Teen Intensive
Creative Dance Center Teen Intensive July 28 – August 1, 2025
Experience freedom and growth this summer! A caring, non-judgmental, and inspiring faculty is ready to support your development as a dancer and creative artist.
Spend an extraordinary and enriching week with us at the Creative Dance Center during our Teen Intensive this summer. Students ages 13-19 have the opportunity to study with passionate, unique, and gifted dance educators. Each day features dance class followed by a facilitated talk back and discussion on issues pertinent to teens/artists/creators/dancers. After the talk back students will take a class in different styles or dive into the creative process.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity – register now!
Three years dance experience is recommended.
Email terry@creativedance.org with questions about eligibility.
Tuition: $485. Attendance is required for all 5 days.
Financial aid available. Click here to complete our online financial aid application. Please wait until you hear from CDC staff about your financial aid application before registering. Email questions to darrah@creativedance.org
Teen Intensive 2025 Faculty + Schedule
Alana Isiguen
Alana Isiguen is a dance artist and educator originally from the East Coast. She currently serves as Artist in Residence at the University of Washington, where she choreographs, directs concerts, and teaches jazz, ballet, contemporary modern, choreography, and somatic movement education. Alana earned a BFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and an MFA in Dance from the University of California Irvine. Her research explores integrating somatic principles into dance education. She trained with Patricia McBride as part of the North Carolina Dance Theatre and Summer Lee Rhatigan at the SF Conservatory of Dance. Alana has performed works by Camille A. Brown, George Balanchine, Jessica Lang, Doug Varone and William Forsythe.
Mon July 28 Schedule with Alana
Contemporary Modern (4:30-6:15)
This class is rooted in modern dance principles including breath, contract and release, fall and recover, yield and push, spirals, sequential movement, and floor work. Musicality will be explored through the relationship between movement qualities and rhythms. In addition, improvisation is utilized to aid students’ discovery of a full range of dynamics through personal creative choices. While always maintaining an anatomically sound approach, somatic imagery is utilized to help empower students by understanding their own bodies through movement and expressing their individual artistic voices.
Talk Back (6:15-6:45)
Alana will discuss her research and teaching philosophy that is centered on somatics. She will give context about her dance upbringing, how she discovered somatics, why she still finds it relevant and how it has evolved in her own teaching, choreography, and performance.
Somatic Movement Education (6:45-8:15)
This class will allow students to explore their own self-sensing of movement via experiential anatomy, guided improvisation, discussion, partner work, and constructive rest. We will explore self-talk, kinesthesia, self-agency, efficiency of movement for injury prevention, and freedom of expression.
Akoiya Harris
Akoiya Harris is a movement artist based in Seattle Washington. Her work uses a queer Black gaze to explore ways communal and personal stories can be interwoven into dance works. She has collected oral histories on behalf of Wa Na Wari’s Seattle Black Spatial Histories Institute, and Black Collectivity. Akoiya has also participated in the Black Embodiments Studio Arts Writing Incubator. As a choreographer, she has shown work at the Seattle Art Museum, Wa Na Wari, On The Boards, Friends of the Waterfront, Velocity Dance Center, The Moore Theater, and more. Akoiya is a founding member of Black Collectivity, a group that explores memory and culture through embodied responses. Following a matriarchal lineage of teachers, Akoiya is a dance educator working with youth at Ailey Camp and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She has also performed with Spectrum Dance Theater, Will Rawls, Zoe|Juniper, Third Rail Projects, The Congregation, and SoloMagic.
Tues July 29 Schedule with Akoiya
Horton Foundations (4:30-6:15)
The Horton Technique is a powerful, expressive, and essential part of modern dance. Known for its strength, flexibility, and versatility, this technique helps dancers develop a deep connection between their body and movement. By focusing on dynamic movement patterns, Horton provides the tools necessary for any dancer to express themselves with power and grace. In this class, students will explore the foundational shapes, concepts, and movement patterns of the Horton technique. A traditional warm-up builds focus, strength, and power. Applying these skills to across-the-floor patterns, we’ll bring energy and control to our movements. Class ends with a combo that ties everything together, showcasing the coordination, rhythm, and linearity we’ve worked on throughout class. Get ready to challenge your body and push your limits in a fun and dynamic way!
Talk Back (6:15-6:45pm)
Akoiya will share parts of her journey that led her to becoming a choreographer in Seattle. She’ll offer insight into growing up dancing in Seattle, her decision to leave, and the reasons behind her return. Akoiya will also discuss how she developed an archival practice and how she integrates it into her choreographic process. Additionally, she will talk about the differences between freelancing, being in a company, and being part of a collective.
Choreographing the Archive (6:45-8:15)
In this workshop, we will use personal and communal memory to make short pieces of choreography. We will learn how archival techniques can inform and enhance movement practices: oral history to improvisation, historic images to gestures, text to movement scores. Students will be guided through several exercises that help unlock what their body remembers, turning those memories into powerful, visible movement.
Etienne Cakpo
Etienne Cakpo, originally from Benin, is the Artistic Director and lead choreographer/dancer of Gansango Music and Dance. Etienne has been building his repertoire of traditional and modern dance for over thirty years. As director of Gansango Music & Dance, Etienne leads the company’s work with dozens of public libraries, schools and independent arts agencies locally and nationally to make performance of dance and music from Africa available to a wide range of audiences, including young children.
Wed July 30 Schedule with Etienne
Afro-Contemporary Class – 4:30-6:15
Afro-contemporary dance is grounded in traditional movements found across the West African region. Modern West African dance movements are energetic, with large, bold and grounded rhythmic movements that build cardiovascular fitness and coordination. With live accompaniment, the music will get your feet tapping, heart pumping, and the fun movements encourage dynamic improvisation and joy of spirit.
Talk Back – 6:15-6:45pm
Etienne will share his personal journey in dance, beginning from a young age and strongly influenced by their upbringing in Benin, West Africa. Dance and drumming are an integral part of daily life, with dances practiced for social, historical, ceremonial or religious events. Etienne invites an informal exchange to explore whatever aspects of his culture and life experience students are curious about.
Traditional Roots – 6:45-8:15
Etienne will demonstrate and teach a common traditional dance from his culture, challenging students to try something completely new, different, and 100% authentic. Traditional dances are generally accompanied by specific rhythms, are practiced in certain geographies or for particular events, such as weddings or funerals. Once the basic movements are learned, there is room for choreographic construction and personal stylistic enhancement. Lively traditional drum rhythms guide the tempo and transitions of each piece.
Jay Tan
Jay Tan’s journey in dance began at the age of 15 when he participated in a cultural festival that celebrated art as a medium for promoting peace. This transformative experience ignited a lifelong belief in the power of movement to inspire change and connect communities. Since then, Jay has directed and founded multiple dance companies in Singapore and the United States, showcasing his ability to lead and innovate across cultures. What energizes him most is when he can blend storytelling and choreography into captivating experiences for his audience.
Today, Jay is a producer, writer, and storyteller at Microsoft, where he continues to explore the intersection of creativity and technology. However, he continues to be passionate about mentoring the next generation of changemakers through movement. In his classes, Jay emphasizes self-discovery, encouraging students to connect deeply with their bodies and develop their unique voices. He fosters a safe and supportive environment where students feel empowered to take risks, explore their creativity, and push their boundaries. Jay’s ultimate goal is to inspire his students to use dance not only as a form of expression but also as a tool for driving positive change in their lives and the world around them.
Thurs July 31 Schedule with Jay
Hip Hop Fundamentals & Improvisational Techniques (4:30-6:15)
Expand your movement vocabulary by diving into the diverse genres of Hip Hop dance, including locking, popping, house, and more. Through foundational grooves and techniques, students will not only develop their skills but also explore the rich history of Hip Hop. Learn about the origins, cultural significance, and evolution of iconic movements, gaining a deeper understanding of their intention and transformation over time. Students will also learn different concepts and frameworks that will aid in helping anyone improvise and freestyle.
Talk Back (6:15-6:45)
Let’s learn more about the influence Hip Hop culture has had in our world culturally, socially, and personally, and how we can use its lessons to empower our own lives.
From Intention to Outcome: A Framework for Choreography (6:45-8:15)
Choreography is more than just arranging movements; it’s about crafting a narrative, evoking emotions, and creating a connection between the mover, the audience, and the music. Participants will be guided through the process of translating their ideas into meaningful movement, exploring a thought process that moves from intention to outcome, supported by practical frameworks and tools.
Nicole Flores
A Chicago Native, Nicole Flores holds a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago. Upon Graduation, Nicole received Secondary Training from the American Music and Dramatics Academy in Los Angeles. While living in LA, They have performed with Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, Heidi Duckler Dance, and Psychopomp Dance Theater. Nicole has been a co-facilitator for The Psychopomp Summer workshop in 2021 and 2023. Now in Seattle, They have created works for The Bridge Project (through Velocity Dance), Wielding Forms Dance Festival, and BOOST Dance Festival. Nicole is currently on Faculty at Dance Fremont and eXit SPACE and is in her second season with badmarmarDANCE. Nicole is very passionate about creating spaces where all people from different walks of life can come and experience the joy dance can bring into our lives.
Fri August 1 Schedule with Nicole
Contemporary Jazz (4:30-6:15)
In this class you can expect to feel the strength and energy of jazz dance accompanied by the free flow of contemporary movement. Dancers will have a well paced warm up, enjoy some improvisational exercises, and will learn a longer phrase at the end.
Talk Back (6:15-6:45)
Dance for camera–consider what it’s like to build a dance made for the screen as opposed to the stage. In this talk back dancers will learn more about what it’s like to create, edit, and produce a Dance Film.
Musical Theater (6:45-8:15)
This high energy class combines Jazz technique with the magic of musical theater. In this class, dancers will learn a brief history of jazz and how it intertwines with broadway styles. There will be a character driven warm up and a fun high energy combo to learn. Dancers will leave with smiles on their faces and show tunes stuck in their heads!
