Summer Intensive (ages 16 to 25)
Summer in New York City!
3-week session: June 27, 2022 to July 15, 2022
6-week session: June 27, 2022 to August 5, 2022
The Ailey School’s Summer Intensive offers intermediate to advanced dancers an opportunity to train in-person in a vibrant professional environment centered in the heart of New York City’s Theater District. Motivated students ages 16 to 25* with at least three years of consistent training receive first class dance training among a student body of versatile dancers who strive for excellence.
*Age parameters are the age of student by the start of the program (not at the time of audition).
Enrollment Options
This year, we will offer two enrollment options of either 3-weeks* or 6-weeks*, both taught by our distinguished faculty. The curriculum for both options includes ballet, Horton, Graham-based modern, and additional techniques.
The 6-week enrollment option also includes a repertory workshop taught by a guest artist. The workshop may culminate in a performance in the Ailey Citigroup Theater.**
*Students must attend the full duration of whichever session they enroll in. We do not allow latecomers.
**Live, in-person performances are contingent upon COVID safety restrictions and may be replaced by virtual performances if necessary.
Health and Safety Protocols
The Ailey School requires all students who are taking in person classes, living in Ailey sponsored housing, or entering The Joan Weill Center for Dance (The Ailey School) for any reason to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 prior to their first day of entry into the building. All students must submit a negative COVID PCR test no more than 5 days prior to their first day of entry into the building. Please visit the following page for addition information:
Professional Division Student Resources
Admission
Summer Intensive Application Procedures
Acceptance to the 2022 Summer Intensive is by submission of the following:
- an online application.
- a $20 application fee.
- an audition* - students may audition in person, OR by video.
In-Person Auditions: Audition cities and dates are posted on our Auditions page.
*Video Auditions: An audition Video Demonstration and instructions are posted on our Video Auditions page. Students should refer to that video for specifications on video requirements. There will not be any in-person auditions in New York. Students applying from the NY Tri-State area should submit a video audition.
*Note: it is NOT necessary to submit a video audition if the applicant is attending an in-person audition. Students are not permitted to do both.
Video Audition Deadlines
The deadline to submit an application and video audition has been extended to April 15, 2022.
However, we recommend sending video auditions as early as possible, as we expect the program to fill before the deadline. Video applications received after the program is full will be place on a waiting list.
Tuition & Fee Information
Curriculum
Alvin Ailey believed that dancers should have the versatile training that produces a “ballet bottom and a modern top”. The training at The Ailey School is structured with this philosophy in mind.
Professional Division students attend classes in the afternoons, Monday through Friday. The weekly curriculum of 15 classes includes a daily ballet class, and a daily modern technique class of either Horton and/or Graham–based modern. A repertory workshop with a guest artist will be offered for students enrolled in the 6-week session. In order to offer each student personalized attention, class sizes are comprised of no more than 20 students.
Student technique levels are determined based on their in-person audition or by their video audition. Each applicant is evaluated based on their audition performance and placed in the appropriate technique levels for their proficiency.
Scholarships: Students who exhibit the strongest technical and artistic potential for a career in dance will be considered for a merit-based scholarship based on their performance at their in-person audition or by their video audition.
Tuition & Fees
2022 Summer Intensive
Cost of the 6-week Summer Intensive:
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$3050 - Due in full by 4:00pm on May 6, 2022
(includes a $50 registration fee & advance deposit)
Cost of the 3-week Summer Intensive:
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$1750 - Due in full by 4:00pm on May 6, 2022
(includes a $50 registration fee & advance deposit)
Summer Scholarship Participation fees - 6-week session only
Students may be awarded a merit-based scholarship based on their audition. Scholarship awards cover the cost of tuition only. Registration fees, Audition fees, Participation fees, and Housing costs are the sole responsibility of the recipient.
- Level 1 Scholarship - $250 (includes a $50 registration fee)
- Level 2 Scholarship - $375 (includes a $50 registration fee)
Scholarship fees are due in full by April 8, 2022
Other Fees during the Summer
- Audition Fee: $20
- Late Fees:
$75 applies for tuition payments received after 4:00pm on May 6, 2022
$75 applies for Scholarship fees received after 4:00pm on April 8, 2022 - Housing - available at an additional cost
Estimated Cost of Living Charts
All fees are non-refundable.
Housing
The Ailey School offers two housing options for Professional Division students 16 and older. Housing applications are sent to accepted students after they have made a tuition deposit to the Summer Intensive. It is not possible to apply for housing prior to being accepted and submitting a deposit. Space in both dormitories is limited.
Deadlines:
- A $300 deposit is due by April 22. (separate from tuition deposit)
- The balance of housing fees is due by May 13.
- All housing fees are non-refundable.
Fordham University’s McMahon Hall - 3-week and 6-week sessions
Fordham University's McMahon Hall dormitory is a five minute walk from The Ailey School. McMahon Hall offers air-conditioned apartment-style housing with a 24-hour security guard. Each suite contains a common room, kitchen, bathroom, and either 2 or 3 bedrooms that can accommodate 2 to 3 students per bedroom. Apartments come with basic dorm-style furnishings. Kitchens are equipped with refrigerators, electric stove-top oven, and sink.
Included in the cost of housing is wireless internet, free laundry facilities, and two complementary physical therapy visits with The Ailey School Physical Therapists. Resident Assistants live on-site to monitor students and plan activities on weekends and evenings. COVID-19 safety measures are strictly enforced at McMahon Hall.
Meals are not included, but students can prepare meals in each suites full kitchen facilities.
Cost: ages 16 and older
$1750 - 3-week session
$3280 - 6-week session
The Ludlow Residence - 6-week session only
Students 18 and older may be housed at the Ludlow Residence, located in Manhattan’s vibrant Lower East Side neighborhood, a short subway commute from The Ailey School. The Ludlow Residence offers air-conditioned, single-occupancy rooms. Rooms come with basic dorm-style furnishings, a small refrigerator, and a microwave oven. The facility features a large common kitchen and an outdoor patio. A dedicated Ailey School Resident Assistant also lives on the premises to offer support to students as they acclimate navigating around New York City. COVID-19 safety measures are strictly enforced at Ludlow.
Included in the cost of housing is wireless internet, free laundry facilities, and two complementary physical therapy visits with The Ailey School Physical Therapists. Meals and transportation to and from The Ailey School are not included.
(Space at the Ludlow Residence is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.)
Cost: ages 18 and older
$3150 - 6-week session only
Off-Campus Housing
The Ailey School provides a list of independent residences and housing resources for those students in all Professional Division Programs who wish to live independently.
Email admissions@alvinailey.org for a Housing List.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Students who are not able to commit for a 6-week period have the option of enrolling for the first 3-weeks of the summer. All students must begin their enrollment on June 27 and commit to the entire duration of the enrollment option they have selected.
Yes, a negative PCR test will be required. Antigen or antibody tests are not acceptable. The nasal swab PCR test is the only test we will accept.
The test must be dated no more than 5 days prior to the first day of class (not later than June 21).
Please refer to Ailey Forward for the latest safety information.
Yes. For the safety of everyone in the building, all dancers, students, faculty, musicians and staff are always required to wear a mask. All staff in The Joan Weill Center for Dance are always also required to wear a mask regardless of single office occupancy. Staff required to circulate in public areas are required to wear KN95 masks and these are provided by Ailey.
Ailey recommends that everyone returning to the building consult NY Forward and CDC to learn about masks in order to make personal decisions. However, Ailey does NOT recommend Gaitors, fleece, or bandanas. Ailey does recommend at least two layers of cloth in masks. Masks should be washed at home frequently.
Yes. The Ailey School uses the HealthCheck by Stratum, used to screen for potential COVID-19 related symptoms prior to students entering the building. Every day, students must complete the HealthCheck screening in the app before departing from home, 2 hours prior to the start of class. Only those students who receive a green notification at the end of the screening will be admitted to enter the building.
Healthcheck user instructions>
Healthcheck password reset>
Healthcheck FAQ's>
Please refer to Ailey Forward for the latest safety information.
Yes, students must take their temperature every morning prior to logging into the HealthCheck app. All students are required to have a digital thermometer.
Yes. Members of Ailey’s security staff will be present to assist as you take your no-touch temperature on temple or wrist. If you register a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, you will not be permitted to proceed into the building.
Please refer to Ailey Forward for the latest safety information.
We are complying with COVID-19 safety precautions and are keeping class sizes to no more than 20 students per cohort. Classes of this size will also allow faculty to have better interaction and make more focused evaluations of students work.
Please refer to Ailey Forward for the latest safety information.
Yes, a limited number of spaces will be available at the Ludlow Residence, a short subway commute from The Ailey School. Space is prioritized for out-of-state students and those who do not permanently reside within a reasonable commuting distance to The Ailey School. Housing applications will be sent to all accepted students.
Yes. Merit-based scholarships for the 6-week session* may be awarded to students who exhibit the highest potential at their audition. We regret that need-based financial aid is not available for the Summer Intensive.
*Scholarships are not available for the 3-week session.
Yes, International Students who live outside of the U.S. may submit a video audition. Students should contact the International Student Advisor for guidance on the correct visa to obtain for short-term, avocational study in the U.S.
Professional Division Students are permitted to wear colorful form fitting dance attire of their choice while adhering to the guidelines listed in the Summer Intensive Student Handbook.
All students who have attended an audition have been placed in the appropriate levels by the audition panel.
Students should keep in mind that levels at The Ailey School do not correspond to the levels at other schools. Therefore, the level you attend at your current school has no bearing on the level you will be placed in at The Ailey School.
Health & Safety FAQs
Yes, all students, staff, faculty, administration, and visitors to the Joan Weill Center for Dance must be fully vaccinated* and boosted for Covid-19 with an approved vaccine, as described in the Vaccination Policy.
*Fully vaccinated means that two weeks have passed since you received two doses of a two-dose vaccine, or a single dose of a one-dose vaccine considered effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and/or the World Health Organization (“WHO”).
For answers to questions such as, "When am I fully vaccinated?" and "If I am fully vaccinated, do I have to quarantine if I am exposed to an individual who tests positive for Covid-19?", visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Students requesting an exemption should send an email the following people for further instructions, depending on your Division:
- Junior Division Students contact Dawn Tricarico, Associate Director of the Junior Division, at dtricarico@alvinailey.org.
- Professional Division Students contact JoAnne Ruggeri, Director of Admissions, at jruggeri@alvinailey.org.
Yes. Ailey’s app is Healthcheck. This is a separate app from the health screening app utilized by Fordham University (for BFA students) and separate from the health attestation kiosk (SPLAN) located at the Ludlow Residence (for students residing at Ludlow).
Healthcheck user instructions>
Healthcheck password reset>
Healthcheck FAQ’s>
Yes. All Junior Division and Professional Division students must get a COVID-19 PCR Test (not an antigen test) 5 or less days prior to their first class at the beginning of the Summer Intensive, the fall term, and the spring term.
- Junior Division students must email test results to the Dawn Tricarico, Junior Division Associate Director, at dtricarico@alvinailey.org. If your test results are not returned by the time you are scheduled to begin classes at The Ailey School, contact Ms. Tricarico, immediately. JD Testing Protocol
- Professional Division students must email test results to aileyforward@alvinailey.org. A copy of the test result must also be sent to Michela Boschetto, the Assistant to the School Co-Director, at mboschetto@alvinailey.org. If your test results are not returned by the time you are scheduled to begin classes at The Ailey School, contact Ms. Boschetto, immediately. PD Testing Protocol
Test results must show the following information:
Student’s full name; date of birth; type of COVID test (PCR); test result; date of test.
Incomplete tests will not be accepted.
Students should refer to NY Forward for the most current travel and testing advisories.
Students can get a COVID-19 test at many local pharmacies, or at one of the sites listed below. Valid Health Insurance may be required at some testing sites.
NYC Health and Hospitals>Free tests available.
NYC Health Express Testing - Free tests available
Yes. For the safety of everyone in the building, all students, faculty, musicians, administrative staff, and company dancers are always required to wear a surgical mask in the studios and in public areas of the building. Ailey will also have enough disposable masks, gloves, face shields (upon special request), hand sanitizers, and wipes on hand for everyone in the building.
Ailey also recommends that everyone entering the building consult NY Forward and CDC to learn about cloth masks in order to make personal decisions regarding mask usage. Ailey does NOT recommend gaitors, fleece, or bandanas. Fabric masks should be washed at home frequently.
Yes. You will be required to take your no contact temperature prior to proceeding into the building. If you register a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, you will not be permitted to proceed into the building.
Yes. You will be required to take your no contact temperature prior to proceeding into the building. If you register a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, you will not be permitted to proceed into the building.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include, but are not limited to the following:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Regardless of your vaccination status, anyone who tests positive must do the following:
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Send an email immediately to aileyforward@alvinailey.org to inform us of your positive test result. Students who reside at the Ludlow Residence should also send an email to student-covid-alert@sva.edu.
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Isolate yourself at home for 5 days.
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If you have been fever-free for 24 hours and have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house. If you still have a fever or your symptoms are not resolving, you are required to remain in isolation until your fever resolves.
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All those who test positive, as well as those who have been in direct contact with a someone who tested positive, will receive communication from The Ailey School further instructions.
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All those who reside at the Ludlow Residence will receive communication and instructions from the Ludlow Health Services.
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If you have been cleared by The Ailey School to exit isolation and return to the Ailey building after 5 days of isolation, you will be required to double mask (2 layers of mask protection) for 5 additional days.
For individuals who have completed the primary series of an FDA-authorized or WHO-authorized vaccine and, if eligible, have been boosted:
You do NOT need to quarantine. Wear a mask for 10-days when in public and monitor your symptoms. If you have no symptoms, get tested on day 5 after exposure (day of exposure is day 0). If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately, continue to self-monitor as guided by the CDC and Government regulations, and isolate yourself until you get your results.
Yes, we encourage all students, faculty, musicians and staff to receive their annual flu shots.
Ailey is following all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Dance USA guidelines on cleaning and air flow. Details can be found in Ailey Forward. In brief, Ailey will clean all studios with electrostatic sprayers, use CDC approved cleaning supplies, and maximize airflow and air filters (Merv 13 and higher) in the HVAC system. Bathrooms are fully hands-free including toilet seat activated flushing devices.
We suggest you make a check-list to be certain you have covered some essential things, such as:
- Make sure you have a digital thermometer to monitor your temperature daily.
- Contact your primary care physician to see if they provide telehealth services.
- Make sure your health insurance is up to date, valid for the full duration of your enrollment at The Ailey School and is valid in New York State.
- Have enough CDC-recommended face masks for daily wear at The Ailey School.
- Have a supply of small bottles of hand sanitizer you can carry with you daily.
- Bring a basic First Aid Kit with you (ie: pain reliever/fever reducer, a supply of any personal medications you are prescribed to take by a physician, etc.).
- Make sure your Emergency Contact person is listed in your cell phone under I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency)
- Make sure The Ailey School has your current telephone number and email on file, as well as that of your emergency contact person.
No. New York Forward states: The travel guidelines require all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out-of-state or another country, to take personal responsibility for compliance in the best interest of public health and safety. Asymptomatic travelers entering New York from another country, U.S. state, or territory are no longer required to test or quarantine as of April 10, 2021. Quarantine, consistent with the CDC recommendations, is still recommended for all travelers who are not fully vaccinated or have not recovered from laboratory confirmed COVID-19 during the previous 3 months. Symptomatic travelers must immediately self-isolate and contact the local health department or their healthcare providers to determine if they should seek COVID-19 testing. All travelers entering New York from a state that is not a contiguous state who have been outside of New York for more than 24 hours must complete the Traveler Health Form. Contiguous states to New York are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Students are encouraged to email aileyforward@alvinailey.org for ongoing questions, which will be kept confidential. Please use the subject line STUDENT COVID QUESTION.
Additionally, your school leaders are here to hear! Students can email their Faculty Advisor, School Staff, or The Ailey School Co-Directors with questions.
Please visit the following links for information:
New York Forward>
Center for Disease Control>
World Health Organization>
What to do if you feel sick>