Adult recreational programs are surging in the dance community, creating a space for this demographic to train seriously—and be taken seriously. A growing number of summer programs, specifically, offer a chance for adult dancers to practice with intensity. And while they may differ from pre-professional summer programs, these intensives are strengthening dance’s future.
What Adults Want
The pandemic seems to have spurred the recent growth of the adult dance scene—and, in turn, adult summer programs, says former Ballet West dancer Allison DeBona. In 2015 DeBona and her husband, fellow Ballet West alum Rex Tilton, launched artÉmotion, a weeklong adult ballet intensive now located in Salt Lake City, Utah. DeBona believes the shutdowns in 2020 prompted schools and companies to open their doors—virtually and then, later, physically—to adult recreational dancers. “The ballet world felt afraid for its future, and more people started to look to the adult demographic,” she says. With that, she says, the adult dance community felt seen, and its members became braver in advocating for what they wanted—including more options for summer training.
For working professionals, it can be more challenging to dedicate time to dance. “They’re choosing to take their PTO and spend time away from their families,” says DeBona. “You have a mixture of people who are or aren’t local, or who can’t commit to a full day.” To accommodate, adult intensives sometimes offer customizable course loads. ArtÉmotion includes half- and full-day options, with add-on classes like pas de deux.
Students of the artÉmotion summer intensive. Photo by Joshua Whitehead, Courtesy artÉmotion.
That kind of flexibility often extends beyond class offerings. “These are adults who know their bodies and schedules,” DeBona says. “They don’t need to explain absences or why they aren’t jumping.” She adds that with adult dancers, there’s less shyness surrounding speaking up in the studio.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago began its three-day adult summer program, DANCE ON!, in 2024. It was an immediate hit, and the company added an optional fourth day in 2025. Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Hubbard Street’s artistic director, has observed that, unlike some younger students, adult dancers are “locked in” from the beginning. “They’re right with you,” she says. “Their time is valuable, and many of them are teachers themselves.”
That doesn’t mean adult students want watered-down material. “They want class,” Fisher-Harrell says. “How they engage in the classwork physically is up to them, but they want exactly what we’re offering the pre-professionals.” Fisher-Harrell recalls a participant from 2024 who, at age 78, stood front-and-center in her first Horton class: “She knew exactly where to put her body. Adult dancers, continuing practitioners, and returning movers all deserve access to rigorous training, inspiration, and community.”
Class at artÉmotion. Photo by Joshua Whitehead, Courtesy artÉmotion.
Keeping Dance Alive
Dancers often feel like they’re racing against time—that once they reach a certain age, or if they choose not to pursue a professional career, they lose validity. “That’s simply not true,” says Fisher-Harrell. The beauty of adult intensives, she says, is that they honor the dancer, “and they don’t attach age to it.” DeBona adds that by creating a safe space where adult students can be respected, adult programs can help heal past dance trauma, including those specific to past intensive experiences. “These people are in a stage of life where they can support ballet,” she says. “We need to invite them back, and we need to do it in a safe way.”
“I see adult summer intensives growing into truly participant-driven experiences, guided by their needs,” says Fisher-Harrell. “What’s valuable about the adult summer intensive is giving dancers permission to reconnect with their artistry and invest in themselves,” she says. “When we honor that community, they gain the power to define what the experience looks like and how they want to show up within it.”
Class at DANCE ON! Photo by David Schultz, Courtesy Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Adult Summer Intensives to Consider
From jazz to tap and beyond, here are a few of the many adult summer intensives across the U.S.
Steps on Broadway’s Summer Study NYC
June 8–28 in New York, NY
Intermediate and advanced dancers choose a concentration in contemporary or theater/jazz, taking daily technique classes and learning repertoire. Additional opportunities include mock auditions and voice classes.
Ananya Dance Theatre Summer Intensive
June 22–27 in St. Paul, MN
Movers of all levels can study Yorchhā, ADT’s contemporary, feminist technique, which intersects Odissi dance and Chhau martial arts with yoga. Each day incorporates technique instruction and exploration of social justice themes through improvisation, choreographic exploration, and dialogue.
Northeast Arts Adult Summer Intensive and Baroque Summer Intensive
July–August (dates TBD) in Boston, MA; virtual options available for Baroque intensive
Adult ballet students can brush up on their repertoire (and pointe work, if they choose) at Northeast Arts’ ballet intensive. The organization also offers a historical dance program teaching Baroque technique, choreography, and notation.
Kat Wildish Summer Intensive
August 31–September 6 in New York, NY; virtual options also available
Kat Wildish’s popular ballet program provides à la carte options in classes like ballet technique, pointe, variations, and stretching.
The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble Summer Tap Intensive
August 15–16 in Greater Philadelphia Area, PA
Adult tappers can finesse their footwork with daily classes in tap technique, improvisation, and tap history, with the chance to learn Lady Hoofers repertoire.
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