Summer Essay Intensives for Rising Seniors

The college essay is where your dancer's voice can radiate through the admissions process. Grades and auditions give your reviewer a sense of your capacities — the essays help them remember you. For dancers applying to BFA programs, conservatories, and BA double major programs within large universities, the writing asks are uniquely specific and varied.

Our summer workshops are built for exactly this.

What the intensive covers

Each intensive is designed around three essay types every dance applicant faces: the Common App personal statement, "Why Us" essays for universities, and dance department–specific questions that ask students to speak directly to their artistry and ambitions. Each piece of writing functions in a different way in a dancer’s application.

How we work

Sessions are virtual, with groups of just 4–5 students per mentor — small enough that every student gets genuine guidance, large enough to benefit from peer perspective. The day moves through structured group sessions, independent writing time with mentor drop-in access, a focused session on essay structure and through lines, structured 1:1 feedback sessions, and a closing group conversation about next steps. Dancers will finish the day with a draft of one essay and strategies to modify that essay for different programs.

An optional additional-fee private 1:1 mentoring hour is available for students who want additional individualized support.

Investment: $475 per intensive

Four workshop dates are available this summer.

June 12th, 9am-3pm EST—FULL

June 30th, 10am-4pm EST

July 29th, 10am-4pm EST

August 10th, 10am-4pm EST

Space is intentionally limited to ensure individualized attention.

Register Today 
What to Expect

  • We take some of the pressure off the essay by explaining how writing functions in college admissions and how to use the essay as an additional window to share your world with your admissions readers and faculty panels.

    The day alternates between group work and individual writing time, with mentors available the whole time for guidance and feedback.

  • Both founders of Dance & have significant experience teaching writing in independent schools and colleges. Our approach honors student voice and development, while also teaching writers how to write to a specific audience.

  • Dancers are used to working in intensive blocks. Rather than try to add a little bit of writing at the end of each day of a summer program, we find dancers do best when they draft in a block of time, then let the essay percolate for 5-8 days, then revisit it to continue editing.

  • We don’t provide ideas, edit documents, or suggest specific revisions. Trust us, admissions readers know a 18-year-old voice from a 48-year-old voice. Instead, we engage in a feedback model using reflection and question-asking to help dancers clarify their voices and clearly communicate to readers. 

Meet your writing mentors, the team at Dance & College Counseling:

Ashley Thorndike, BFA, MEd, PhD

Ashley holds a PhD in Dance Studies from The Ohio State University, where she served on the dance admissions committee, and has taught Dance Writing at both Oberlin College and Ohio State — giving her rare insider knowledge of exactly what dance programs are looking for when it comes to student writing. A former dance professor and student affairs professional as well as a career-long advocate for the arts, she brings together academic expertise, clinical insight, and deep admissions experience to guide dancers through the admissions process as a significant growth experience. Read more about Ashley here.

Dinah Gray, BA, MFA

Dinah holds a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Goucher College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University, and has taught creative writing and provided essay coaching in the US and abroad — bringing a rare combination of professional dance and literary expertise to her work with young performers. A choreographer, educator, and interdisciplinary artist, she has danced professionally with the Ballet Theater of Maryland and the Baltimore Opera, created commissioned work for professional and educational institutions, and taught extensively across ballet companies, university programs, and boarding and international schools. Read more about Dinah here.