FORGE Summer Dance Intensive will be held on the beautiful Slippery Rock University Campus. This workshop is designed for students ages 15+* who are looking for a fun and challenging summer program with incredible faculty. Classes offered will cover a breadth of disciplines including (but not limited to): modern, ballet, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, partnering, improvisation, repertory, composition, yoga, body conditioning and wellness for dancers.

TUITION AND FEES are $1,250 for commuter students, $1,125 for currently enrolled SRU Students, which includes lunch and dinner as well as access to University amenities. Students in need of HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS will be hosted in the Slippery Rock University residence halls. They will have access to breakfast, lunch and dinner at Boozel Dining Hall; The cost of this option is $1,500 for overnight students, $1,350 for currently enrolled SRU Students.

The DAILY SCHEDULE of the Professional Training Workshop will be quite rigorous with approximately 7 hours of classes offered each day. Students will have a block of classes in the morning, followed by an hour lunch break, and a second block of classes in the afternoon.  Students participating in the College Program will have daily technique class, as well as modules geared towards choreography, repertory, and other modalities.  Studio space is also available each evening for choreographic projects.

All participants will perform during the Forge Summer Dance Intensive Showing on the last day of the festival.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!

*Dancers who are 14 years old at the time of the workshop will only be considered with a letter of recommendation from a current dance instructor stating why they would be an acceptable candidate for this program. This letter should also include their current dance schedule with regards to discipline and hours of study, supporting their ability to successfully participate in the rigorous Professional Training Workshop. A form is available online to be filled out by the teacher.

Welcome to the FORGE Summer Dance Intensive!

We understand when it comes to summer dance programs, you have lots of options; we hope you find your time at FORGE/SRU to be rewarding and bountiful. All residential students should indicate roommate request during registration. If you don’t have a roommate request, we will match you by age. Here is a list of additional informational items to help you prepare for your stay on campus.

• Check-In will be at the Dorm Building B from 9:00 am - 10:30 am. Follow the signs on campus for Forge Check-In.
• 10:30 - 10:45 am - Travel to West Stoner Building for Orientation.
  
• 10:45 - 12:15 pm - Orientation for both students and parents in Studio Theatre (West Stoner 222). 
• 12:15 pm - Parents depart.
• 12:30 - 1:00 pm - Ice Breakers
• 1:00 - 2:00 pm - Lunch at Boozel Dining Hall
• All Residential Students will receive Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in Boozel Dining Hall (On day one students will receive Lunch and Dinner). You can bring money for snack in the room or for eating off-campus.
• All Commuter students will receive Lunch and Dinner.
• Linens can be rented for $15.00.  Students will receive two sheets, one pillow, one pillow case, two wash clothes, two towels and a bed cover. These items will be returned on the last day. If you bring your own bedding, the beds are twin size.
• There is a Laundry room on each floor. The charge is $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry.  Cash or Debit/credit cards are accepted.
• There is a TV located in the lounge area for common use.
• Students will be provided a room key and lanyard during check-in, this will act as their meal ticket. Room keys must be returned upon check out or you will be charged $25.00 NO Exceptions!
• Please bring water bottles to use; there are filling stations in the Stoner Complex.
• First aid is provided including access to athletic trainers for Forge Dance Students during the summer intensive.
• There are events and workshops planned during the weekend. Parents can pick students up in the lobby if they come to visit. Once students move in parents will not be able to go the residential floors of the Dorms.

It is recommended that you pack the following items:

• Dance attire
• Tennis shoes/sneakers for hip hop
• Audition attire
• Resume on a flash drive and dance photo (head shot and/or action shot)
• Notebook and writing materials
• Appropriate dance shoes such as ballet, tap (optional) and jazz shoes
• Optional laptop computer
• Personal supplies that you will need for first aid or personal care

FORGE Summer Dance Intensive 2022 Faculty

Jimbo is a Tokyo born NYC based performing artist. She is an experienced performer ranging in various styles such as ballet, hip hop, martial arts, aerial arts, and acting. Professionally, she has toured globally, appeared on national and international tv shows, featured in several music videos, films, interviews, and also worked extensively with the world-renowned Pilobolus Dance Theater as a primary company member for 6 years. Since then she has continued to work with Pilobolus, while performing with several other companies/productions such as the Forest of Arden, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Mawu, Fuerza Bruta "Wayra", "Seeing You" NYC, and was also an original cast member and dance captain of Fuerza Bruta "WA!!" in Tokyo. She recently joined Virgin Voyages as a Show Captain/Performer, working with Gypsy Snider (Les 7 Doigts de la Main), Sam Pinkleton, and Ani Taj. Follow her adventures on Instagram @Jb0b0 (zeros) as she continues to frolic the world with several productions!

Donald C. Shorter Jr. (he/she)

Assistant Professor of Theater

M.F.A. Dance, New York University 2017

B.S. Liberal Studies, West Chester University 2002

Shorter is an interdisciplinary artist with over two decades of professional dance and theater experience. They were a principal dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and have appeared in Broadway national tours such as: La Cage Aux Folles, A Chorus Line, Hairspray and have worked regionally at Theater Under The Stars, The MUNY, and Gateway Playhouse. As a solo artist their works have been performed at the Pompidu Centre, The Provincetown Theater, The Criterion Channel, Bam Cinema, The Houston Contemporary Arts Museum, and The 92nd Street Y. Research Interests: Gender performance, LGBTQIA inclusion in theater and dance, dance cinema.

Jocelyn Hrzic has been the Director of Dance at the Grier School for the past 20 years which also includes the Grier Dance Summer Intensive Program. Jocelyn created the Grier Gala 14 years ago and enjoys presenting artists and companies such as Lar Lubovitch, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Kiresh Dance Company, BareDance, Qui Dance, Giordano Company, Ate9, DanceWorks Chicago, Rennie Harris PureMovement, and many more. She is also the founder of Motion Dance Competition and Convention. Jocelyn danced professionally with Maxine Sherman Company, Theatre West Virginia, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. She was a dance major at Point Park University and on full scholarship at Steps on Broadway. Her choreography has been selected at Reverb, Jazz Dance World Congress, Dancing Under the Stars Festival, and Steps Lab. She has also taught at Point Park International Summer Intensive, National High School Dance Festival, Rock West School, In-Motion Bermuda, Millennium and Maries School Monterrey Mexico, Dance Force, and Flash Dance, Mexico City. Mrs. Hrzic was also the Executive Director of August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble.

Jennifer Harge is an independent performance artist based in Detroit, MI. Her movement vocabulary grows out of Black subjectivity and modern dance practices. She uses movement,  installation, film, and community gatherings to create and share personal, cultural, and collective stories. She is currently constructing a series of dance folktales called the FLY | DROWN fables, which explores freedom, flesh, mysticism, and home--all told from the perspective of Black women and girls. 

Harge's work has been featured in various performance spaces, museums, and organizations around the globe, including Wexner Center for Arts, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Detroit Institute of the Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Contemporary&, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Washington National Cathedral, and Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts.

Teena Marie is street/club dance artist based in Pittsburgh, PA. She has battled and performed both nationally and internationally with her crews, Venus Fly and Get Down Gang, and has won several street dance battles and awards. Her street dance theater choreography has been performed at Sadler’s Wells, Ford Amphitheater, American Dance Festival, and several American College Dance Association Gala concerts. She has created street dance theater works for over 35 university dance departments around the U.S., and toured nationally with her solo show, “My Good Side” from 2015-2019. Teena Marie is currently on tour with Bessie award winning Ephrat Asherie Dance in NYC and has also performed in Bill “Crutchmaster” Shannon’s “Touch Update.” She was on faculty in the Dance Department at Slippery Rock University for 14 years as well as the American Dance Festival, and has an M.F.A. in Contemporary Dance Performance from The Ohio State University.