2026 summer ballet intensive

Bay Area Premier Summer Ballet Intensive

Our three-week ballet intensive – June 8-26 – is designed to improve your dancer’s technique and take their dancing to the next level, with daily classes taught by distinguished Bay Area guest teachers and our own DC ballet staff.

Half-day classes take place Monday to Friday, with three separate levels of instruction. 

 

Classes offered: 

Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Repertoire, Partnering, Contemporary

Dance Connection 2026 Company Requirements: 

  • 2026/2027 DCPC/DCC dancers in Level IA and above must attend at least one week.
  • 2026/2027 Junior Preparatory Ballet dancers must attend at least one week.
  • 2026/2027 Special Preparatory Ballet dancers must attend at least two weeks .
  • 2026/2027 Ballet Company dancers must attend all three weeks.*

*Ballet Company dancers in DCPC/DCC attending Encore Nationals Competition will be excused from Week 3 of the Ballet Intensive (June 22-26).

Junior Ballet Intensive
2:00-4:00 / Studio J4

For DC dancers placed in Level IA and IB for the 2025/2026 season.

Intermediate Ballet Intensive
4:00-7:00 / Studio J4

For DC dancers placed in Level IIA, IIB, and III for the 2025/2026 season.

Advanced Ballet Intensive
4:00-7:00 / Studio J3

For DC dancers placed in Level IV, and V/VI for the 2025/2026 season.

Please email ph@danceconnectionpaloalto.com with any questions regarding level placement for the Ballet Intensive. Our ballet staff may recommend alternative placement for certain dancers as needed.

Please register for each week you will attend!

Ballet Company Choreography Sessions:

Required for Ballet Company Dancers

June 8-12 – 11:00-2:00 / Studio J4

July 27-31 – 10:30-1:30 / Studio J4  

Our ballet intensive is perfect for Ballet students in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Menlo Park, or Sunnyvale looking to expand their ballet training for the summer.

Please email ph@danceconnectionpaloalto.com prior to enrolling to discuss level placements.

Jennifer - ballet teacher

Jennifer Kulz Smith

Jennifer received her ballet training in San Francisco with the Academy of Ballet, Dancers' Stage, Lanova Academy, City Ballet School and Boston Ballet School. She has performed with various Bay Area companies including the Peninsula Ballet Theater, San Francisco Dance Theater, and the Santa Clara Ballet. She performed in the San Francisco production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" for 4 1/2 years. Jennifer has two beautiful daughters, and has enjoyed teaching and watching students grow at Dance Connection since 2001.