Summer Camps

Registration Opens January 31st!
If a camp is dropped, we reserve the right to withhold a $50 deposit.

Mini Camps

Ages 3-6; Performances at the Studio on the (final) Friday.

The State Street Ballet Academy Mini-Dance Camps include ballet, jazz, tap, art, and rehearsal for the end-of-session performance on the (final) Friday at 11am. The consistency of daily study of dance helps students improve their skills and allows them to improve rapidly.

Mini Happy Days Camp | July 13th-17th | 9am-12pm

The State Street Ballet Academy Mini-Dance Camps include ballet technique, jazz, tap, art, drama, and rehearsal for the end-of- session performance on the final Friday. The consistency of daily study of dance helps students improve their skills and allows them to improve rapidly.
Teacher: Amara Galloway
Cost: $350 or $300 if registered before April 1st!

Mini Disney Camp | July 20th-24th | 9am-12pm

Mini KPop Demon Hunter Camp | July 27th-31st | 9am-12pm

Cost: $350 or $300 if registered before April 1st!

Mini Lion King Camp | August 3rd-7th | 9am-12pm

Mini Under The Sea Camp | August 10th-14th | 9am-12pm

The State Street Ballet Academy Mini-Dance Camps include ballet technique, jazz, tap, art, drama, and rehearsal for the end-of- session performance on the final Friday. The consistency of daily study of dance helps students improve their skills and allows them to improve rapidly.
Teacher: Natalie Burkhart
Cost: $350 or $300 if registered before April 1st!

Dance Camps

Ages 7-18 *dependent on camp

2-Week Junior Intensive | July 20th-August 1st | 9am-3:30pm

The Junior Intensive is designed for the more serious ballet student. The focus will be on ballet and pointe technique for the older student, while the younger student will work on strengthening to prepare for the more serious study of ballet. There will be a jazz class daily, character classes, Pilates and stretch classes, and rehearsals for the end-of-session performance. This is an intensive program for the serious student to focus on developing as a dancer.

Teachers: Allison Gustafson, Madelyne Herbert, Amber Hirschfield, Cecily MacDougall, Mei-Ling Murray, Noam Tsivkin

SSBYD Audition Camp | August 17th-21st | 4pm-7pm

The State Street Ballet Young Dancers Audition Camp will include technique and pointe, as well as the opportunity to learn the Rudolph and Clara variations for the SSBYD/Rudolph/ Nutcracker audition. This camp is strongly encouraged, but not a prerequisite to audition.

Teachers: Allison Gustafson, Cecily MacDougall

PLEASE NOTE: Only students level 4 and up may audition for SSBYD. Students in a lower level may attend the camp for experience, but are not eligible to audition.

Master Class Camp | May 19th-22nd | 4pm-7pm

Master Class Camp is for level 4-6 dancers. This specialized camp offers a transformative experience to refine your technique, expand your artistic expression, and train with our exceptional faculty. This camp will include 3 hour technique classes each day.

Teachers: Megan Phillip, Ryan Lenkey, Saori Yamashita, Irene Yacoub (see bios below)

Ballet Boot Camp | May 26th-29th | 4pm-7pm

Ballet Boot Camp is for level 4-6 dancers who want to get serious about technique! Classes include ballet, pointe, variations, artistry, theory, and conditioning. This camp includes an informal showing on Friday at 6pm in the studio.

Teachers: Allison Gustafson, Noam Tsivkin, Saori Yamashita

Contemporary and Choreography Camp | June 1st-5th | 4pm-7pm

Contemporary & Choreography camp is for dancers who want to get creative and expand their horizons! Daily classes contemporary technique, choreography seminars, and a chance to choreograph. This camp includes an informal showing on Friday at 6pm in the studio.

Teachers: Amber Hirschfield, Fenna Roukema

Happy Days Camp | July 13th-17th | 9am-3:30pm

The State Street Ballet Academy Dance Camps include ballet technique, jazz, tap, art, drama, and rehearsal for the end-of- session performance. The consistency of daily study of dance helps students improve their skills and allows them to improve rapidly. Young dancers have the opportunity to engage in the full theater experience, as they put together a musical production. Not only do they dance, sing and act, but they also help with their costumes and sets, making their production one that is uniquely their own.

Teachers: Allison Gustafson, Noam Tsivkin

Lion King Camp | August 3rd-7th | 9am-3:30pm

Teachers: Amara Galloway, Allison Gustafson, Madelyne Herbert

Master Class Camp Guest Faculty:

Megan Philipp – Artistic Director of State Street Ballet

Megan Philipp joined the staff of State Street Ballet in 2013 and was promoted to Artistic Director on September 1, 2023. During her tenure with the company, she created, launched, and directed the Professional Track Program. She became a company rehearsal director in 2018 and co-director of our annual Summer Intensive.

In addition, she has been invited to choreograph for a variety of productions, including The Nutcracker, Jungle Book, and Sleeping Beauty. Prior to coming to State Street Ballet, Megan spent four years at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. She was a faculty member and then promoted to Faculty and Curriculum Coordinator. She worked closely with the directors to create a curriculum for the newly opened Academy, taught for all levels of the school and trainee program, and ran their Los Angeles Summer Intensive.

Mrs. Philipp has her Master’s in Dance Education from New York University, where she studied classical ballet pedagogy at American Ballet Theater and worked in administration for the organization. She spent eight years in New York City as a performing artist, teacher, and choreographer before completing her master’s and moving to Chicago. She also has a BA in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University and is certified in the Simonson Jazz Technique.

Ryan Lenkey – Company Artist with State Street Ballet

Ryan Lenkey began his dance training at 9 years old at Oglebay Institute. He went on to train at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and Next Generation Ballet, attending summer programs at Boston Ballet, Ballet West, Manhattan Youth Ballet, The Rock School for Dance, and The School of American Ballet. He was a trainee with Boston Ballet and Ballet West before joining Ballet West II, where he danced for two seasons. He joined State Street Ballet in 2021.

Ryan has performed leading roles with State Street Ballet in Giselle, Scheherezade, and The Nutcracker. He has performed with English National Ballet in their production of Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall and recently with Texture Contemporary Ballet in Pittsburgh, PA. Ryan is a NASM certified Sports Nutritionist and Associate Director of The Male Dance Connection, an organization founded to cultivate community and education for young male dancers.

Saori Yamashita – Company Artist with State Street Ballet

Saori Yamashita received her dance training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC, and the Joffrey Academy of Dance Trainee Program. She joined The Joffrey Ballet’s Studio Company in 2014 and performed works by Christopher Wheeldon, Alexander Ekman, Stanton Welch, Sir Frederick Ashton, Gerald Arpino, Alexei Kremnev, and Krzysztof Pastor. She has performed at Lincoln Center in New York City as part of the YAGP Gala and competed in the Moscow International Ballet Competition.

Since joining State Street Ballet in 2017, she has performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, Scheherazade, Giselle, and The Jungle Book, as well as George Balanchine’s Who Cares? in The Man I Love and Fascinating Rhythm. She is also a certified Master Stretch® instructor.

Irene Yacoub – Master Teacher

Irene Yacoub grew up in Cairo, Egypt, where she trained at the Cairo Opera Ballet and joined the corps de ballet at age 16. Her classical repertoire includes Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from McGill University while continuing her ballet training at Ballet Divertimento, École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec, and Ballet Jörgen. During her time in Montreal, where she became fluent in French, Yacoub performed with several companies, including Ballet Quest and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Irene’s passion for ballet evolved into a commitment to education. She earned her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance, successfully preparing students for graded and vocational exams – including Solo Seal. She has taught at renowned institutions across Canada, including the Goh Ballet Academy, and is now continuing to expand her teaching in the United States. Yacoub is fully certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum and was previously on faculty at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Children’s Division. She is also a certified Pilates instructor, bringing a holistic approach to the movement and training. Currently Irene is on faculty at both the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and Debbie Allen Middle School, where she has taught for the past year and is thrilled to return. She also teaches at Westside School of Ballet, continuing to share her passion and expertise with the next generation of dancers.

Summer Classes

Open Adult Classes

All classes are open on a drop is basis ($20/class or class card).

Mondays | 6:00pm to 7:30pm | Open Intermediate Adult Ballet with Allison Gustafson

Tuesdays | 6:00pm to 7:30pm | Open Beginning Adult Ballet with Susan Manchek

Thursdays | 6:00pm to 7:30pm | Open Beginning Adult Ballet with Susan Manchek

Saturdays | 9:00am to 10:30am | Open Intermediate Adult Ballet with Allison Gustafson