Contemporary Dance

 

The Contemporary Dance Program is designed for students who are motivated and love to dance. The program is open to all levels and is an opportunity for focused study in modern, jazz, and ballet dance forms. Students train in daily technique, improvisation, repertory, and composition classes and are encouraged to cultivate their unique style of expression and performance. Continuing to guide the dancers in their growth in the studio, we also expose them to different choreographic approaches through workshops and guest artist presentations, in addition to attending dance performances at Jacob’s Pillow and other venues close to campus. Being in such a rich environment of dance artistry, we have the opportunity to give the dancers access to performed contemporary work, fostering an inspired process within each student. At the end of the program, the dancers as a company perform original and studied pieces for the summer community at NMH’s outstanding new Rhodes Arts Center.

 

Students entering grades 7 to 12 who are serious about developing as performing artists and/or choreographers and who are committed to challenging physical training are encouraged to apply for this program.

 

Each student in this program takes the dance major course that meets for three hours each morning, Monday through Saturday. This time is devoted to contemporary technique and choreography. In addition to the morning course, all students take afternoon dance minor courses in Pilates, yoga, or improvisation. During the afternoon sports time, they take workshops in choreography and composition. Each evening (except Saturday), dancers are involved in rehearsal time, working on their own dances or reconstructing work from their instructors’ repertory for performance at the end of the summer.

 

Tuition and Fees
The program fee of $6,500 in US funds for boarding students covers the following:  bus transportation between Logan Airport and the NMH campus at scheduled times on June 26 and July 31, 2010; tuition; meals and housing; medical services at NMH's health center; bed linens and towels; voice mail (student must provide own phone); room key; photo ID card; use of campus facilities, including the pool, fitness center, student center, library, and computer center; annual on-campus College Fair; all class-related trips; on-campus social activities and some off-campus trips.

 

Other expenses not included in the program fee are:  transportation to/from Northfield Mount Hermon (except for the NMH buses to/from Logan Airport -- see above); health insurance--students are required to purchase NMH-provided health insurance that provides medical coverage while they are attending NMH Summer Session unless they already have effective coverage (must be with a US insurance company) and parents provide complete information; $250 activities fee--required fee covers optional trips, such as excursions to New York City or Boston, and other activities that charge an entrance fee (unused balance is refunded).