Coming Soon: A New Home for Dance
New state-of-the-art facilities and performance spaces
A transformational addition to the Colburn School, designed by Frank Gehry, is now taking shape. Opening in 2027, the new home of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute will more than double the size of our current facilities, creating one of the most comprehensive dance education complexes in Southern California.
Adjacent to Colburn’s current campus, the expansion will feature a light-filled, glass-enclosed dance complex with a 100-seat theater for dance and four professional-sized studios for dance instruction and rehearsal. These state-of-the-art spaces will open new possibilities for artistic partnerships with leading figures in the dance world.
The building will also house Kohl Hall and Dancers will have the opportunity to perform in this beautiful new 1,000 seat concert hall with in-the-round seating.
Once completed, the campus will represent the largest concentration of Frank Gehry-designed buildings anywhere, serving as an iconic home for dance, music, and creative collaboration.
What’s Inside?
- A sophisticated, convertible 100-seat dance studio theater: The largest dance studio in the School, the 3,000 square feet studio theater can be used as a professional-level performance venue as well as a rehearsal space.
- Three 2,600 square foot dance studios and a 1,400 square foot tap studio, named for Colburn’s longtime Tap Chair, Denise Scheerer: Each studio will have a sprung wood floor with vinyl dance surface and one mirrored wall, as well as windows with shades, allowing controlled natural daylight to enter the spaces.
- Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, an extraordinary and intimate 1,000-seat concert hall: Kohl Hall will offer flexible configurations for orchestra, opera, and musical theater performances, as well as amplified options and a transformable stage floor for dance. Despite grand capabilities, it is designed to be a uniquely intimate experience for audiences, who will surround the artists with in-the-round seating.
- Uplifting green spaces: Bringing fresh air and a fresh perspective to the downtown landscape, the building includes a rooftop garden that will be large enough to host receptions and outdoor performances, as well as a ground level garden with a dedicated performance space that will be open to the public.
Ernest Felton Baker
After being named the first U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts in Hip Hop Dance by the White House, Ernest choreographed the award-winning short film, JONAH, Off-Broadway play One Nation, One Mission, One Promise, HOME – a musical theater production commissioned by Harlem Arts Festival, and the Netflix Original series Explained, “Dance Crazes” episode. In addition to teaching at Colburn, Ernest has also held appointments at Debbie Allen Middle School, LACHSA, CalArts, Glendale Community College, and Santa Monica College.
Nayomi Van Brunt
After high school she began dancing with Atlanta Ballet under John McFall. Since her time with Atlanta Ballet, Nayomi has danced with New York Theatre Ballet, Wonderbound, and L.A Dance Project. She has had the pleasure of performing in works by Christopher Wheeldon, Val Caniparoli, Victor Quijada, Janie Taylor, Charm La Donna, Pam Tanowitz, Gemma Bond, Bobbi Jene Smith, Or Schaiber, Dimitri Chamblas, Charm La Donna, Madeline Hollander, and Benjamin Millepied. Nayomi has had the opportunity to perform at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and the Vail International Dance festival. In addition to her classical concert dance career Nayomi has also worked in the commercial dance world. She has opened the show for Hermes women’s FW21 runway show, danced in Richard Mille’s WITHIN commercial, modeled for Rodarte’s FW21, danced for singer Remi Wolf on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show,” modeled for Everlane’s “Releather” campaign and has been featured in St. John’s “FOUNDATION” campaign. Most recently Nayomi had the opportunity to perform in Shanghai for Bulgari’s gala choreographed by Madeline Hollander. In addition to teaching at Colburn Nayomi is a freelance performing artist.
Zoe Lesser
Zoe Lesser is a Los Angeles based artist working across dance, opera, and theater. She is an alumna of Jacob’s Pillow and was a Performing Apprentice with Chicago Tap Theatre. She has presented original work at Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts in Albuquerque, NM and at Detroit Dance City Festival in Detroit, MI.
She was previously on Dance Faculty at the National Dance Institute of New Mexico, where she taught ages 5 to adult in their after-school program. She choreographed new works and revived company choreography for the company’s productions of The Little Prince, Route 66: Legends of the Road, and annual recitals. She has also taught workshops at Common Ground Tap in Denver, Summit Studio in Aspen, Dance Arts in Los Alamos, and at several studios in the Chicagoland area.
She has directed and supported work with Denver Center Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Aspen Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She is a co-founder of The Exodus Ensemble, an immersive theater company in Santa Fe, NM.
Colburn Taps In
Where rhythm meets the lens — exploring the art of tap through the language of film. Students will conceptualize, storyboard, and film a tap dance captured specifically for the screen. This immersive summer program brings together working tap artists, choreographers, directors, and musicians to explore the artistry of rhythm, movement, and storytelling through film. Over five dynamic days, participants will move from idea to execution— learning the craft of pre-production, choreography for camera, and post-production sound, including Foley and tap rhythm scoring. Along the way, they’ll study the history of tap in film, experiment with directing, partner work, and improvisation, and ultimately collaborate to create an original filmed tap piece. Designed for intermediate and advanced dancers and creators eager to expand their artistry beyond the stage, this program combines the joy of tap with the technical and narrative possibilities of filmmaking.
Dates: Monday, July 6–Friday, July 10, 2026
Program Overview
Students will conceptualize, storyboard, and film a tap dance captured specifically for learning the craft of pre-production, choreography for camera, and post-production sound, including Foley and tap rhythm scoring
Student Requirements
The program is for intermediate and advanced tap dancers ages 13 to 18.
Tuition and Fees
$700
How to Register
Audition Requirements
No audition required
Registration Deadline
April 15, 2026
Contact Us
Please email the Dance office at dance@colburnschool.edu if you have any questions.
Summer Dance Camps Los Angeles
Youth Ballet Intensive
This is a two-week comprehensive study of Colburn’s dance genres with a ballet emphasis for students ages 9–14. Dancers will take ballet technique and pre-pointe/beginner pointe classes daily, plus modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, and stretch/strength.
Join us for an opportunity to enhance a student’s training experience with Colburn’s resident faculty.
Program Overview
Schedule
Monday, July 6–Friday, July 17
Age Range
9–14 years old
Faculty will include (but not limited to):
Kelly Ann Sloan
Amy Schadt Flores
Tamsin Carlson
Denise Scheerer
Ernest Felton Baker II
Student Requirements
Approximately one year of classical ballet training.
Tuition and Fees
$1,100
How to Register
Audition Requirements
No audition required; placement class recommended for new students.
Registration Deadline
April 15, 2026
Contact Us
Please email the Dance office at dance@colburnschool.edu if you have any questions.
Summer Dance Camps Los Angeles
Discover Dance Camp
This is a two-week exploration of Colburn’s various dance genres for young dancers.
Each day will include classes in ballet, tap, modern, jazz, and hip hop to unlock the joy of dance and explore each dancer’s creative voice. Come dance with us!
Program Overview
Schedule
Monday, July 20–Friday, July 31
10 am–4 pm
Age Range
7–14 years old
Faculty will include (but not limited to):
Kelly Ann Sloan
Tamsin Carlson
Denise Scheerer
Amy Schadt Flores
Ernest Felton Baker II
Student Requirements
No dance experience required
Tuition and Fees
$1,100
How to Register
Audition Requirements
No audition required
Registration Deadline
April 15, 2026
Contact Us
Please email the Dance office at dance@colburnschool.edu if you have any questions.
Summer Dance Camps Los Angeles
Teen Modern Intensive
The Modern Dance Intensive will focus on repertoire inspired by the various works of Merce Cunningham, Lucinda Childs, and Rudy Perez.
The workshop begins with a 90-minute modern class, with repertory for the remainder of the day. Dancers will be challenged to enhance their technique, strength, artistry, and confidence in their abilities and learn the joy of working in an ensemble.
Program Overview
Schedule
Monday, June 15—Friday, June 26
Age Range
12–18 years old
Faculty will include (but not limited to):
Tamsin Carlson
Yuka Fukuda
Student Requirements
Approximately two years of modern/contemporary dance or classical ballet training.
Tuition and Fees
$1,100
How to Register
Audition Requirements
No audition required
Registration Deadline
April 15, 2026
Contact Us
Please email the Dance office at dance@colburnschool.edu if you have any questions.
Summer Dance Camps Los Angeles
Robyn Gardenhire
Robyn Gardenhire is a Los Angeles native who began her dance training with former Los Angeles Ballet, with Irina Kovsmoska and Tatiana Lichine. Gardenhire continued her studies throughout her teenage years at the San Francisco Ballet School and in New York at the American Ballet Theatre School and New York City Ballet’s School of American Ballet (SAB). At age 16, Gardenhire became the youngest African-American to be offered a contract with Joffrey II where she performed at City Center and Jacobs Pillow. She later joined Cleveland Ballet under the direction of Dennis Nahat, and had original works created on her and performed principal roles such as “Choleric” in Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, “Arabian Princess” in The Nutcracker and “Russian Girl” in Serenade.
In an effort to expand her artistry, she joined the company of avant-garde choreographer Karole Armitage, touring all over Europe. Upon returning to the United States, Ms. Gardenhire was personally invited to join American Ballet Theatre by Mikhail Baryshnikov and later performed with his White Oak Project working with choreographers Lar Lubovitch and Mark Morris.
During her time at American Ballet Theatre, Ms. Gardenhire was the driving force behind the company’s diversity committee, which introduced minority children to classical dance through their “Build a Ballet” program. Ms. Gardenhire was instrumental in providing many scholarships that were given to minority students to study at the school. Its first student, Misty Copeland, became the first African American women principal dancer at ABT. Ms. Gardenhire is also an alumnus of SAB School of American Ballet (New York City Ballet) and is a founding member of its diversity committee and recipient of the New York City Ballet Fellowship Award.
Ms. Gardenhire has developed and overseen City Ballet of Los Angeles for the last twenty years and has created a dance institution that’s curriculum covers Classical Ballet, Modern, Theater and World Dance and oversees students ages 3yr. and up. Developing and allowing students to develop and grow into ambassadors of art and able to cross through any cultural barriers they may encounter.
Dance Academy Summer Intensive
Auditions for the 2026 Dance Academy Summer Intensive and the 2026–27 Dance Academy
Be considered for one or both programs at the same audition! Auditions are for both the 2026 Dance Academy Summer Intensive Program and the 2026–27 Colburn Dance Academy.
In-Person Audition Dates
- San Diego
Sunday, January 18, 2026
3–4:30 pm
San Elijo Dance and Music Academy, San Marcos
Registration begins at 2 pm. Dancers may begin warming up in the studio at 2:30 pm. - Los Angeles
Sunday, January 25, 2026
3–4:30 pm
The Colburn School
200 S Grand Avenue
Registration begins at 2 pm. Dancers may begin warming up in the studio at 2:30 pm.
Dancers who train en pointe and are auditioning for the Dance Academy Year-Round program will be asked to wear pointe shoes for the entire audition class. Dancers who have 1-2 years of pointe experience and are auditioning only for the CDA Summer Intensive may audition in ballet flats if preferred.
Video auditions will be accepted for the Colburn Dance Academy Summer Intensive through March 1. We recommend sending video auditions ahead of our first in person audition on January 18, if possible. Dance Academy Year-Round video applications will be accepted through August 11, but in person auditions are preferred.
A $25 registration fee is required for both in-person and video auditions. Please send audition videos to dance@colburnschool.edu.
Dance Academy Summer Intensive
June 16–27, 2026
For students ages 14–17
Program
Enhance your ballet training and experience life on the beautiful Colburn campus during this two-week intensive. Students will grow through close work with Colburn’s distinguished faculty and special guest teachers.
Classes will include but are not limited to ballet technique, contemporary and partnering. Dancers will get to further explore their art form through discussion and special artistic excursions.
Location
The Colburn School’s downtown Los Angeles location offers access to some of the best venues, art installations, and dining experiences in the country. During the intensive, you can explore all that LA’s cultural center has to offer, and even stay on campus in Colburn’s dorms.
Cost
Tuition: $1700
Room and board: $1880
Note: Room and board are only available for students ages 15 and above. Parents/guardians may not stay in the dorms.