5 Ways to Excel at Your Summer Intensive

Amélie van de Klashorst
Nov 6
3 min read

A summer intensive can help you grow fast as a dancer. These five tips will help you improve during the intensive and even long after it is over.

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1. Be a Sponge: Absorb Everything

Every class is full of information. New corrections, advice and small details add up over time. Think of yourself as a sponge. A sponge does not choose what to absorb, it takes everything in, and a dancer should do the same. Write down your corrections in the evening so you remember them for the next day. When you hear the same correction more than once, you know it needs extra attention.

Also remember that other people’s corrections are just as valuable as your own. Watch your classmates with curiosity. When someone does something well, ask yourself how they do it and try to use the same idea in your own dancing. If someone makes a mistake, even if you never make that mistake yourself, think about what they would need to change to fix it. When you practice looking at others this way, you learn how to correct yourself too. Absorb corrections not just from your teachers, but from every dancer in the room.

"Learning starts with constant analysis."

2. Set Clear, Daily Goals

Big dreams matter, but small daily goals are what move you toward them.

Many dancers think about the future, but forget to focus on the class they are in right now. Try choosing one simple correction for each day or class and stick to it from the first to the last exercise.

One class you might focus on turnout, the next day on pointed feet, another day on épaulement or breathing. When you do this, every movement in class becomes more purposeful, because you are not trying to fix everything at once. You are giving yourself one job to focus on.

Not only does this help you progress faster, it also gives you small achievements to be proud of. If we only feel successful after reaching one big goal, it is easy to feel discouraged. Instead, learn to enjoy the journey and celebrate the small wins you create in each class and each day.

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"Small goals become big change."

4. Work Smart, Not Hard

You will not feel your best in every class and that's okay.

Being tired is normal, especially in an intensive. Some days a pirouette will wobble or a jump will feel low. Do not beat yourself up, smile, analyse and try again.

Working smart means moving with intention. Do not repeat a pirouette a hundred times without stopping to think.

"Quality over quantity, always."

Five turns with real focus on your corrections will help you far more than repeating the same mistake again and again. It also saves your energy and keeps frustration at bay.

Working smart also means paying attention to your body. Learn the difference between being tired and being hurt. A tired body can keep going with care. An injured body needs rest. A healthy dancer is a successful dancer. Your teachers will understand - they are dancers just like you!

5. Radiate Joy and Confidence

Stepping into a new studio can feel intimidating. New teachers, unfamiliar faces, and high expectations often make dancers feel nervous. Confidence does not mean you never feel fear or doubt. It means you keep going even when those feelings are there.

When nerves appear, focus on the present. Think about your corrections instead of worst-case scenarios. Sometimes the best way to build confidence is to “fake it until you make it.” Stand tall, move with intention, and just smile. Over

time, these actions become habits, and real confidence grows from them.

Facial expressions matter. Serious or pained faces can be interpreted as discontent by those around you. Keep your expressions open and pleasant. Smile, laugh, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When you do make a mistake, just laugh and try again! It lightens the mood, and others will laugh along with you. There is nothing dramatic about it. Reacting with anger or annoyance changes the energy in the studio and makes everyone feel on edge. Be serious when you need to be, but enjoy both your wins and your mistakes.