Summer Dance Program on Long Island
AN OUTDOOR SUMMER DANCE CAMP EXPERIENCE
Dance instruction at Usdan is rigorous, caring, and fun and prepares children to participate in a creative dance community. Usdan Dance Department faculty are experienced dance educators and professional dancers and choreographers experienced in the most contemporary forms of their genre. During their time in the studio, students build their technical and expressive skills, learn about dance traditions, and have opportunities to choreograph.
Students with a wide range of previous training can find an experience that is right for their level and interests. While the majority of our classes welcome all levels, Usdan encourages those with prior dance experience who are excited about exploring dance with a more acute focus to consider our Dance Major courses. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. In conversation with families, we register students for classes that we think will benefit them the most.
Usdan’s Dance studios are spacious and mirrored, with vinyl “marley” floors (except for Tap) and generous skylights that provide natural lighting. Studios are open-air, with two sides completely open and exposed to the surrounding woodland campus.
SUMMER CAMP Busing FOR LONG ISLAND, NYC, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Kids
For over fifty years, Usdan has offered an enriching arts, music, theater, creative writing and dance summer camp experience to children all over the region, from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn in New York City, to Port Washington and Huntington, and all over Nassau and Suffolk counties. Usdan offers busing to and from camp from convenient central pickup locations. For more information on busing, please visit our Transportation page.
Classes
Ballet
4-Week A
Major: Grades 6–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Ballet Class is perfect for young dancers of any skill level. This class will be tailored to meet each student's abilities while challenging them through classical barre exercises, across-the-floor combinations, and creative play. Students will develop a foundational understanding of Ballet technique, including the formal positions, patterns of movement, épaulement, and modes of expression. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of technical, qualitative, and performance skills in a final sharing which celebrates the learning process, and the creative community. Dance studios are open-air and exposed to the beauty of Usdan’s wooded campus. Depending on student interest, the class may culminate in a performance showcasing what dancers have been working on. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. All levels are welcome.
Broadway Jazz Dance
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 4–12
Rec: Grades 4–12
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 4–12
Rec: Grades 4–12
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Learn new and original choreography from legendary Broadway shows under the guidance of experienced dance educators and professional dancers and choreographers. In this energetic class, students study various dance forms drawn from musical theater and jazz traditions. Dance studios are open-air and exposed to the beauty of Usdan’s wooded campus. Depending on student interest, the class may culminate in a performance showcasing what dancers have been working on. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“I liked that we were able to have fun while learning cool musical numbers.”
—Janylee
Choreography
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 6–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
For students interested in creating their own dances, Usdan’s Choreography Major provides an opportunity to work individually or in groups, guided by an experienced choreographer. Past classes have crafted works for the studio, for the stage, and even for the picnic tables! All styles—from modern to contemporary, salsa to Hip-Hop, ballet to jazz—are welcome. Students often build strong bonds with one another as they work toward creating their showcase at the end of the session. Dance studios are open-air and exposed to the beauty of Usdan’s wooded campus. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. All levels are welcome.
“You can be yourself, and you get inspired by other people's dance styles.”
—Sabria
Cultural Dance
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 6–12
REC - N/A
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 6–12
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
For dancers looking to explore, experiment, and broaden their avenues for creative self-expression. Cultural Dance students build their technical skills and deepen their understanding of dance with a core focus on dance styles that are rooted in cultural traditions.
In prior years, students studied Caribbean dance, Latin Ballroom, Afro-Haitian, and West African under the guidance of professional dancers, choreographers, and dance educators. The specific styles of dance taught in class will mirror the strengths of our instructors.
Classes are held in an open-air dance studio set amidst the magic of Usdan’s wooded campus. This course intends to provide young dancers the opportunity to experience dance from a multitude of perspectives.
At the end of the course, Cultural Dance students showcase all they have learned in a final performance for family and friends.
Pre-requisites: Prior dance experience encouraged but not required. All levels welcome. Students should come dressed in comfortable, nonrestrictive clothing. For footwear, we recommend sneakers, dance shoes, or going barefoot.
Testimonials from Usdan Dance students:
“My favorite thing was the freedom and creativity.”
—Brielle
“It was fun, and I loved the choreography.”
—Leah
Dance Adventure
4-Week A
Major: Grades 2–4
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 2–4
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
An exploratory dance experience, offering a fun and supportive environment to try a variety of dance games and styles. In open-air studios that are exposed to the beauty of Usdan’s wooded campus, students are taught by experienced dance educators and professional dancers and choreographers with a variety of expertise. Dance forms explored in this Major depend on the expertise of the teacher(s) and may include ballet, jazz, contemporary, and/or tap. All levels are welcome.
“What I liked most was that I got to be myself.”
—Ahuva
Hip Hop Dance
4-Week A
Major: Grades 4–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 4–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Under the instruction of experienced dance educators and professional dancers and choreographers, students learn a combination of old and new styles, such as pop, lock, break, and vogue. In addition to working on technique, students collaborate to create dynamic dance pieces. Dancers infuse challenging choreography with their own creative style, culminating in an exciting dance performance at the end of the session. Dance studios are open-air and exposed to the inspiration of Usdan’s wooded campus. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. All levels are welcome.
“I loved the teachers and how they taught. Also, they made dancing more fun than it already is.”
—Jordan
“I liked the amount of energy the class gave me.”
—Natalie
“Vibes.”
—Sameia
Hip Hop Dance (Minor)
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 2–12
Rec: Grades 2–12
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 2–12
Rec: Grades 2–12
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Under the instruction of experienced dance educators and professional dancers and choreographers, students learn a combination of old and new styles, such as pop, lock, break, and vogue. In addition to working on technique, students collaborate to create dynamic dance pieces. Dancers infuse challenging choreography with their own creative style, culminating in an exciting dance performance at the end of the session. Dance studios are open-air and exposed to the inspiration of Usdan’s wooded campus. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. Minor classes are grouped according to age division and grade. All levels are welcome.
“I loved the teachers and how they taught. Also, they made dancing more fun than it already is.”
—Jordan
“I liked the amount of energy the class gave me.”
—Natalie
“Vibes.”
—Sameia
Tap Dance
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 2–12
Rec: Grades 2–12
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 2–12
Rec: Grades 2–12
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Tap focuses on rhythm, coordination, and musicality. In this class, dancers develop their movement repertory while building confidence, ensemble skills, and discipline. Experienced tap-dance educators and professional dancers and choreographers teach specific styles and traditions, ranging from Broadway to rhythm tap. Students practice movement skills, improvisation, and choreography in open-air studios that are exposed to the beauty of Usdan’s wooded campus. Depending on student interest, the class may culminate in a performance showcasing what dancers have been working on.
All levels are welcome and students self-select their tap level at the time of enrollment. Students with less than two years of tap experience to sign up for Tap 1 and students with more than two years of tap experience should sign up for Tap 2. To ensure that our classes best serve the group, our enrollment form includes questions about dance background. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“A great introduction to tap; it made me interested in continuing tap dancing.”
—Claudia
“We learned harder steps than I have ever learned before”
—Melissa