Check-in begins at 3:00pm on Thursday, September 2, 2021. The program begins with our kick-off and orientation at 6:00pm. The Institute will end no later than 1:30pm on Monday, September 6, 2021. Students are required to attend the entire program.
A SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS: Parents are an important part of their young dancer’s journey and thus an important part of PDI. Parents and guardians are invited to all of Thursday evening’s activities, numerous workshops, and the closing session on Monday. PDI also opens up selected classes throughout the weekend for parents to observe. And in what has become a highlight of the program, Artistic Director Francisco Gella will host a parent reception on late Friday afternoon.
*The schedule below is a sample based on our 2019 in-person program and is subject to change.
Thursday
3:00pm – 9:00pm
- Check-in
- Orientation and Kick-Off (Parents Invited)
- Career Planning Perspectives: Making the Most of Your PDI Experience (Parents Invited)
- Opening Master Class
Friday
9:00am – 8:00pm
- Barre Work I (Regular barre sequence from plie to grande battements interspersed with conditioning and stretching elements designed under Francisco Gella Dance Work’s methodology)
- Center Barre Work I (Tendu, Adagio, Pirouette Prep Drills, Grande Battement)
- Across The Floor Work I (Waltz, Petite Jumps, Petite Allegro, Grande Allegro and Coda)
- Modern Technique
- Jazz Technique
- Mindfulness and Meditation for Dancers
- Parent and Student Social with Director Francisco Gella
Saturday
9:00am – 10:00pm
- Morning Warm-up (outdoors)
- Barre Work II (Regular barre sequence from plie to grande battements interspersed with conditioning and stretching elements designed under Francisco Gella Dance Work’s methodology)
- Center Barre Work II (Tendu, Adagio, Pirouette Prep Drills, Grande Battement)
- Across The Floor Work II (Waltz, Petite Jumps, Petite Allegro, Grande Allegro and Coda)
- Injury Prevention Workshop
- Career Exploration and Goal-Setting Workshop
- Theatre Dance Performance Techniques
- African/Haitian Dance Class
- Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Performance at the Lensic Theatre
- Meet and Greet with the Company Backstage
Sunday
9:00am – 7:00pm
- Ballet
- Contemporary Ballet
- Modern Rep
- Careers in Dance Panel
- Individual Performance Critique (*Each dancer is asked to bring a 2-3 minute solo which will be critiqued by the faculty and peers)
- Debrief with entire institute group and the faculty
- Evening all-student social back at the Drury Inn Rooftop Hotel
Monday
9:00am – 1:30pm
- Morning Large Group Warm-up
- Improv: Discovering Your Voice
- Presentation: College & University Dance Programs (parents invited)
- Professional Career Paths (parents invited)
- Wrap-up and Goodbyes