WKU Summer Dance Intensive
2026 Summer Dance Intensive Registration Will Open in JANUARY 2026.
SAVE THE DATE!
Featured Guest Artist
Coming Soon!
The WKU Summer Dance Intensive is designed for intermediate to advanced dancers (grades 9-12) as a unique opportunity to explore college level dance and the WKU experience. Following the mission of the WKU Dance Program, students will be challenged as "thinking artists," with a variety of classes to enhance their technical and artistic skills. Program of study will include daily ballet, jazz, and modern dance technique classes along with coursework including pointe, tap, dance improvisation, dance history, and world dance forms. Daily discussions and events will highlight special interest topics designed to help prepare and inspire the pre-professional dancer. The week long intensive will culminate in a performance featuring university faculty and guest artist choreography.
All participating dancers are required to reside in the dorms, thus gaining a complete college experience. We work to keep everyone healthy. Selected WKU dance majors will serve as RA's and accompany dancers throughout the intensive.
The application/registration process will begin in Spring 2026. Dancers who attend the WKU Summer Dance Intensive their junior and/or senior year of high school will receive a $250 Jerry E. Baker Scholarship in Dance for their freshman year of study as a dance major at WKU!
General Info. & Frequently Asked Questions
Previous guest faculty include Maria Hall with Sankofa African Drum and Dance, Shyama Iyer, Kourtney "Koko" French, Malik Leonard, Jon Lehrer, Ashleigh Sewell, and Elise Price, Taylor Parker PT/DPT/OCS.
Contact
For more information about the intensive or registration process:
Associate Professor Meghen McKinley at meghen.mckinley@wku.edu
$800 - Early Registration Rate; includes dorms, meals, and classes
Intensive applications must be received by March 1st. A $100 registration deposit (non-refundable) is due by March 15th. The tuition balance of $700 will be due on July 1, 2026.
$850 - Regular Registration Rate; includes dorms, meals, and classes
Intensive applications must be received by June 1st. A $100 registration deposit (non-refundable) is due by June15th. The tuition balance of $750 will be due on July 1, 2026 to July 6th, 2026.
All dancers that attend the WKU Summer Dance Intensive thier Junior or Senior summer and are accepted into the WKU Dance Program as a Dance Major, will receive a one-time $250 scholarship.
Limited scholarships are available for the 2026 WKU Summer Dance Intensive and must follow the requirements below.
$150 Scholarship Rate for reduced tuition total of $700-; includes dorm housing, meals, and intensive classes.
*Intensive applications must be received by March 1st. A $100 registration deposit (non-refundable) is due by March 15th. The tuition balance of $600 will be due on July 1, 2026.
For scholarship consideration, dancers must apply for the intensive, complete the registration process (including paid deposit), and submit the following materials:
- One video (uploaded as an unlisted YouTube video) that features
- A brief personal introduction that includes why you believe you should receive a scholarship for this intensive.
- A solo (in any dance genre) that best highlights your abilities. Solos should not exceed 90 seconds.
- A dance resume
- This scholarship cannot be combined with the Early Registration Rate Discount or other SDI awards. If participant is not awarded a scholarship, they will still receive the Early Registration Rate Tuition.
Video link and resume should be emailed to Meghen.McKinley@wku.edu by March 1, 2026, for scholarship consideration. Please include "SDI Scholarship Application/dancer's name" in the subject heading of the email submission.
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