What are some things that I can be doing to prepare for the summer dance intensive?
Great question! To help you feel confident and ready, here are a few ways you can prepare physically, spiritually, and practically:
1. Start Moving Daily
If your regular classes at your studio have ended, aim to dance or stretch at least 30 minutes a day. Use a basic ballet barre video on YouTube or do gentle conditioning to build stamina.
2. Focus on Ballet Fundamentals
Work on your posture, turnout, foot articulation, and core strength. Practice simple exercises like tendus, pliés, and relevés with slow, intentional alignment. Filming yourself can help you check form and make corrections.
3. Cross-Train for Strength and Endurance
Try Pilates or low-impact workouts to build core and joint stability. Walking, swimming, or light cardio can help improve your endurance for long dance days.
4. Spend Time in the Word and Prayer
Preparing spiritually by reading Scripture, journaling, and praying about what God might want to do in you and through you during the intensive can deepen your experience.
5. Check Your Dance Gear
Make sure your ballet shoes fit well and your leotards are comfortable and modest.
May I observe my student's classes?
- To provide a safe, focused, and comfortable environment for all participants, the studio is CLOSED to guests during the intensive. This includes parents, family members, teachers, and studio owners.
- Exception: Guests may attend the Student Showcase on the final day of the intensive.
- If you need to speak with or see your student during the day, please contact a staff member, and they will bring your student to you. For everyone's safety and comfort, please do not enter or wander the studio without staff assistance.
What level of ballet experience is required to attend Paradosi's Summer Dance Intensive (SDI)?
- Paradosi's summer dance intensive is not for beginners. Dancers must have a solid foundation in ballet technique.
- SDI is open to dancers ages 11 to 21 with at least 3-years of ballet training.
- Dancers ages 15 and older should be at an Intermediate or Advanced level of training.
How much pointe work will I be dancing during the intensive?
- The amount of pointe work varies by level. Not all levels will include pointe.
- All ballet technique classes will be danced in flat shoes
Who teaches the classes during SDI?
- Classes are taught by Paradosi's Artistic Director, Teaching Faculty, and current or former company dancers of Paradosi.
Why is the Student Showcase limited to 2 guests per dancer?
- Our studio can accommodate up to 98 guests. With a maximum of 48-students, this allows for 2 guests per student.
- To ensure fairness and avoid overcrowding, we cannot allow additional guests even if space appears available. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us not to exceed capacity.
I have special dietary needs / allergies. Will meals be provided for me?
- Meals are prepared in commercial kitchens by certified food workers under the supervision of a food safety manager.
- We make a Standard Meal and an Allergy Friendly version of each meal to accommodate a wide variety of needs.
- Meals are balanced with protein, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables to provide for dancers needs.
- We strive to accommodate dietary and allergy needs and minimize cross-contamination as much as possible; however, since the kitchens we use are also used by other businesses, meals cannot be guaranteed to be 100% allergen-free.
- If you have dietary concerns that you would like to discuss before registering, please contact us to discuss your situation.
- Dorm students will have breakfast in the University of Puget Sound cafeteria, which offers diverse options that meet most dietary requirements.
May I bring my own food?
- Yes, shelf-stable meals and snacks are welcome. Keep in mind that refrigeration and cooking appliances are not available for student use.
- Students may not share their personal food
- The studio is PEANUT FREE during SDI. Please do not bring food with peanuts.
- Dorm students are not permitted to bring cooking appliances or refrigerators.
How does airport ground transportation work?
Transportation to and from SeaTac Airport (SEA) is available on the first and last day with one pick up time and one drop off time. If you will be using our shuttle option, please indicate so on your registration. - SUNDAY PICKUP: Departs 1:30pm at Carousel 11 in Baggage Claim (Staff present at 1:00pm)
- SATURDAY DROP OFF: Arrives at SeaTac by 3:30pm (Please allow up to 2-hours for check-in and security)
- If these times do not work with your flights, please look into alternative transportation options to and from the studio. Other options include taxi, Uber, Lyft, or a shuttle service such as Premier Airport Shuttle
- Flight information must be submitted to Paradosi by June 5
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS: - We are not able to escort students past security. If your child is a minor, please verify unaccompanied minor policies with your airline before booking your flight.
- If you are having difficulty with finding a flight, please contact us to discuss your situation.
Is the Summer Dance Intensive open to all dancers?
- The Summer Dance Intensive is open exclusively to biological female dancers. Our program is designed as a faith-based discipleship environment specifically for young women. All instruction, small group sessions, and mentoring may include personal sharing or discussions of topics, some of which may be of a sensitive nature, relevant to young women, in a safe and supportive setting, and are led exclusively by female instructors and staff.
- For reasons of program suitability, participant safety, instructor qualifications, and alignment with our ministry’s mission, we are unable to accommodate male dancers or individuals who do not meet this criterion.
May we arrange our own housing?
- Yes. Many families stay in hotels, VRBOs, or Airbnbs.
- Please keep in mind that you will also be responsible for your own transportation to and from your accommodations each day. Public transportation is not readily available near our studio so you will need a car, or use a taxi or ride-share service.
Do you have any Hotel Motel Recommendations or areas to look for vacation rentals?
We cannot guarantee your experience, but families have reported positive stays at: - Families have had less positive experiences with hotels on South Hosmer St and Tacoma Mall Blvd, in the city of Fife, and near Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM).
Vacation Rental Locations: Every city has good and bad areas. When looking for a vacation rental in our region, in general the further you are from Interstate-5 and the closer you are to the water, the better the area will be. We recommend looking in North Tacoma, Fircrest, Steilacoom, Ruston, and University Place for the better areas for your rental. Anywhere around the
University of Puget Sound should be a good location.
What is in the to do in the area while my student is in class?
Where will students be housed?
Why are the dorms only available to female dancers under the age of 18?
- Due to Insurance Requirements for overnight housing and our contract for use of the dorms, students age 18 and older cannot stay in the same building as minors.
- As we need to have a minimum of 12-students to secure a dorm building, and most of our SDI students being female under the age of 18, we are not able to secure an additional dorm building during the intensive for adult students.
Can I request a roommate?
- Yes, you may request one (1) roommate. As rooms typically accommodate 2 to 3 dancers, we will do our best to honor requests. Both students will need to request each other as a Roommate Request on the registration form.
Who drives the students to and from the dorms?
- Our Executive Director, Jeff, drives students in our Mercedes Sprinter. Jeff holds a commercial drivers license with passenger endorsements, has a clean record, and extensive experience driving the company on tour throughout the U.S. for over a decade.
Can I drive myself to and from the dorms?
- No. Minor students in our housing are in our full-time care. They are not permitted to drive themselves during the week. There are no "in and out privileges" for students staying in the dorms.
- Students who bring a car may drive it to the dorms Sunday night and back to the studio Saturday morning, but it must remain parked during the week at the dorms.
- If this requirement is an issue for your students, we encourage you to look into your own housing options for the intensive.
May I bring personal appliances to the dorms?
- No. Our university contract prohibits cooking appliances (microwaves, coffee makers, fridges, etc)
- Breakfast is provided by the university in their cafeteria
Who are the dorm chaperones?
All chaperones, without exception, are female members of Paradosi Christian Ballet. As the ministry frequently works with minors and vulnerable communities, each ministry member undergoes an extensive vetting process.
Before working with minors and vulnerable communities, each ministry member has completed:
- Background Checks
- Reference Checks
- Interviews
- Sexual abuse awareness training certification
Can adults over 21 attend the Summer Dance Intensive?
- No. Our Summer Dance Intensive is designed for students ages 11 to 21. We welcome adult students to participate in our regularly scheduled Adult Ballet classes through our school, Surrendered School of Dance. Adult Ballet classes with our school run September through May each academic year and include both Beginning Ballet and Intermediate/Advanced Ballet levels.
Can I volunteer during the intensive?
- We appreciate the offer but do not accept outside volunteers. To maintain a safe and focused environment, only Paradosi's vetted staff, company dancers, and board members are involved during the intensive.
