villela, Violette Verdi, Gilbert Meyer, Suki Schorer, Patricia Wilde, Darla Hoover, Margo Sappington, Patricia Neary, Gretchen Ward-Warren and many others. For much of 2004 – 2010 he has served as Music Director of RDA’s National CRAFT of Choreography Intensive working closely with renowned choreographers Alan Hineline, Kathryn Posin, and Janis Brenner. Rob travels nationally every year being in demand as a ballet accompanist at nationally recognized festivals and workshops. He is known for the wide variety of inspiring music that he brings to the ballet class.

Dance Faculty

Ballet
Gyula Pnadi
Brantly Shapirro
Susan McCullough
Rick McCullough

Modern/Contemporary
Diane Markham

Jazz
Kassandra Taylor
Casey Noblett

For More Information

Gretchen Vogelzang
RDA Executive Director
703-956-6429
info@regionaldanceamerica.org

RDA Choreography Intensive
c/o PO Box 3327 Reston, VA 20195

For the Dancers

  • Two classes daily in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Pointe or Men’s classes
  • Bi-weekly evening seminars
  • The dancer becomes part of a collaborative team, expanding their technique and increasing their confidence by working with the choreographers every afternoon and then performing the works in progress each evening.

Dancers must be studying dance at an intermediate to advanced level and be at least 13 years of age.

For the Choreographer

  • Daily choreography session (after warm-up with the Directors of Choreography & Music
  • May participate in morning class each day - Ballet, Modern, or Jazz
  • Afternoons spent creating new works/assignments that will be shown that evening.
  • Nightly critique sessions, discussing and dissecting that evenings works.

Choreographers must be studying dance at an intermediate to advanced level and be at least 16 years of age. A letter of recommendation from their Artistic Director must accompany their application. Choreographers are chosen by the Director of Choreography via a video audition of their work. Choreographers are accepted for the two week program only. Videos must be received no later than May 1, 2012.

Facilities

Milton Rhodes Arts Center
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County was the first formally established Arts Council in the country. Throughout its 60-year history, the organization has been a visionary leader in how cities harness the power of creativity and the arts to spearhead economic development, create jobs and foster cultural vibrancy.

Three years in the making, based on the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and talented individuals in our community, The Arts Council renovated a downtown city block, turning it into the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts – our community’s artistic living room with multi-purpose performing arts and event spaces. The Center is comprised of two new galleries, meeting and event spaces, a café and terrace, the new Hanesbrands Theatre and Sawtooth School for Visual Art.

The new Center is the perfect blend of arts and innovation, where visual, music, theatre, film, dance and other arts come together in a space that inspires creativity.

The Brookstown Inn
The Brookstown Innwas built in 1837 as a textile mill and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Inn has the charm and ambiance of old-world architecture with all theconveniences of a modern conference facility.

The cozy inn is within a short walk of the restored 1766 Moravian village of “Old Salem” and it exudes the essence of southern hospitality. Each evening enjoy a complimentary wine and cheese reception in the Parlor amidst high ceilings, unique Early American pieces, and countless antique furnishings.

Conference Costs

Tuition and Food (Two weeks)
RDA Members: $900
Non-Member: $1100
Airport Transportation: $60

Tuition and Food (One Week)
RDA Members: $650
Non-Member: $750
Observer/Weekly: $400
Observer/Daily: $100
Airport Transportation: $60

Room (Two Weeks)
Quad: $750
Double: $1050
Single: $1800

Room (One Week)
Quad: $400 (6 days)
Double: $650 (6 days)
Single: $1000 (6 days)

RDA Artistic Directors
There is no tuition charge for RDA Directors. Directors are only expected to pay for room and board costs, $150 per day.

Please Note: A $250 cancellation fee will apply. There are no refunds after July 4, 2012.

A Typical Day

8:45-10:15
1st Class
9:15-10:15
Student/dancer Choreography Session
10:30-12:00
2nd Class/Choreography Session
12:00-12:30
Lunch
12:30-2:00
Emerging Choreographers
2:15-3:45
Guest Choreographers
4:00-5:30
Project Tier Choreographers
5:30-6:15
Dinner
6:30-7:00
Spacing
7:00-8:00
Showings
8:00-???
Critiques/Dancer lecture Tuesday & Thursday

(Schedule will vary slightly depending upon which group the dancer or choreographer is participating in.)

Arrival and Placement Day
* July 23
Departure Day
* August 3

Please arrange to fly into the Greensboro - Piedmont Triad airport.