Choreography Collective Immerse yourself in an 7-day intensive designed to further explore and discover the depths of your authentic artistic voice.
Sunday, July 6 - Saturday, July 12, 2025 or Sunday, July 27 - Saturday, August 2, 2025 | Resident & Commuter Options
Young, emerging choreographers are invited to create in a stimulating, supportive, and rewarding environment of dance-making. Daily sessions include movement studies, compositional explorations, group discussions, studio lab time.
Choose one of two tracks: Creator or Collaborator
Those on the Creator Track (ages 18+) will develop and choreograph an original new or existing work.
Those on the Collaborator Track (ages 15+) will be the dancing artists for two different Creators.
The collections of creative flow will culminate in a showcase presentation open to friends/family.
Each session is limited to 40 students.
REMINDERS
- Students must be accepted into the program before they can register (except for current PPU students).
- Students cannot participate in more than one summer program at a time. For example, a student cannot register for both the Choreography Collective and the International Summer Dance Intensive 2-week and 6-week session; however, students attending the International Summer Dance 3-week Intensive may have the opportunity to participate in Choreography Collective, if accepted.
Qualified students have the option to choose between one of two artistic tracks.
Please see the next blue accordion for application requirements for each track.
Creator Track:
For ages 18 and up.
Participate as a Choreographer and gain the opportunity to evolve an original new or developing work.
Students are required to submit an application and be accepted before participating in this track.
Collaborator Track:
For ages 15 and up with intermediate to advanced levels of dance training.
Participate as a dancer. Opportunity to experience the creative process of learning a new/developing dance work.
Students are required to submit an application and be accepted before participating in this track.
Point Park Students:
Currently enrolled Point Park students are encouraged to attend this program as a FOR credit or NON-credit student. No application is required for either student. Students must still register on CampDoc.
FOR credit students should reach out to Marissa Cardarella (marissa.cardarella@pointpark.edu) or Angelo Gargaro (agargaro@pointpark.edu) to learn additional details on how to register.
NON-credit students can register automatically via this webpage and should enter code PPUSTUDENT for 50% off tuition. The deposit and room/board fees are not included in this discount.
Virtual Auditions are now open!
To access our video audition portal, please visit: https://app.getacceptd.com/pointparksummer
Video Audition Fee:
All video auditions will be charged a $40.00 fee due upon submission. This payment will be collected via Accept’d by debit or credit card. Unable to pay the audition fee? Apply for a fee waiver via Accept'd HERE.
Video Submission: Due by Monday, May 19, 2025
All video submissions should be framed as horizontal/landscape. Your video audition will need to include the following:
Creator Track: Choreographer
Application requirements:
1. A 1-minute video essay to share your choreographic interests and intentions. Be sure to include the genre or style of dance this will encompass.
2. A recent photo or headshot (.jpg only).
3. A professional resume including performance and choreographic experience (.pdf only).
Collaborator Track: Dancer
Application requirements:
1. A 1-minute sample of movement or dance representative of skill level.
2. A 1-minute video essay introducing why you should be considered for this program. Be sure to describe your future goals.
3. A recent photo or headshot (.jpg only).
4. A professional resume including performance and training experience (.pdf only).
Important Dates:
Session 1:
Residential and Commuter Check-In: Sunday, July 6 from 9 am - 3:30 pm
Program Dates: Sunday, July 6 - 12, 2025
Showcase Presentation: Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 1 pm (open to family and friends)
Session 2:
Residential and Commuter Check-In: Sunday, July 27 from 9 am - 3:30 pm
Program Dates: Sunday, July 27 - August 2, 2025
Showcase Presentation: Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 1 pm (open to family and friends)
Class Outlook:
As we plan for our 2025 session, the class outlook below is subject to change.
Classes will be held daily from approximately 9 am - 6 pm, with a 1-hour lunch and dinner break on campus. Each day will consist of movement studies, compositional explorations, group discussions and studio lab time.
Sunday Check-In + Day 1
1 - 3 p.m.: Student Check-in
4 - 5 p.m.: Welcome! Orientation and Informational Meetings Goals and Expectations
5 - 6 p.m.: Dinner
6 - 7 p.m.: Individual warm-up for auditions
7 -8 p.m.: Auditions- Informal auditions for Creators to cast Collaborators
DAYS 2 - 5
9 - 10 a.m.: Community Coffee Conversations - Goal Setting and Daily Visions
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.: Full Company Dance Class (lead by select Creator)
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Lunch
12:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Composition LAB
Track One
12:30 - 2:50 p.m.: In Studio with Dancers
3 - 5:20 p.m.: Individual Process and One-on-One meetings with Program Directors
Track Two
12:30 - 2:50 p.m., GRW: Individual Process and One-on-One meetings with Program Directors
3 - 5:20 p.m., GRW: In Studio with Dancers
5:30 - 6:30 p.m., RDF: Dinner
6:30 - 8 p.m., GRW: Creator LAB
9 - 9:45 a.m.: Community Coffee Conversations - Goal Setting and Daily Visions
9:45 - 10:30 a.m.: Company Warm Up
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.: Track One
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: Track Two
1:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Full Company Dress Rehearsal
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Dinner
DAY 7
9 - 9:30 a.m.: Company Warm Up
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.: Showcase Run Through
10:30 - 12:00 p.m.: Break
1 - 2 p.m.: Final Showcase
Address: GRW Dance Complex, 201 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Jason McDole
Assistant Professor of Dance
Jason McDole was born in Aliquippa, PA. He received a B.F.A. from The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy in 1997. He has danced in the companies of Twyla Tharp, David Parsons and Lar Lubovitch.
McDole was a founding member and assistant to Robert Battle of Battleworks Dance Company. He has been privileged to work on projects with Zvi Gotheiner, Mark Dendy and Graciela Daniele. On Broadway, he originated the role of the Dog in Twyla Tharp / Bob Dylan's The Times They are a Changin’. McDole has taught and staged works throughout the U.S. and abroad.
He received his M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. McDole is an Associate Professor of Dance at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Jesse Factor
Assistant Professor of Dance
Jesse Factor received a scholarship to the Martha Graham School and danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company and Graham II. Factor has also performed in work by acclaimed choreographers Robert Battle, George Faison, Stuart Hodes, Larry Keigwin, Gillian Lynne, Bulareyaung Pagarlava and Jerome Robbins. Additional performance credits include the North American touring company of Cats and the European company of Cabaret.
As regisseur for Graham resources, Factor’s reconstructions have been presented at The Joyce Theater and Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Factor’s award-winning solo work is frequently presented in the context of dance, theatre and nightclub venues. His creative work has been recognized by the National Dance Project, and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
Factor completed additional studies at the American Dance Festival, The 92nd Street Y's Dance Education Lab (DEL) and Breath-Body-Mind practices through the Kripalu Center.
Welcome to our campus!
All classes will be held on campus at Point Park University. Dance classes will 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 LH and GRW Dance Studios.
The $16 million George Rowland White Performance Center opened in 2008 in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh. It is a Gold LEED-certified building and one of the few green arts facilities in the region. The 44,000-square-foot center includes:
- Four floors with extra-height ceilings, comparable in size to a six-story building.
- Eight studios for rehearsals and performances (We are an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.)
- State-of-the-art heating and cooling systems, ventilation, flooring, lighting, acoustics and equipment.
- Grand pianos and state-of-the-art sound systems.
- On-site student lockers, showers, changing spaces and bike racks.
To view more information about our state-of-the-art dance facilities, click here.
Payment Information:
All payments are due before the start of the program.
Registration and payments will be handled through our easy, user-friendly online registration platform, CampDoc. Students must be accepted into the program before they can register. 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 their registration.
Non-Refundable Deposit:
A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 is required to reserve your space in a session. Please review our FAQs for the most up-to-date information on cancellations and refunds.
Dorm and Meal Plan Information:
Residential students receive 3 meals on weekdays and 2 meals on weekends (19 meals total per week). Commuters receive a daily lunch and dinner buffet. All meals take place in our Lawrence Hall Dining Room.
| Deposit |
$200 |
| Tuition |
$1,000 |
| Total Commuter | $1,200.00 |
| Add-On: Dorm and Meal Plan |
$750 |
| Total Resident |
$1,950.00 |
*Airport Shuttle
Students arriving for the Choreography Collective may opt-in to be picked up at the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) between the timeframe of 9:00am EST and 3:00pm EST on each Sunday. The first shuttle will leave the Pittsburgh International Airport at 9:00am EST to drop students off at Point Park University for check-in. The last shuttle will leave Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:00pm EST. Please plan accordingly to have flights arriving between 8:00am EST and 2:00pm EST on Sunday, July 6, 2025 or Sunday, July 27, 2025. Accommodations will not be provided for shuttle service for students arriving outside of the provided timeframe.
Students departing from the Choreography Collective on Saturday, July 12 or Saturday, August 2 should plan flight departures after 6:00pm EST. Please plan accordingly and send itinerary information to summercamps@pointpark.edu. Accommodations will not be provided for shuttle service for students departing outside of the Saturday dates.
Available Discounts:
1. A 30% tuition discount is currently offered to Point Park University employees, alumni, and their immediate family members. Family is defined as yourself, your spouse/partner, and/or your children. Deposit and room/ board costs are not available for this discount.
2. Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate Point Park students who take the NON-credit program receive 50% off of tuition (deposit and room/board is not applicable). No discount is available for students taking this program FOR credit.
3. Returning high school or non-credit students who attend any session will receive $100.00 off of their tuition cost. Thanks for your continued interest in our program.
Please Note: Tuition discounts cannot be stacked. Students receiving an artistic scholarship who are also eligible for a tuition discount may apply only one, whichever provides the largest benefit. However, the returner discount is exempt from this rule and can be combined with any other discount or scholarship.
We will do our best to fulfill roommate requests, but requests are NOT guaranteed. Students will have the opportunity to enter requests during the registration process.
Each residence hall has multiple points of secure access to student living areas, such as key cards, access codes, and lock and key.
Adult resident assistants (RAs) live on campus to supervise students who are minors. Each RA is responsible for eight to ten 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. Consider a B.F.A. or B.A. in Dance.
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| summercamps@pointpark.edu | |
| Call | 412-392-3456 |
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