Deeply Rooted Youth Ensemble is a training program led by Deeply Rooted’s Artistic Team, company members, and select guest artists. Training in ballet, modern, African-based techniques, and repertory workshops, develops the dancer’s technical skill and performance readiness.
To ensure artistic and technical growth we require each dancer to commit to participating in the full season of the Youth Ensemble. The Youth Ensemble season consists of three terms (with an additional optional term for summer): Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Dance Intensive. During each term, training in Ballet and Modern will be provided as well as repertory workshops led by a Deeply Rooted Artistic Staff. These new works (3) will be showcased during the final performance(s) as well as requested performance opportunities throughout the Chicagoland area. Dancers must commit to the entire season to provide a consistent learning atmosphere. Below you will find the corresponding dates for each season as well as vacation days and tentative performance dates.
Where
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater
17 N State, 19th Floor
When
Sundays, 3:00-6:30pm
Technique Class (Drop-in): 3:00-4:30pm (times subject to change)
Repertory Rehearsal: 4:30-6:30pm
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory!
If you are unable to attend the scheduled class or rehearsal due to sickness or emergency, please inform the Dance Education Manager, Samantha Brown.
All other conflicts or absences must be submitted in writing one week in advance using the Youth Ensemble Conflict Forms provided by the office.
Excessive absenteeism and tardiness [over three (3)] may lead to dismissal from the program.
In case of illness or injury, participants are encouraged to observe class and rehearsals and take notes.
Fall Term
October 6 – December 1, 2019
Winter Term
January 5 – February 23, 2020
Spring Term
March 15 – May 3, 2020
Final Performances
Night Out in the Parks, West Pullman Park: Saturday, October 17, 2019, 6pm
IABD Conference: Philadelphia, PA, January 14-19 2020
Final Performance: Fri. May 1 & Sat. May 2, 2020, 7pm, location TBD
Tickets: We ask that each dancer be responsible for selling 5 tickets to the final performance.
Breaks
Thanksgiving – November 25 – December 2
Christmas – December 16 – January 4
Spring – April 14t April 21
Tuition/Costume Fee
To offset the cost of instructors, studio rental etc; for the entire 24 weeks (84 hours) of training there is a $900 tuition fee (approximately $11 per class) for the Fall, Winter and Spring terms with the option to participate in the summer intensive pre-professional program (4 weeks) for the rate of $975 (regularly $1575). The fee may be broken into the following increments with the following tuition payment schedule deadlines. There will also be a costume fee of $200 due April 7, 2020.
Fall Term – Due September, 30 2019
$300
Winter Term – Due December, 30 2019
$300
Spring Term – Due March, 10 2020
$300
Full Season
$900
Summer Dance Intensive (optional) – March, 29 2020
$975
Drop-in rate
$20
Costume Fee – Due April, 7 2020
+ $200
Artistic Staff
Nicole Clarke-SpringerArtistic/Dance Education Director
Dereque Whithurs Associate Youth Ensemble Director
Artistic Team
Nicole Clarke-SpringerArtistic Director
Gary AbbotAssociate Artistic Director
Joshua L. IshmonRehearsal Director
Kevin Iega JeffCreative Director, Deeply Rooted Productions
Instructors
Joshua L. IshmonAssociate Artistic Team Member
Dominique Atwood Deeply Rooted Company Member, Ballet
Marylana Locklear Deeply Rooted Company Member, Horton
Youth Ensemble Administrative Staff
Samantha Brown Dance Education Manager
