The Impact of Summer Dance Intensives
In our dance community dance intensives are rigorous dance workshops that often run during the summer. They typically last for a week or multiple weeks, and offer a curriculum taught by professional dance instructors (like us <3!). Intensives are incredible opportunities for participants to gain experience, improve their technique, and grow as dancers.
Benefits of Summer Dance Intensives
Learn dance and experience new dance forms.
Of course, the most obvious impact of dance intensives is that participants will have the opportunity to learn dance in community. They’ll learn from accomplished artists, and will be able to familiarize themselves with new styles and techniques. A dance intensive provides rigorous and intentional dance training to those searching to advance their dance career, and a fun, sweaty challenge to those looking to move their bodies. It is a chance to fully immerse yourself in community and in dance.
Reap the rewards of physical activity.
Because intensives involve a rigorous curriculum of dance and movement, participants will get a big dose of physical activity—and all the perks that come with it. Dancing has a host of positive impacts on both your physical and mental health. These benefits include…
improved condition of your heart and lungs
increased muscular strength, endurance, and motor fitness
improved general and psychological well-being
greater self-confidence and self-esteem
strength building
Soak up the social benefits.
Dance intensives also give you the opportunity to connect with people that share your passion for dance! Since you’ll be spending a lot of time with your fellow dancers, you’ll have the chance to form new friendships, connections, and partnerships. Participating in a dance intensive in your geographical area is also an amazing way to engage with your community!
CONTRA-TIEMPO’s FUTURO Summer Dance Intensive
Understand your role as an agent of social change.
Participants in our summer dance intensive at CONTRA-TIEMPO will have the added benefit of learning about art as social action! Our FUTURO summer programs plant seeds for the future, and encourage dancers to awaken to a sense of themselves as artists and social change agents who move through the world with compassion and confidence.
Here at CONTRA-TIEMPO, we facilitate two summer programs, the FUTURO Summer Dance Intensive and the FUTURO Artivist Leadership Intensive. During both programs, participants become grounded in our technique rooted in Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican traditional and social dance forms, as well as hip hop and contemporary forms.
Lasting from August 8-19, 2022, our upcoming summer programs will epitomize art as social action, incorporating leadership development, community-building strategies, and social theater techniques. Participants will come away with a greater sense of their power as artists and leaders in their communities.
At CONTRA-TIEMPO, a Los Angeles-based activist dance company, we are dedicated to transforming the world through dance—building community, facilitating dialogue, and moving audiences to imagine what is possible. By engaging audiences with our physically intense and politically astute performance work, we endeavor to awaken their sense of themselves as artists and as social change agents.
Explore our engagement offerings, upcoming events and performances, and virtual engagements for a taste of what we bring to the Los Angeles community and beyond! Join our familia and connect with us, or support our movement by purchasing from our shop or donating today!
Bibliography
Dance - health benefits. Dance - health benefits - Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/dance-health-benefits
Joffrey Ballet School. (2019, December 15.) What is a Summer Dance Intensive. Joffrey Ballet School. Retrieved May 29, 2022 from https://blog.joffreyballetschool.com/2019/12/15/what-is-a-summer-dance-intensive/
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, January 12). The health benefits of good friends. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. (n.d.). 8 surprising health benefits of dancing. YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://www.ymcadallas.org/blog/8-surprising-health-benefits-dancing