SUMMER INTENSIVE | Dance Factory

Summer Dance Intensive

August 19th - August 22nd, 2024

Master Class series for Intermediate and Advanced level dancers Ages 8 - 18

See Master Class Instructor bios and schedules below!

Dance Factory Ridgefield's Summer Dance Intensive/Master Class series is designed to get our Company dancers ready for the upcoming Fall/Spring Season. Dancers should come prepared with proper dance attire ( pink tights and black leotard for ballet - black leggings, black leotard or sports top for all other styles )

Dancers should bring appropriate shoes for each style, arrive with hair neatly pulled back in a bun or ponytail, and bring ample water. Mandatory for all DFR Competition Team Dancers, this series is open to intermediate and advanced level dancers ages 8-18.

The Summer Intensive for each level includes Master Classes with DFR staff and exciting Guest Artists!

DFR Petite Team dancers and Intermediate level dancers

Ages 8-13 should register for the Intermediate /Petite Intensive

DFR Junior Team dancers and Intermediate/Advanced level dancers

Ages 12-15 should register for the Intermediate /Advanced /Junior Intensive

DFR Senior Team dancers and Advanced level dancers

Ages 14-18 should register for the Advanced /Senior Intensive

If you are unsure which level to enroll in, please email us

Please note & save the schedule below

Schedules will also be emailed to all enrolled dancers

Master Classes - Summer 2024

Peter Nevin - Monday, August 19th

4:00 - 5:30pm Junior Int/Adv BalletMaster Class

5:30 - 7:00 pm Senior Advanced Ballet/Pointe Master Class

Peter danced with the Westchester Ballet Company in New York, under the directorship of Jean Logrea and Beth Fritz. There, he danced many lead and solo roles from Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Graduation Ball, Les Patineurs, Peter and the Wolf, and other classics.

In Texas, he was Artist In Residence with the Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre while it was under the directorship of Patricia Thornton and Gari Boehm. Peter performed lead roles in the classics including Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, along with original works based on Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

Additionally, contemporary works were created on him by guest choreographers, most notably Ron Cunningham, director of Sacramento Ballet. After returning to the New England area, Peter continues to enjoy teaching, choreographing and performing. Such credits include SoNo Dance, Ridgefield School of Dance, Wilton Dance, Woodbury Ballet, and other guest teaching/performing engagements. Most currently, Peter is very excited to be on the Faculty at Dance Factory Ridgefield.

We are so fortunate to have Peter as a resident choreographer and instructor at Dance Factory Ridgefield!

Rachel Blackwelder - Monday, August 19th

5:30 - 7:00pm Petite / Intermediate Ballet Master Class

Rachel trained with The Northwest Florida Ballet, joining the company in 1998. There she performed in the ballets Cinderella, Giselle, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker, in addition to the repertory of modern, jazz, and contemporary ballet pieces, including Fernando Bujone's Jazz Swing. She began teaching for NFB after earning her first Pilates certification from the Physical Mind Institute in 2000. Her summers were spent abroad or at ballet intensives including the Rock School in Philadelphia, the Rosella Hightower School in Canne, France, and Joffrey Ballet in New York. Her time in NYC inspired her to explorer a broader range of performance disciplines, and in 2006 she graduated with a BA in Theatre from the University of Central Florida, with a Dance focus. During this time, she participated in the National Society of Arts and Letters Dance Competition as a national finalist, under the instruction of Gary Flannery. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and fills her spare time with a wide range of creative endeavors. Her greatest passion is for choreography, and helping young dancers unleash their artistic potential.

We are so excited to welcome Rachel to DFR!

Amelia Burkhardt - Tuesday August 20th

4:30-6:30pm Senior / Advanced Jazz Master Class

6:30 - 8:00pm / Junior / Int/Advanced Jazz Master Class

Amelia was born and raised in Thousand Oaks, CA. Throughout her training, she was on competition teams, winning many first place and overall soloist awards. Amelia was selected for numerous scholarships from competitions and conventions all over California, including a one year scholarship to Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. Some of Amelia's credits include The Hello Kitty National Tour, Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush, Promo for Disney's 'Camp Rock 2', FOX 'Mobbed', Good Day L.A., and regional productions of In The Heights(Dance Captain), Beauty and The Beast and Peter Pan. She has also worked alongside of celebrities Demi Lavato, Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda, Wilmer Valderrama, and Howie Mendel. She has danced for famous choreographers, NappyTabs, Tyce Diorio, Matt Cady, Galen Hooks and Neil Schwartz. She was a featured dancer and one of the assistant production coordinators for the world famous dance show, Choreographers' Carnival. She was a company member and assistant for the popular LA based company, Mischief Makers. They are invited to perform all over the country, including Hawaii, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Etc. Amelia also travels the United States judging studio dance competitions for Starpower, Imagine, and Revolution Talent Competitions. Over her professional career, Amelia has been teaching at several dance studios, high schools, and universities on the East and West Coast, including UCLA, Cal State Channel Islands, and University of Delaware. She currently is a traveling faculty member for Liberate Artists INC teaching and choreographing alongside Phil Wright, Comfort Fedoke, Lauren Froderman, Mollee Gray, Etc. She is also now on faculty at Steps On Broadway in NYC. Amelia continues to reside in NYC pursuing her dance, acting, and teaching career.

We are so pleased to welcome Amelia back to DFR for her 7th Summer Intensive with us!!

Kenny Hernandez - Tuesday August 20th

4:30 - 6:00pm Junior & Petite Elite Crew / Intermediate Hip Hop Master Class

6:00-7:00pm Petite Crew /Beg/Int Hip Hop Master Class

7:00-8:30pm Senior Crew / Advanced Hip Hop Master Class

Kenny Hernandez is a self taught dancer and choreographer from The Bronx, NY. Growing up, he started to build his street style by training with different teams and groups based in NYC. Kenny later continued his training through different places such as Broadway Dance Center, EXPG, BrickHouseDance, and MonstersDance.

Kenny has a passion for teaching and has taught workshops and classes all over the country and in Australia. He loves inspiring and wants to share his knowledge and passion for dance with all of his students.

We are so excited to have Kenny join us for his 4th DFR Summer Intensive!

Jess Stafford - Wednesday, August 21st

4:00 - 5:30pm Junior / Int/Adv Turn & Leap/ Lyrical Master Class

5:30-7pm Senior/ Advanced Turn & Leap/ Lyrical Master Class

7pm-8pm Petite/ Intermediate Jazz Master Class

Jess Stafford is a native New Yorker and graduate of NYU Steinhardt's Dance Education Master’s Program. She also has her BFA in dance performance from UMASS Amherst. Following her life as a professional dancer, Jess now teaches and choreographs nationally and internationally, bringing her love of movement and creating to all her classes.
Jess’ performance credits include: The National Tour of Guys & Dolls, The European Tour of Grease, West Side Story, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, Salute to Dudley Moore at Carnegie Hall, guest-dancer with the World Famous Pontani Sisters and IMPULSE Modern Dance Company. Jess has been on faculty for the Perichild Program at Peridance, New Dance Group and 92nd Street Y in NYC and was Company Director at Steffi Nossen School of Dance. In 2008 Jess traveled to Uganda where she taught creative-movement and was a featured instructor at the
Queen's Kampala Dance School. She has conducted workshops for the cast of LA REVE at the Wynn, Las Vegas and has been on faculty at the IDS International Dance Teacher Conference at The Royal Ballet, MPower Summer Dance Intensives and annual Dance Teacher WebConferences.
Jess has been adjunct faculty to the Rutgers University Dance Dept. and has also served as Master Teacher & adjudicator for various dance competitions. She is the Chief Editor for the Dance Teacher Web blog and is also faculty member and contributing writer.Her latest passion project includes becoming a 500HR RYT, RPYT and is the creator of 44 Yoga + Movement. www.44yogamove.com

We are so excited to welcome Jess back for her 3rd DFR Summer Intensive !

Mickey Lonsdale - Wednesday, August 21st

4:00 - 5:30pm Senior Team Workshop

5:30-6:45pm Petite Team Acro Workshop

7-8:30pm Junior Team Acro Workshop

Mickey is an internationally award winning physical theatre actor and dancer. He originally hails from Ramer, Alabama. He began his dance training at Alabama Dance Theatre and has a B.A. in Communication/Theatre at Auburn Montgomery. While in college, he became the emcee, entertaining 7000 fans nightly, for the Montgomery Biscuits. After graduating, Mickey moved to Italy to pursue an M.F.A. in Physical Theatre at the Accademia del’Arte. He received training in Commedia Dell’Arte, Clown, Dance, Choreography, and Acting. During this time, he attended Flic Scoula di Circo, Circus School, where he trained in acrobatics, acro dance, Chinese pole, walking globe, and various other circus skills. While in Europe, he performed with companies such as Familie Floz in Germany, Divaldo Continuo in the Czech Republic, and Red Dot Theatre in Italy and Turkey. After receiving his M.F.A., Mickey moved to the NYC area where has starred in several independent films, commercials, TV shows, and works as a free-lance dancer/choreographer. He is also a founding member of Aura Curiatlas Physical Theatre. This company tours all over the world telling compelling stories using acrobatics, dance, and physical acting. Mickey has developed techniques that help children develop motor skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and social skills. He has made it his goal to help children reignite their imagination to know and feel that whatever their dreams are, they can accomplish them. Mickey co-founded Circus Splendiferous LLC with his wife, Jesse, in March of 2020.

We are so fortunate to have Mickey as a resident choreographer and instructor at DFR !

Lauren Barrett - Thursday, August 22nd

4:45-5:45pm Petite / Intermediate Contemporary Master Class

5:45 -7:15pm Junior / Int/Adv Contemporary Master Class

7:15-8:45pm Senior Advanced Contemporary Master Class

Lauren grew up dancing at Robin Horneff’s Performing Arts Center under direction of Robin Horneff and Kelley Larkin (Studio L). Through the studio she was able to train closely with teachers such as Gil Stroming (Owner, Break The Floor Productions), Larissa Saveliev (Founder, Youth America Grand Prix), Ray Leeper, Michelle Barber, Ricci Milan, Joe Lanteri, Mike Minery and Rose Ivory-Yamout. She has performed on “The View”, CBS morning show, ESPN, ESPN2 and in an International American Express Commercial. She has been a member of two contemporary companies in NYC. Synthesis Dance Project - Dir. Tracie Stanfield - where she performed at Capezio ACE awards, DUMBO Dance Festival, SoNo CT festival and the Elan Awards. As well as Pushing Progress - Dir. Calen Kurka - where she had the chance to perform at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Lauren has taught at the New Dance Group, NYC and choreographed for showcases there as well as Bridge For Dance, NYC. She has performed with Busta Rhymes, Debbie Gibson, Ethan Stiefel, Sasha Radetsky and The Temptations. She has also had the privilege of choreographing for the College of Charleston Dance Team, Ramapo College of New Jersey dancers as well as teaching at International Dance Day events and at National Dance Showcase’s Conventions. Lauren has been teaching and choreographing for over 20 years. Her students have gone on to be signed with Bloc Agency and Clear Talent Group, top ten on SYTYCD, Radio City Rockettes, Broadway as well as performing on TV, films and commercials. She's helped her students to win numerous awards, titles and and accolades as well as winning over 50 choreography and concept awards herself. She is so excited to be a part of this studio and looks forward to helping the students to reach their goals!

We are so very fortunate to have Lauren as a resident choreographer and instructor at Dance Factory Ridgefield!