This class is designed to introduce our youngest dancers to the ballet studio, whether they are completely new to group classes or have had experience in Colburn’s Early Childhood Creative Arts Program. The instructor leads the dancers through creative storytelling, patterns, and fundamentals of posture, arm movements, stretching, traveling steps, all with a focus on musicality. Class is 55 minutes in length and may feature live piano accompaniment.

This class serves as an introduction to the setting and structure of a ballet class. The 55-minute session begins with a series of warm up exercises to emphasize posture, correct alignment, coordination, and musicality.  The use of the barre is introduced for basic ballet steps like plié and tendu, and students begin to learn the meaning of French terminology. Center work and across the floor exercises develop spatial awareness, balance, artistic expression, and joy of movement. The class may feature live piano accompaniment.

This class is designed to prepare young dancers for Colburn’s sequential ballet levels. There is continued emphasis on posture, alignment, coordination, musicality, and more vocabulary is introduced. The class features introductory barre work, conditioning, stretching, and center work/ traveling exercises. Music and imagination go hand in hand with learning ballet technique fundamentals.  The class is 55 minutes long and may feature live piano accompaniment.

Ballet I is the first level in Colburn Youth Ballet’s sequential program. Students learn the proper fundamentals of ballet technique with focus on body placement, correct shaping of feet, activating turnout, and developing musicality and a sense of artistry.

Summer Saturdays: 

Students taking this class during our Summer Saturdays program are given an introduction to Ballet I in a 60-minute class for four Saturdays. Dancers aged 7 are encouraged to continue taking Ballet I during the year-round after school program. 

Year-Round Program (Late August through May):

Students must be 7 years of age by the start of fall classes to join Ballet I. The level includes one 90-minute technique/repertoire class and one 60- minute technique class per week. Male dancers may take the 1-hr Friday Boys’ class in lieu of Saturday technique class. 

Students in the year-round program have the opportunity to perform in the Spring Dance Festival. Their repertoire is taught during the level’s rehearsal time. 

In Ballet II students progress on the basic technique fundamentals from Ballet I and add more use of the head and arms with exercises at the barre and in the center. All elements of class emphasize musicality, proper alignment, and development of artistry.

Summer Saturdays: 

Students taking this class during our Summer Saturdays program continue progressing from their Ballet I experience or are introduced to our ballet program in a 90-minute class for four Saturdays. Dancers are encouraged to continue taking Ballet II during the year-round after school program. 

Year-Round Program (Late August-May)

This level includes two 90-minute technique classes with weekly stretch and rehearsal time included. Male dancers may take the 1.5-hr Friday Boys’ class in lieu of Friday’s technique class.

Students in the year-round program have the opportunity to perform in the Spring Dance Festival. Their repertoire is taught during the level’s rehearsal time. 

Our Creative Dance curriculum is designed for nurturing physical and cognitive growth, combining these goals with fundamental dance skills and joyful, creative expression. These classes can be a child’s first introduction to dance or a transition from Colburn’s Early Childhood Creative Arts Program.

Our creative dancers work with partners and small groups exploring key concepts – relationships, energy, space, time, and body awareness –learning to invent movement from within their own skills and movement history in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Auditions are not required. Classes recommended by age.

Our Creative Dance curriculum is designed for nurturing physical and cognitive growth, combining these goals with fundamental dance skills and joyful, creative expression. These classes can be a child’s first introduction to dance or a transition from Colburn’s Early Childhood Creative Arts Program.

Our creative dancers work with partners and small groups exploring key concepts – relationships, energy, space, time, and body awareness – learning to invent movement from within their own skills and movement history in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Auditions are not required. Classes recommended by age.

Modern I introduces the dancer to the fundamentals of modern dance with an emphasis on developing body alignment and musicality. Focusing on creating physical and cognitive growth together with coordination, balance, and spatial awareness, the dancers experience the joy of physical, creative expression. All classes have a percussionist from our music faculty.

Modern II continues building on the fundamentals of a Horton based technique, adding spinal articulation and continuing the development of their movement vocabulary. Phrases of movement across the space, with use of different levels are added to continue building physicality, musicality, and
spatial awareness. All classes have a percussionist from our music faculty.

Early Tap is an introductory tap class for children ages 5-6. Students are introduced to tap technique and the proper use of legs and loose ankles for accurate sound production. They will learn the basic rudiments, weight placement and tap terminology. 

Introduction to tap technique and the proper use of legs and loose ankles for accurate sound production.  Students will learn the basic rudiments and weight placement. Terminology is emphasized.  Using basic rudiments, students are asked to dance and understand the value of quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes.  This class meets once a week.

More advanced steps, flaps and time steps are introduced. While continuing to review established skills and terminology, the class will practice the connection of the steps to the music for clarity of sound. Sixteenth notes and eight note triplets in 4/4 time are introduced. Turns, arm placement and more movement are emphasized. At this level, students are challenged by more advanced combinations and dances. 

Two years of previous tap training is required for this class.  This class develops clear technical and terminology skills as well as focusing on presentational performance skills.  Emphasis is placed on students’ ability to pick up combinations and steps and apply them to their overall performance. Listening skills help students to improve their musical time and associate more closely with the music they play with their taps. 

This technique course explores the core elements of Hip Hop dance practice. Students will learn the internalization of the groove and how it’s integrated within Hip Hop dance vocabulary from old school party dances to social media trends. 

This technique course explores the core elements of Hip Hop dance practice. Students will learn the internalization of the groove through bounces, rocks, waves and rolls, and how they’re integrated within Hip Hop dance vocabulary – from old school party dances to social media trends. 

This class is designed for young students who want to deepen their dance skills for Musical Theatre, Ballet, Modern and Tap dance. Luigi, Horton and ballet techniques are used to provide strength and develop strong alignment and versatility of movement. Each week a set warm up leads to across the floor and combination. This class meets once weekly. 

This class is designed for students who want to deepen their dance skills for Musical Theatre, Ballet, Modern and Tap dance. Luigi, Horton and ballet techniques are used to provide strength and develop strong alignment and versatility of movement. Each week a set warm up leads to across the floor and combination. This class meets once weekly.

A two-week immersive repertory workshop for dancers ages 12–18 years. Taught by Colburn’s modern dance chair, Tamsin Carlson, a former dancer with Lucinda Childs and Rudy Perez.

A daily modern technique class with morning and afternoon sessions of repertory will culminate with an afternoon studio showing Friday 27, to which family and friends are invited.

• Age Range: 13–18 years old
• Dates: Monday, June 15–Friday, June 26

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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.

• Ages: 14–17
• Dates: Tuesday, June 16–Saturday, June 27

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This is a two-week comprehensive study of Colburn’s dance genres including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and hip hop for beginning and intermediate dancers ages 7-14. Dancers will be divided by age and level.

• Age Range: 7–14 years old
• Dates: Monday, July 20–Friday, July 31

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This immersive summer program brings together working tap artists, choreographers, directors, and musicians to explore the artistry of rhythm, movement, and storytelling through film. 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: Intermediate and advanced tap dancers, ages 13–18.
• Dates: Monday, July 6–Friday, July 10

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This is a two-week comprehensive study of Colburn’s dance genres with a ballet emphasis for students ages 9-14. Dancers are divided into two age groups and take daily morning classes in ballet technique, pre-pointe/beginner pointe, ballet variations, and afternoon offerings ranging from modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, and stretch/strength. This is an opportunity to enhance a student’s beginner or intermediate training experience with Colburn’s resident faculty.

• Age Range: 9–14 years old
• Dates: Monday, July 6–Friday, July 17

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Existing students can join us for four Saturdays beginning June 20 to keep up their training over the summer, and new students are welcome to register for this four-week program to try out classes before registering for the fall semester. Classes will include Creative Dance, Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop for all age groups.

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Dates: Monday, June 15 through Sunday, August 2 (no classes June 29–July 5)

Adult classes will be available in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, and Hip Hop. Further details and class registration will be available in Spring 2026.

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The Colburn Summer Chamber Music Intensive provides focused ensemble playing for the serious chamber music student. Students will be grouped into a small chamber ensemble such as a trio, quartet, or quintet and learn an entire work during their time together. Along with rehearsals, students will participate in stage presence activities, team building, master classes, yoga, and other group-building activities. Nighttime activities will include one faculty and one student solo recital per session. Coaches from the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute will provide instruction, along with other experienced chamber music professionals.

• Age Range: 13–18
• Dates: June 16–28

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The Colburn Guitar Intensive offers an immersive experience for intermediate and advanced students between ages 10–Adults. Students can choose between a Classical Guitar track or a Studio Guitar track with classes geared towards each style. The Classical Guitar track will include small ensembles, technique workshops, sightreading skills, music theory workshops, guitar orchestra, master classes, and concerts with guest artists. The Studio Guitar Track will include in-depth studies on how to creatively interpret lead sheets, utilizing appropriate strumming and fingerstyle techniques, improvised soloing strategies, fretboard logic, sightreading practice, jam sessions, and the use of effects processors.

Students will work with Colburn Guitar Faculty Connie Sheu, Erin Young, and Kenton Youngstrom, along with special guest artists throughout the week. The camp will culminate in a concert featuring performances by enrolled students.

• Age Range: Classical Track, 10–18 years; Studio Track, 12 years–18+
• Dates:
  Studio Guitar Track: July 6–10, 2026
  Classical Guitar Track: July 13–17, 2026

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The Los Angeles Brass Institute offers an immersive experience of all the best the brass world has to offer. Daily activities include group warm-ups, large brass ensemble, chamber music, rhythm workshops, and masterclasses by some of today’s most active and respected artists.

• Age Range: Advanced Seminar, 15–22 years; Intermediate Seminar, 13–18 years
• Dates: July 7–18

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The Community School’s Musical Theatre intensive is designed for students aged 14–18 who have a passion for singing, dancing, and acting.

Auditions are required.

This is a program for the triple threat artist to deepen their voice, dance, and acting skills, as well as the skills needed to seamlessly shift back and forth between the three. It will help prepare serious Musical Theatre artists for college and all other audition processes, and to be competitive in an ever-growing field.

Our two-week intensive includes daily training in voice, acting and full dance classes (that rotate jazz, modern, tap, ballet and hip hop), as well as skills needed to connect detailed acting to the song and dance. Group ensemble selections from Musicals will be staged and choreographed, culminating in a performance on the final day.

• Age Range: 13–18 years
• Dates: June 16–27

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Develop your piano playing skills, engage with experienced Colburn piano faculty, and connect with fellow piano students through classes and performances during the 2026 Summer Piano Camp Intensive. Each day begins with a movement class and ends with a group theory and/or piano literature seminar. Each student will receive two 45–minute private piano lessons per week with esteemed Colburn faculty to work towards a recital performance at the end of the intensive.

• Age Range: 9–13 years
• Dates: July 6–17

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Co-Directors: Micah Yui & Dominic Cheli 
Artistic Advisor: Fabio Bidini  

This groundbreaking partnership between the Colburn School and tonebase piano—renowned for its cutting-edge online music education—blends artistry and innovation to deliver an unmatched musical journey. With tonebase’s technology connecting you to artists all across the world, and the Colburn School’s state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll enjoy exceptional instruction, world-class pianos, and inspiring venues like never before. This two-week intensive is the ultimate summer destination for young, aspiring pianists at the iconic Colburn School campus in downtown Los Angeles. Elevate your playing to new heights in this unique fusion of tradition and modernity!

• Age range: 13–18
• Dates: June 16–27

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Sounding Point Academy was founded by Colburn faculty Robert Lipsett and Fabiola Kim to nurture the next generation of soloists, chamber musicians, orchestral musicians, and pedagogues. During this two-week in-person program, students will delve into a curriculum that explores the most critical of violinistic elements. Students will have opportunities to perform for the world’s leading performing artists, master the intricacies of orchestral excerpts, and gain comprehensive knowledge of the technical aspects of violin performance. The program will also offer a public-speaking and movement component, highlighting the value of entrepreneurship and versatility of a complete musician. The course is designed to give structure to the daily life of a student with ample practice time built into it. The Sounding Point Academy seeks to build a robust community support system for aspiring violinists as they grow to become the next generation of musical leaders.

• Age range: no age limit. Must be 15 to be a residential student.
• Dates: May 31–June 14

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Summer Sing! is a two-day choral workshop for singers ages seven through adult, led by Director Adrian Dunn and Collaborative Pianist Rose Chen. Participants will spend two days exploring engaging choral repertoire, building vocal skills, and making music together in a collaborative and supportive environment. Featuring music inspired by Americana and folk traditions, the workshop concludes with a final presentation for family and friends. Final programming will be announced.

Age Ranges:
Youth Chorus: 8–12 years
Community Chorus: 13+ years

Dates: June 13–14

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The Dalcroze Summer Intensive for Music Educators offers musicians and music educators the opportunity to immerse themselves in Dalcroze education. Dalcroze education is a playful, experiential approach to teaching and learning music. The Dalcroze approach emphasizes the use of the whole body and highlights ear training as an essential component of music education.

Age range: 18+
Dates: June 27–July 2

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