Information for Parents/Guardians/Students!

Hello Parents/Guardians/Students!!

Kenwood Academy is starting their very own dance program in Fall 2017! This means that our students will have access to dance classes in their everyday schedule as part of public education, which is a great addition to the already spectacular curricula our students receive here at Kenwood. If you’re reading this it means that your student participated in a placement class after school, which consisted of a little contemporary, a little hip-hop, and a little improvisation where students could express whatever genre of dance or movement felt most organic to them! This gives me an opportunity to see all the talent and strengths of our students before the school year gets started so that we can place them in a class where they can grow with peers who dance at a similar level.

Depending on the level your student is placed in, they will either be in “Introduction to Dance” which will survey multiple styles and genres in 3 week chunks such as ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, social dance, etc. Or your student will be placed in “Intermediate Dance” which will feature longer units with focuses in specific dance techniques such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, or modern.

Every dance class (regardless of level: introduction, or intermediate) will perform at a Kenwood Dance Concert that will likely happen sometime next May (TBD).

Upperclassmen students who are interested in choreography (and have time in their academic schedule) will be invited to be a part of Kenwood Dance Project which will be a performance group focused on choreography and community outreach. They will participate in a 100 minute block at the end of the school day where they will spend the first half of class taking technique, and the second half choreographing and rehearsing original work with their fellow company members. Members of this company will have an opportunity to volunteer at Dance For Life Chicago, which is an organization/event that raises funds for Chicago Dancers United and Children’s Place. These funds go to help dancers and children with unexpected medical bills and it is a way for our students to give back to the dance community that supports us. We will hang posters for the event in late July and then volunteer at the event which takes place at the Auditorium Theatre on Saturday August 19th. Students will receive a ticket to see the show in return for their service work which will feature Chicago companies such as Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and Visceral Dance Chicago, among others. There is a youth company performance opportunity associated with this as well that takes place in March called “Dance for Life: Next Generation”. I also anticipate that we will invite a guest artist to come work with Kenwood Dance Project to set a work on our dancers to perform at various community events and our own concert. More information on that will be coming.

You can find more information and dates (as they become available) on our dance program website:

You can also contact me on the website if you are interested in being a parent volunteer, or if you have any clarifying questions!

I am looking forward to a full season of movement and creation at Kenwood!

Best,

Ms. Schaefer