International Summer Dance

International Summer Dance (ISD) is a selective, physically demanding intensive for serious intermediate-to-advanced dancers. Applicants should be actively training for at least six hours per week and prepared for a rigorous daily schedule. All participants take ballet each day, including dancers in the Commercial Track. If you are not familiar with a dance intensive, we recommend that students participate in our Summer Dance Workshop.

Age requirement

Students ages 14–25 may apply to the summer intensive. On-campus housing is available to students who are at least 14 years old.

Health requirement

A doctor’s note is not required for auditions or registration. Each family should determine the health and safety of the individual student before participating in events.

Artistic requirement

Admission to International Summer Dance is by audition. New applicants must be accepted before registering for the program.

Accepted dancers participate in placement activities at the beginning of the intensive to determine the appropriate training level within their selected Concert or Commercial Track. Program faculty make placement decisions to provide dancers with an appropriately challenging experience.

Returning International Summer Dance participants and eligible Point Park students do not need to audition again unless they wish to be considered for a new artistic merit scholarship.

Returning students

Returning International Summer Dance participants do not need to audition again. When registration is available, click the “REGISTER HERE” button to get started. A required $300 registration fee reserves your spot. Enter the returner discount code RETURNER27 during registration.

Returning students who attend the program receive $100 off tuition.

Point Park Students

Current Point Park students who auditioned for and were accepted into the Conservatory of Performing Arts are automatically accepted into International Summer Dance. This includes Dance and Theatre majors.

Current Point Park students receive 50% off tuition. The nonrefundable registration fee and room and meals are not included. Accepted students do not need to audition unless they wish to be considered for additional scholarship funds. Use code PPUSTUDENT27.

This benefit is also available to incoming accepted freshmen who are academically and artistically admitted to the incoming undergraduate class. An Admissions deposit is required to use this benefit.

Point Park Alumni and Employees

Point Park Alumni and Employees are eligible for 30% off tuition for eligible student particpants that are immediate family members. This discount cannot be combined with other discounts. The nonrefundable registration fee and room and meals are not included in the discount. Use code PPUMEMBER27.

Additional Information

Students do not need to be advanced in Pointe to participate in the Concert Track. An alternative in allegro is available. Pointe class is offered to students who are interested and capable.

Susan Stowe is known for her vibrant performance quality, clean balletic lines, and arched feet. Her 15-year professional career began under the direction of Ted Kivitt at the Milwaukee Ballet Company. Her performance career also included Burklyn Ballet Theatre, BalletMet, Ballet Austin, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Among her most notable performances were leading roles in Choo San Goh’s Unknown Territory, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs, and Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s Elite Syncopations.

Stowe joined the dance faculty at Point Park in 1995 and is chair of the Department of Concert Dance and a professor. She also serves as artistic director of Point Park’s International Summer Dance program. She has staged more than 50 classical and neoclassical variations for the Conservatory of Performing Arts.

For more than three decades, Point Park University's International Summer Dance has welcomed talented dancers, teachers, and musicians from around the globe. We have previously hosted students from Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Every year, our studios, corridors, dining halls, and parks are filled with joyful celebrations of many cultures united by the love of dance.

Please be aware that we cannot provide accommodations before or after the program. If you have a unique situation, please reach out to the office to discuss it individually.

As International Summer Dance is a non-credit program, most students should apply for a B-2 Tourism Visitor Visa. The B-type visa covers “Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation).” For more information and requirements for U.S. entry, visit Travel.State.Gov.

Additional Resources

• U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Argentina
• U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil
• U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Ecuador
• U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Spain and Andorra
• U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico

We are excited to announce the return of on-campus, in-person auditions on the following dates:

• Sunday, February 7, 2027, from 1:00–4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 25, 2027, from 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Steps for In-Person Auditions

1. Create an account on Acceptd. Use it to register for an on-campus audition and receive audition results.
2. Mark that you will attend an on-campus audition. This bypasses the virtual video submission.
3. Pay the $40 audition fee through Acceptd. After payment, the Office of Pre-College Programs will move students to the scheduling stage.
4. Register for an on-campus audition date. You will receive confirmation of your selected date.

The $40 audition fee is required, paid upon completion of the application through Acceptd, and nonrefundable.

Applicants may be considered for an audition fee waiver based on financial circumstances. Examples include receiving or being eligible for a College Board (SAT) or NACAC application fee waiver, Federal Pell Grant eligibility based on FAFSA, or another financial situation that makes the audition fee a hardship.

To process a fee waiver, apply directly through Acceptd. Requirements and instructions are available on Acceptd’s fee waiver website.

Audition Overview

All auditions are evaluated for artistic scholarship consideration. Students should present a professional appearance. Loose clothing, sweatpants, skirts, and leg warmers are not permitted. Long hair should be secured in a bun.

Walk-ins are welcome, but students are encouraged to preregister online through Acceptd so the office can coordinate and provide additional information. Candidates will be notified of their acceptance and scholarship status within 2–4 weeks. Provide an active email address on registration forms.

In-person auditions consist of a three-hour class focused on Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and Modern:

1. Ballet Barre: pliés, tendus from fifth position, dégagés, rond de jambes, frappés, adagio, and grand battements.
2. Ballet Center: pirouettes, adagio, and petit allegro.
3. Jazz and Modern: an approximately one-minute combination demonstrating turns, jumps, and floor work.

Register for an audition on Acceptd.

International Summer Dance is offered as one complete three-week intensive. Each week builds on the previous week through progressive technique classes, track-specific training, and repertory development.

Students must be available for the full instructional and showcase period from Monday, June 21 through Saturday, July 10, 2027. Individual-week registration, late arrivals, early departures, and other partial-attendance arrangements cannot be accommodated.

Important dates

• Residential and commuter check-in: Sunday, June 20, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Orientation and dinner: Sunday, June 20, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Required for students; optional for parents.
• Residential student floor meetings: Sunday, June 20, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
• Track placements: Monday morning, June 21.
• Repertory auditions: Monday afternoon, June 21.
• Move-out: Saturday evening, July 10, after the showcase, or Sunday, July 11.

Weekly Class Outlook

Regular classes take place Monday through Friday. There are no regularly scheduled weekend classes. The final showcase and related production activities are the exception.

The exact schedule varies by track, placement level, and week. The final-week schedule may be adjusted for showcase rehearsals and production needs.

Classes and training

Every dancer begins the day with ballet. Students then move into supplemental classes and focused training within their selected track.

Concert Track

• Ballet (weeks 1–3)
• Modern (weeks 1–3)
• Contemporary (weeks 1–3)
• Dunham (week 1)
• Improvisation (week 2)
• Somatics (week 3)
• Professional development (week 2)
• Pointe (weeks 1–3)
• Allegro (weeks 1–3)
• Partnering (weeks 1–3; depending on placement, dancers may be eligible to participate)

Commercial Track

• Ballet (weeks 1–3)
• Jazz (weeks 1–3)
• Hip Hop (weeks 1–3)
• Acro (week 1)
• African dance (week 2)
• Somatics (week 3)
• Professional development (week 2)
• Tap (weeks 1–3)
• Latin and Ballroom (weeks 1–3)

Classes and sequencing are subject to instructor availability, placement, and track selection.

Repertory and Showcase

The intensive culminates in a showcase featuring choreographed repertory in the Concert and Commercial Tracks.

Showcase participation is optional. Participants attend repertory rehearsals Monday through Friday, 4:00–5:30 p.m., and must be available for all assigned rehearsals, the final rehearsal, and the showcase on Saturday, July 10.

Students who choose not to participate in the showcase finish daily classes at 3:45 p.m. They are still required to attend the full three-week instructional period.

Placements and repertory auditions for the three-week intensive take place on the first Monday of the dance intensive.

Group and placement numbers are assigned during check-in on the preceding Sunday. Students begin classes and repertory rehearsals in their assigned placements on Tuesday.

Placements are provided in a physical letter. Residential students receive the letter from their Resident Assistant the night before classes. Commuter students may pick up their letter at the Pre-College Programs table outside the dance complex the morning of the first class day. Commuters will also receive an email with their placement.

Dance faculty closely observe dancers after placements are finalized to determine whether a level change is needed. If a student needs a different placement, the instructor will submit a Level Change Form. Changes take effect the following day.

Office staff cannot make placement changes or provide an instructor’s phone number. Students are encouraged to speak directly with their instructor.

First Monday Schedule

Scholarship overview

Merit scholarship awards are valid for one year from the award date. For example, scholarships awarded for the 2026 season are valid through the 2027 season. If you do not use your scholarship within one year, it becomes void and you will need to audition again for scholarship consideration. Scholarships may be rolled over within the one-year period. For example, a scholarship awarded for the 2026 season may be used for either the 2026 or 2027 program.

Artistic merit scholarships are available to students seen at a Point Park Conservatory audition or who apply through the Acceptd video portal. During the audition, students are evaluated on coordination, muscular strength, technique, and comprehension.

Scholarships apply only to tuition. They cannot be applied to the deposit, room and board, or additional extracurricular opportunities. Award levels range from low, mid, and high to half and full tuition coverage. Scholarships are program-specific and cannot be transferred to other programs.

Students previously accepted into the program do not need to audition again unless they wish to be considered for an artistic scholarship. A new award will void and supersede a previous award if the new award is higher.

All scholarships are manually added by the team after registration and deposit are received.

Payment information

All payments are due at the start of the program. Registration and payments are handled through CampDoc. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and electronic checks are accepted. Payment plans are available. Students receive a T-shirt with seasonal swag and an ID holder with registration.

Nonrefundable registration fee

A nonrefundable $300 registration fee is required to reserve a place in the program. Review the FAQs for current cancellation and refund information.

Room and meal information

Residential students receive three weekday meals and two weekend meals, for 19 meals per week. Commuters receive a daily lunch buffet as part of the program. Commuters may purchase an additional breakfast and dinner dining pass. All meals are served in the Lawrence Hall Dining Room.

Cost breakdown

*The registration fee is separate from tuition and is not included in scholarship discounts. Scholarships apply to tuition only.

Additional program add-ons

Airport shuttle

Students arriving for the three-week intensive on Sunday, June 20, 2027, may opt in to pickup at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The first shuttle leaves PIT at 10:00 a.m. and drops students at Point Park for 11:00 a.m. check-in. The last shuttle leaves PIT at 2:00 p.m.

Plan flights to arrive between 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2027. Shuttle accommodations are not available for arrivals outside this time window.

Students departing Saturday, July 10, 2027, should schedule flights after 8:00 p.m. at the earliest. Students departing Sunday, July 11, 2027, are asked to book flights after 10:00 a.m. Send itinerary information to summercamps@pointpark.edu.

Available discounts

• Each student is evaluated for an artistic merit scholarship during the audition. Awards are added to the payment portal after registration is complete and the registration fee is paid.
• Currently enrolled Point Park undergraduate or graduate students receive 50% off tuition. Room, meals, and the registration fee are not discounted. Use code PPUSTUDENT27.
• Immediate family members of Point Park employees and alumni receive 30% off tuition. Room, meals, and the registration fee are not discounted. Immediate family includes the student, their spouse, and children. Use code PPUMEMBER27.
• Returning students receive $100 off tuition. Use code RETURNER27.
• Additional coupon codes may be available during registration.

Discounts cannot be stacked. Students eligible for both an artistic scholarship and a tuition discount may use only the one that provides the largest benefit. The returner discount is exempt and may be combined with another discount or scholarship.

All classes are held on campus at Point Park University. Dance classes take place in Lawrence Hall (LH) and the George Rowland White (GRW) Dance Complex. Students must enter through the Lawrence Hall doors with their student ID to access Lawrence Hall and GRW dance studios.

Address

Point Park University
Lawrence Hall
212 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

George Rowland White Performance Center

The $16 million George Rowland White Performance Center opened in 2008 in Downtown Pittsburgh. It is a Gold LEED-certified building and one of the region’s green arts facilities. The 44,000-square-foot center includes:

• Four floors with extra-height ceilings, comparable in size to a six-story building.
• Eight rehearsal and performance studios. Point Park is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.
• Modern heating, cooling, ventilation, flooring, lighting, acoustics, and equipment.
• Grand pianos and modern sound systems.
• On-site student lockers, showers, changing spaces, and bike racks.

More information about Point Park’s dance facilities and campus directions.

On-campus housing during International Summer Dance is available to students who are at least 14 years old.

Point Park will do its best to fulfill roommate requests, but requests are not guaranteed. Students may enter requests during registration.

Each residence hall has multiple secure access points to student living areas, such as keycards, access codes, and locks and keys. Laundry is free for residential students.

Resident Assistants (RAs) live on campus to supervise students who are minors. Each RA is responsible for eight to twelve minors.

As an undergraduate student at Point Park, you’ll have access to opportunities only a world-class city can offer—and few universities can match—for a real-world, career-oriented education.

Considering a B.F.A. in Dance? During International Summer Dance, students have the opportunity to audition for Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts.

More information about the audition will be provided at the beginning of the program.