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 15
Steps To Summer Success
By Hedy Perna
A
practical guide to creating children's themed dance camp
If you’ve
been thinking about running a summer dance camp at your
school, you’ve got some work to do. It takes quite a bit of
preparation to get ready for your first camp, but after you
see what works and what doesn’t, making changes for the
following year’s camp is simple. Be sure to update your
program each summer since some students will come back year
after year.
Step 1:
Choose your theme. Think about what your students would have
fun doing, then think about what you would have fun doing.
The goal is to come up with an idea that will be enjoyable for
students and teachers. Don’t limit yourself—think outside the
box and don’t censor yourself. Write down anything that comes
to mind. You can always discard ideas later, and sometimes
it’s the less-than-obvious choices that make for a terrific
camp.
Step 2:
Once you’ve decided on your theme, it’s time to choose the
music. I prepare plenty of themed background music to have on
hand during the camp. Also select music for a short dance
routine that pertains to the camp’s theme.
Step 3:
Choreograph a simple routine, making it easy enough for
students who have little to no dance experience. Since your
camp will include students of all ages and dance abilities,
consider devising optional “upgrades” for certain steps, so
that more advanced dancers won’t feel slighted. For example,
allow proficient students to do a double pirouette where a
beginner does a single, or have them add more complex footwork
to a tap combination.
Step 4:
Decide on props and costume pieces, then prepare them ahead of
time. I make a list of items that I need to get out of storage
at least one week in advance; that allows adequate time to
repair anything that needs it or to get additional pieces if
necessary.
Step 5:
Memory books make delightful souvenirs for the children to
take home and making them is a fun, creative camp activity.
Parents love them, and they’re great marketing tools. Prepare
the books’ “guts” by downloading coloring pages, mazes,
instructional sheets, and other materials that go along with
the camp’s theme.
Step 6:
Select age-appropriate craft projects, make a list of the
necessary materials, and purchase enough to accommodate
last-minute signups. Well before the camp begins, make a
prototype of the craft (or crafts) so that you know how to do
it and how best to offer instructions to the students. These
activities should be fun and fairly easy. Remember that young
children take a long time to glue and cut out things. You
might want to prepare in advance any portions of a craft that
are difficult or time consuming, letting the children do the
remaining assembly. Place each partially prepared craft into a
zip-lock bag.
Step 7:
Set up tables and chairs for craft activities and supply them
with crayons, markers, glue, scissors, and other materials. A
box of hand wipes is a must!
Step 8:
If you plan to use a karaoke station, prepare songs and lyrics
that relate to your theme. I type up lyrics into big print for
little eyes to read.
Step 9:
If face painting is in your plans, start practicing! You know
that if you have a “Mermaid Adventure” theme, the kids will
want to be painted like mermaids, so look for pictures you can
work from and practice your drawing skills. Decide where the
station will be and purchase paints, brushes, sequins, and so
on.
Step 10:
As part of their memory books, the dancers should have photos
of themselves at the camp. (They’re also great for publicity
or advertisements or to display in your studio.) Find a place
for a digital camera and photo-printing station and set up
your equipment, making sure to have enough photo paper on
hand. Don’t forget to have parents sign a photo release when
they register their children for the camp.
Step 11:
Cue up a video so that it’s ready to go at snack time. I try
to use dance videos from my prior shows, keeping them related
to the theme as much as possible. Videos of professional
concert dance performances and movie musicals are good for the
older students.
Step 12:
Determine your snack menu, keeping it healthy and fun. Make
the food choices consistent with the theme. For example,
watermelon and pretzels work well for a “Beach Day” theme, and
of course, Teddy Grahams are perfect for “Teddy Bear Picnic
Day.” Avoid foods that can cause allergies. (Ask about
allergies or dietary restrictions on the registration form.)
Step 13:
Enlist the help of high school and college-age dancers. In
exchange for their help during the camp I offer them a free
master class summer series or give them community service
credit. I always give them a thank-you gift at the end of the
summer.
Step 14:
Make an agenda for the camp’s activities and events. Be
realistic, and keep the kids moving, changing activities every
15 to 20 minutes. Warm-up and choreography sessions should
last about 30 minutes.
Step 15:
Make a brochure and prepare the ads for your camp. I use the
back cover of my annual production’s program for a full-page
summer-session ad. Advertise in the local paper and give out
the brochure to all current students, with a coupon, to
encourage them to continue dancing during the summer. After
your first week of camps, word of mouth will generate more
enrollment.
Preparing
for and running a summer dance camp takes far more time and
energy beyond what’s needed for regular dance classes. It is
physically draining because you cram lots of activities into a
short amount of time and are always going, doing, and keeping
your students active. Nothing is a substitute for hard work
and planning. Your financial success will directly relate to
the organization, creativity, and dedication you put into
making your summer dance camps a success. And, of course, if
you love what you do, success usually follows.
Consider
these camp themes:
• Pirate
Adventure
• Jungle
Safari
• Disco
Diva
• Wizard of
Oz
• Cowboy
Hoedown
• Join The
Circus
• Butterfly
Princess
• Teddy
Bear Picnic
• Beach Day
• Mermaid
Adventure
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