Youth Dance Ensemble

Youth Dance Ensemble is a non-competitive youth modern dance group company with a commitment to inclusion, growth, and artist development. This company provides its members several performance opportunities throughout the season, including but not limited to an entirely student-choreographed showing, community performances, and a culminating Spring Performance. Students participate in dance composition workshops, work with guest choreographers, and have the opportunity to go on field trips.

Performances, Events, Opportunites

Spring Mixer/Auditions

Usually in May, the Spring mixer is a chance for current YDE members to get to dance with prospective YDE members and for choreographers and co-directors to get to meet new students and see how far current students have come in their growth. The first hour is dedicated to one hour of movement, including but not limited to a warm-up, phrase, and improvisational/compositional activities. The second hour is dedicated for students to mingle amongst themselves while the artistic team calls each dancer in for a chat about their hopes and goals for the next dance season.

Summer Intensive

During a week in August, members of YDE meet to class, work with guest and “in-house” choreographers, and have a little team bonding. It is not mandatory for company members to attend, but if you cannot attend, you will not be in any of the pieces of choreography learned that week. These pieces will be performed later in the year at the March Show. The official schedule for intensive is usually handed out after auditions during our last week of classes mid-June.

Crane Estate Performance

YDE has the opportunity to perform ever year at the Crane Estate’s Christmas on the Hill event. With fun costumes and choreography to some of your favorite wintery tunes, this performance is always a fan favorite.

Stripped Away

Stripped Away is our entirely student-choreographed performance. Usually taking place in Januray, every member has the chance to choreograph their own dance or just participate in a fellow member’s choreography. This performance is a great way to showcase everyone’s talents.

March Show

The March Show is our final and biggest performance for YDE. With usually 3 shows, dancers are able to share the dances they have worked on all year, with our community. In collaboration with Andover School of Ballet, the show is filled with a variety of dances that follow our theme that changes with every year.

Field Trips

Throughout the year, there are many field trip opportunities that many members of YDE can take advantage of. Many in the past include going to workshops at schools like Mount Holyoke College and Salem State University, taking a trip to see performances at the ICA in Boston or more local studios like MAGMA in Gloucester. We have even taken a group trip to Boda Borg for team building.

Artistry

Inclusion

Community

Growth

Connection

Requirements

Youth Dance Ensemble is for dancers entering the 6th grade all the way through 12th grade (ages 11-18).

Students in the Youth Dance Ensemble are required to study both Modern and a second technique class of their choice as part of their weekly dance classes.

All ensemble members are expected to attend weekly rehearsals on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 pm, from September to mid-March. As we get closer to a performance, rehearsal can be longer and more frequent if necessary. 

FAQs

  • The cost for Youth Dance Ensemble is $975.00. This includes all Friday rehearsals, performance fees, master classes and/or workshops, all costumes, and the summer intensive. Please note that the initial deposit of $175.00 is due upon acceptance into the company. The final payment of $800.00 is due at the start of the intensive week. (Payment plans available upon request)

  • YDE rehearses every Friday 4:30-6:30 from September 12 - March 13. There will be no rehearsals November 28, December 26, February 20. Dancers are allowed 2 unexcused absences (for anything other than illness). All conflicts/absences must be communicated to co-directors.

  • Yes! The Summer Intensive is not mandatory but highly recommended. If the student is unable to attend the summer intensive, they are still able to join YDE. Although they will not be in any of the dances learned that week.

  • Students can choose any style offered here at the studio including hip-hop, ballet or musical theater/jazz.