YOU ARE VIEWING THE TEEN INTENSIVE: JUNE 29 - JULY 3, 2026
000 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds
until the intensive!
REGISTER EARLY FOR A DISCOUNT
An immersive week of Modern Dance studies
A week of Modern Dance studies with Cincinnati's Mutual Dance Theatre and esteemed guests from notable companies.
We know that when dancers go to college, they’re likely to study Modern Dance. And for so many college freshmen coming from studios, the experience can be completely foreign to them.
Whether or not your child is considering going to college for dance, our Teen Intensive is also just a great time to be exposed to a slew of teachers and styles in Modern Dance, to broaden their horizons and challenge them.
17
courses
25
class meetings
14
faculty members
including the Artistic Director
1
amazing week
Early Bird Rate
$330
EXTENDED! Register by April 15 to receive this discounted rate
Regular Tuition
$370
Register between April 1 – May 15 to receive this rate
Late Rate
$400
This rate applies when registering on May 16 or later
Day Pass
$100
5-Class Mix and Match
$100
MDT Tee Shirt
$24.79
$23 + tax
REFUND POLICY
$50 of your registration fee is a non-refundable deposit and will not be returned for any reason, including withdrawal, illness, or injury.
In the case of withdrawals, a written request must be submitted no later than 14 days prior to the start of the intensive, sent to hello@mutualarts.org.
Refunds cannot be provided due to absenteeism, injury, illness, doctor’s appointments, or other reasons.
2026 SCHEDULE
*Subject to change
All students will be divided randomly into two groups: pink and blue. The schedule below indicates which class they'll be in during split groups. Purple indicates all students together. Your child's grouping was emailed to you. An easier-to-read schedule can be found here as a PDF. Thank you!
Monday
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — 9-9:45a WELCOME with JEANNE MAM-LUFT, Artistic Director of Mutual Dance Theatre, and CATHARINE THOMAS, Intensive Facilitator and student at Fordham Ailey
-
-
All dancers: Studio A 9:45-10:15a MODERN WARM-UP with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — CONTEMPORARY DANCE MASTERCLASS with COUNTESS V. WINFREY of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (Graduate of University of Memphis) *she/her
-
-
Bring-Your-Own-Lunch: Optional social activity led by Catharine Thomas — Bracelet-making for trading
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — INJURY PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR DANCERS with Kelly Jo Rodrigo, MS, AT, ATC *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — MODERN DANCE MASTERCLASS with DEVIN BAKER of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, MFA Hollins University *he/his
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre TEACHING 'NEXUS' BY SIRUI LIU of Cincinnati Ballet *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — GROUP WRAP-UP with JEANNE MAM-LUFT, CELESTE KENNINGTON, AND CATHARINE THOMAS
Tuesday
-
-
Pink group: Studio A — MODERN TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State University *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio C — MODERN MASTERCLASS with JERI GATCH, Dance Director at Northern Kentucky University, graduate of Indiana and Temple *she/her
-
-
Pink group: Studio C — MODERN MASTERCLASS with JERI GATCH, Dance Director at Northern Kentucky University, graduate of Indiana and Temple *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio A — MODERN TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State *she/her
-
-
Bring-Your-Own-Lunch: Optional social activity led by Catharine Thomas — Guess WHO?
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — HISTORY OF MODERN DANCE with JERI GATCH, Dance Director at Northern Kentucky University, graduate of Indiana and MFA Temple *she/her
-
-
Pink group: Studio C — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
Blue group: Studio A — CONTEMPORARY BALLET with JULIA GUNDZIK of Mutual Dance Theatre, formerly of Smuin Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio A — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
Pink group: Studio A — CONTEMPORARY BALLET with JULIA GUNDZIK of Mutual Dance Theatre, formerly of Smuin Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — GROUP WRAP-UP with JEANNE MAM-LUFT, CELESTE KENNINGTON, AND CATHARINE THOMAS
Wednesday
-
-
Pink group: Studio C — Modern Masterclass with Genae Yeldell, graduate of Miami University *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio A — MODERN TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio C — Modern Masterclass with Genae Yeldell, graduate of Miami University *she/her
-
-
Pink group: Studio A — MODERN TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State *she/her
-
-
Bring-Your-Own-Lunch: Optional social activity led by Catharine Thomas — Card Games
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — INTRO TO COLLEGE DANCE PROGRAM TYPES with JEANNE MAM-LUFT Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre *she/her
-
-
Pink group: Studio C — CHOREOGRAPHY with ASHLEY GOOS, Director Miami University, MFA Florida State *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio A — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
Pink group: Studio A — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
Blue group: Studio C — CHOREOGRAPHY with ASHLEY GOOS, Director Miami University, MFA Florida State *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — GROUP WRAP-UP with JEANNE MAM-LUFT, CELESTE KENNINGTON, AND CATHARINE THOMAS
Thursday
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — MODERN TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — MODERN MASTERCLASS with TREZON DANCY, Artistic Director of InPulse Dance, graduate of Ohio University *he/him
-
-
Bring-Your-Own-Lunch: Optional social activity led by Catharine Thomas — Matching Challenge
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — BODY CONDITIONING FOR MODERN DANCERS with KALEIGH HAMPTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Western Kentucky University *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio C — ART & CONTEMPORARY with SHELBY SPATA, graduate University of Kentucky *she/her
-
-
Pink group: Studio A — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
Blue group: Studio C — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
Pink group: Studio C — ART & CONTEMPORARY with SHELBY SPATA, graduate University of Kentucky *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — GROUP WRAP-UP with JEANNE MAM-LUFT, CELESTE KENNINGTON, AND CATHARINE THOMAS
Friday
-
-
Pink group: Studio A — MODERN TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State University *she/her
-
-
Blue group: Studio C — CONTEMPORARY MASTERCLASS with IHAIAH MILLER, formerly of Les Ballets Trockadero and Dance Theatre Harlem, adjunct at UC *they/them
-
-
Blue group: Studio A — MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE with CELESTE KENNINGTON of Mutual Dance Theatre, graduate of Wright State *she/her
-
-
Pink group: Studio C — CONTEMPORARY MASTERCLASS with IHAIAH MILLER, formerly of Les Ballets Trockadero and Dance Theatre Harlem, adjunct at UC *they/them
-
-
Bring-Your-Own-Lunch: Optional social activity led by Catharine Thomas — Ice Cream
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — CAREERS IN DANCE with JEANNE MAM-LUFT Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — MODERN DANCE IMPROVISATION with MEGAN FLYNN Artistic Director of Megan Flynn Dance Company, MFA University of California Irvine *she/her
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — REPERTORY with CELESTE KENNINGTON
-
-
All dancers: Studio A — SHOWING FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY (notify us if chairs are needed for those who cannot sit on the floor)
2026 FACULTY
Click on the faculty member's name to reveal their bio. Listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Devin Baker, was introduced to dance as a communal galvanizer first. His formal dance training began with the Iibada Dance Company followed by the Deeply Rooted Summer Intensive. He was invited to join Deeply Rooted Dance Theater 2 under the direction of Tracey Franklin and Cece Jones, laying the foundation for his professional performance career with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (CPRDE), Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC). Mr. Baker has performed the works of notable choreographers including Ray Mercer, Abby Zbikowski, Crystal Michelle Perkins, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Katherine Dunham, Ron K. Brown, Gary Abbott and Kevin “Iega” Jeff.In 2016 he was featured in the Bessie Award winning revival of Donald Mckayle’s “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” as The Captain. Following this triumphant performance, he traveled abroad to Russia and Kazakhstan with DCDC as a US state department Cultural Ambassador, living out a personal dream of performing on the Bolshoi Stage. Under the direction of Debbie Blunden-Diggs, he was appointed DCDC rehearsal director, where he is tasked with re-staging their robust catalog of works including Paul Taylor’s “Esplanade,” Donald Byrd’s “Geography of a Cotton Field,” and Rennie Harris’ “Jacob’s Ladder.” In addition to rehearsal director, he has been promoted to DCDC Touring Associate. Mr. Baker has been with DCDC since 2014. Baker is committed to sharing his vast knowledge of dance and lessons learned at the feet of veritable masters of dance. This has manifested engagements with the Regional Dance Association’s National Choreographic Institute, The Ohio State University Dance Program, CPRDE International Summer Dance Institute, the Shanghai Dance Stages Festival, the GVSU Dance Company, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference. Mr. Baker has expanded his artistry to include the exploration of his own choreographic voice. He is currently in graduate school at Hollins University and is living proof that dance can enhance one’s quality of life by nurturing positive human interaction through movement practices that promote self-awareness, love, and communal appreciation.
Trezon Dancy, who hails from Hartford, Connecticut, is a choreographer, performing artist, and educator. Dancy has worked with numerous artists including Travis Gatling, Kim Stroud, Nathan Andary, Earl Mosley, Ronald K. Brown, Kyle Abraham (A.I.M.), and many others. Dancy graduated high school from Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. He received his bachelor degree in Dance: Performance and Choreography from Ohio University in 2017. Upon graduation, Dancy accepted a first company position with the world-renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Currently, Dancy resides in Columbus and is the Artistic Director of InPulse Dance Company, as well as the Operations/Program Manager for OhioDance. InPulse Dance Co. is a freelance repertory company that upholds Dancy’s mission of self-expression through mind, body, and soul. The company’s vision is to support self expression through genuine and visceral movement, inspired by familiar life and human obstacles.
Megan Flynn received her MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine and is currently based in Cincinnati, OH. From 2022-24, she served as the Gustave L. Davis ’59 and Susan S. Davis Director of Dance/Artist-in-Residence at Union College. Previously, Megan was an Assistant Professor in Dance in the Theatre & Dance Department at Muhlenberg College where she was on faculty from 2013-22. Megan received a Professional Diploma in Dance Studies from the Laban Centre in London, and earned her BFA in Dance, summa cum laude, from Newcomb College, Tulane University. Megan is a member of The NADINE Project, a choreographic collective under the direction of Libby Nye & Janet Soares. Previously, she performed in the companies of David Parker & The Bang Group (NYC), Eliza Miller Dance (NYC), Kathy Westwater (NYC), and EgoArt, Inc. (Boston). Performances abroad include: ATLAS/ImPulsTanz: Vienna International Dance Festival (Austria); Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland); Daghdha Mentoring Program (Ireland); Brighton Fringe (England); Resolution! Festival (England); The Russia Project (Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Ekaterinburg, Russia); and the Dance Improvisation & Choreography Festival (Spain).
Jeri Deckard Gatch is a Modern Dance teacher, choreographer, and performer and has lived in Cincinnati since 1997. She earned her BS: Kinesiology from Indiana University, and her MFA: Performance and Choreography from Temple University in Philadelphia where she also taught for 2 years. Jeri was adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Dance and Theater Departments. Since moving back to the Mid-West, Jeri has worked through the Contemporary Dance Theater since 1999, Growth In Motion, and performed with several local choreographers, as well as guest teaching. Jeri choreographed for a workshop at the Playhouse In the Park, lead pre-school Creative Movement, was twice a Modern Dance faculty teacher at the Ohio Dance Festival, and in recent years was commissioned by Miami University, Berea College, and College of Lake County to set new works on their companies. Jeri is in her 3rd term serving on the Board of Trustees of OhioDance, and is a Founding and Board member of Greater Cincinnati Dance Alliance, where she is the Board Secretary and Membership Chair. She was President of the Mariemont School District’s Arts Association and after almost a decade of service, earned the 2019 “Friend of the Arts” award. Jeri is a residency teacher for Mam-Luft & Company (ML&Co) in schools where she teaches children in their schools, Pre-K through 6th grade, and choreographs for their recitals. Jeri works through ML&Co and the Kennedy Heights Arts Center to do Spring Arts Residencies and choreograph musicals and original programs. Jeri teaches in the Cincinnati Ballet’s “Cincy Dance!” Program and is Co-Developer of the “Story Choreography Project” that premiered in Spring of 2019. Currently, Jeri is an Adjunct Faculty at University of Cincinnati-CCM where she teaches Modern Dance Technique to the Ballet and Musical Theater majors, as well as elective Modern Dance classes.
Ashley is a dance artist, educator, and somatics practitioner. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from The Florida State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Miami University (OH). She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Miami University. Ashley has set work at the Bourdelle Museum in Paris, France, Missouri State University in Springfield Missouri, Miami University (OH), Xavier University, The School for Creative and Performing Arts, Moving Current in Tampa, Florida, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, the Area Choreographer’s Festival, and at Gallery 621 in Tallahassee, FL. She has danced for Alex Ketley, Emily Johnson, Yanira Castro, Rodger Belman, Heather Britt, Diane Germaine, and Loren Davidson among others. Ashley has also provided administrative consultation and development support for non-profit arts organizations around the United States. Some of her administrative partners include See Chicago Dance, The Cincinnati Ballet, The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival (Louisville, KY), and Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre (Chicago, IL). In the fall of 2017 Ashley was a Full Time Guest Artist at Missouri State University, and since then has worked as an adjunct professor of dance at Xavier University, Northern Kentucky University, Miami University, and Thomas Moore University. Ashley’s writing has been published in See Chicago Dance.com, the National Dance Educator’s Organization’s Guest Series, and Dansdocent.nu (the Dutch version of Dance Teacher Magazine).
Originally from Oxford, Ohio, Julia began her early dance training under Claudia Rudolf Barrett at Ballet Tech of Ohio. She continued at the Washington School of Ballet before dancing professionally at Cincinnati Ballet, Moving Arts Summer Dance Co., and Smuin Contemporary Ballet. Some of Julia’s favorite memories include dancing in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Written and Forgotten, Christian Denice’s Intra, David Morse’s Our Story, Matthew Neenan’s The Last
Glass, Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16, and Septime Webre’s Alice in Wonderland.
In addition to her performance career, one of Julia’s passions is sharing the joy of dance through choreography and teaching. She has choreographed works for ArtsWave events, Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company, Kansas City’s Creative Intersections, and Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s Choreography Workshop. As an educator, Julia has taught throughout the Cincinnati area, designing multimedia classes that encourage dancers to refine their artistic voices. Through her work, Julia has found purpose in exploring the ways that movement can convey meaning, and she enjoys sharing this process with others. She is excited to join Mutual Dance Theatre for the 2026-27 season.
Originally from Louisville, KY, Kaleigh Hampton began her training in ballet, Limón, Graham, jazz, and tap dance. She then went on to receive her Bachelors of Arts in dance and Bachelors of Science in exercise science from Western Kentucky University. During her time in college, Kaleigh spent her summers at Complexions, Hubbard Street, and New Dialect. Additionally, she was awarded the Faculty Undergraduate Student Engagement Grant and presented a choreographic work about how gravity affects anatomical structures within different dance genres. Kaleigh just completed her second year with Mutual Dance Theatre.
Celeste Kennington is a professional dancer and choreographer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally from Springfield, OH, she trained at Ohio Performing Arts Institute from 2005-2019. She then graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Wright State University in 2023. During her time at Wright State, she completed a season with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s second company under Shonna Hickman-Matlock. She further expanded her training by attending intensives at The Martha Graham School, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Stewart/Owen Dance, among others. Her choreography credits include the Ohio Dance Festival, Synergy Dance Series, Suttle Dance Detroit, Wright State University’s Arts Gala, and Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s summer intensive. She joined Mutual Dance Theatre in the 2024-2025 season where she had the opportunity to assistant rehearsal direct, and perform in works by Trezon Dancy, Kyle Sangil, Achinta S. McDaniel, Susan Honer, and Ana Hart. She is thrilled for her second year on the company!
COURSES: “HISTORY OF MODERN DANCE IN A NUTSHELL” and “INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE PROGRAMS IN DANCE”
Jeanne Mam-Luft is the Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers. Mam-Luft holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Mam-Luft studied at both American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival on full scholarships, as well as Carnegie Mellon’s acclaimed School of Drama, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and Point Park University. Her training includes Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Mary Williford-Shade (Dance Alloy), James Caton (Ballet Metropolitan), Melissa M. Young and Nycole Ray (Dallas Black Dance Theatre), Ming-Lung Yang (Trisha Brown Dance Company), Tatiana Baganova (Provincial Dances Russia), as well as countless masterclasses. Mam-Luft was the Assistant Director of Contemporary Dance Theater for 4 years. She is certified in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau (NY) and is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. As an artist-producer, Mam-Luft has produced dozens of evening length and 70+ shorter works (35 of which she was lead choreographer). She was the first and only dance artist to be named a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow in support of an original dance-for-camera she choreographed, filmed, and edited. She has been the curator of the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series since 2021. She served on the board of OhioDance for 6 years and has been a grant panelist for both the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Texas after her family escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide. Most of her works are inspired by her family’s experiences, the need for belonging and connection, as well as the amazing physical and emotional range that dancers are capable of. She has guest-taught and/or set work on students at Texas Woman’s University, University of Cincinnati, Wittenberg University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, Tarrant County College, and Kent State, where she was an artist-in-residence in 2016.
Ihaiah Miller is a native of Jacksonville, Florida where they trained at the Douglas Anderson School for the Arts and Jacksonville University’s Dance with Distinction program. In 2003, they graduated from the Joffrey Ballet/New School University with a BFA in Ballet and Composition Studies and in 2016, was a “Reaching for the Stars” fellowship recipient at Arizona State University where they were pursing their Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre, Performing Arts Management and Entrepreneurship.
As a professional dancer, Mr. Miller has performed with the Eugene Ballet, Ballet Idaho, the Dance Theatre of Harlem “Dancing through Barriers” Ensemble (DTH) Coastal Arts Project, the Florida Ballet, and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (Trocks) in soloist and principal roles. They have toured nationally and internationally, and have performed at prestigious festivals, in over 60 countries on 6 continents. They have performed many principal and leading roles in such ballets and works as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Taming of the Shrew, Cinderella, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Raymonda, Paquita, The Little Humpbacked Horse, Flames of Paris, and Giselle, Harold Lander’s Etudes, Gerald Arpino’s Italian Suite, Glen Tetley’s The Rite of Spring, Norbert Vesak’s Belong Pas De Deux, Spring Waters, Mark Bogaerts’ Full Circle, Arthur Mitchell’s Fete Noir, Septime Webre’s Shoogie, and Peter Anastos’s Go for Barocco. Ihaiah has been photographed, written up, and reviewed in numerous press articles such as the New York Times and the London Daily Standard. Amongst their most notable performances, Ihaiah has performed at the Guggenheim Works in Progress series with DTH, performing at the Folies Berger in Paris, the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogotá in Colombia, performing for Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand in Bangkok, and my final performances at the Joyce Theatre in New York City with the Trocks.
In 2005 they founded a dance company, Diesel Dance, which later became Diesel | Fusion Dance Theatre (DFDT), and was based both in New York City and Jacksonville, Florida. Through DFDT, Ihaiah’s work has been showcased throughout Florida and New York, and has been performed at many festivals, benefits, and concerts including the 2005 and 2006 Downtown Dance Festival, the Women’s Professional Conference, the 2005 Black Expo, the 2005 Young Artist’s Festival, the 2007 Rhythms: Choreographers of NYC Showcase, 2008 Florida Dance Festival on Tour, the 2010 Emerging Choreographer’s Festival, and the Quigley House Benefit hosted by the Arts Edge School of Dance and Theater. In 2003, Ihaiah was privileged to create their ballet, Les Plaisirs Suite on the Manhattan Youth Ballet and in 2007, they choreographed the SDIII music video “1 Potato, 2 Potato, 3 Potato, Knish” for the Neoworld Productions Sketch Comedy Show. To date, Ihaiah has choreographed over 120 works throughout their career and looks forward to creating many more. In addition to this, Ihaiah has re-staged many of the romantic and classical repertoire including La Bayadere, Giselle, Les Corsaire, Raymonda, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, and the Nutcracker.
Kelly Jo Rodrigo currently works with Cincinnati Ballet as the Athletic Trainer where she has been since 2011. She completed her undergraduate Athletic Training degree at Eastern Kentucky University and her graduate degree from Indiana University. While at Indiana University, she was the Athletic Trainer for the IU Ballet program and completed a thesis looking at balance in ballet dancers with different degrees of turnout. After she completed school, she toured with “Blast!” 2009 Japan Tour and “The Lord of the Dance” 2011 North American Tour. During her time at Cincinnati Ballet, she has served on the Committee of Practice Advancement for the NATA and is the current president Elect for the Greater Cincinnati Area Athletic Trainers Association.
Shelby Spata is a dance artist and movement educator from Northern Kentucky with over 20 years of experience. From a young age she trained extensively across styles of dance, competed nationally, and performed with Exhale Dance Tribe.
Shelby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts Administration with a Dance minor from the University of Kentucky, where she performed in annual dance concerts, participated in ACDA conferences, and completed an international performance exchange at Inner Mongolia Arts University in China.
Her professional background includes work in community arts education programs and performing arts festival implementation at the Contemporary Arts Center, along with ongoing teaching in dance and group fitness as a certified instructor. Drawing from experience in the arts, nonprofit and community leadership, Shelby approaches movement as both craft and artistic practice- a way of reconnecting to self, creativity, and community.
Catharine Thomas began her dance training at South Dayton School of Dance and has enjoyed Mutual Dance intensives for over five years as both a dancer and staff member. She is currently a student at Fordham University and The Ailey School where she is pursuing a BFA in Dance with a minor in Psychology. While in New York City, she has had the amazing opportunity to train with figures such as Lakey Evans-Peña, Ana Marie Forsythe, Jacquelyn Buglisi, and Peiju Chien-Pott. She has also worked with and performed in pieces by Adrienne Hurd, Adam Barruch, and Nattie Trogdon & Hollis Bartlett. Catharine is excited to share her knowledge and experience with the next generation!
Nashville native, Countess V. Winfrey, currently serves as a performer, teaching artist, choreographer, and rehearsal director for The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. She began her training at the age of 11 at Wharton Arts Magnet Middle school, Dance with Stacey Dance Studio, and Nashville School of the Arts. She later attended the University of Memphis, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Health and Human Performance, and a minor in Dance. Post-graduation, Ms. Winfrey joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s pre-professional ensemble, which then led into a professional dance career with DCDC. Ms. Winfrey has danced professionally with DCDC and has also danced one season with ClancyWorks Dance Company (Washington, D.C.). She has performed nationally and internationally in Bermuda, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. She has performed works by Ulysses Dove, Donald McKayle, Ray Mercer, Dwight Rhoden, Ronald K. Brown, Abby Zbikowski, Dianne McIntyre, Donald Byrd and more.
Genáe Yeldell, a native of Dayton, Ohio, is a Cum Laude graduate of Miami University (2022). While at Miami, Genáe studied Middle Childhood Education with a minor in dance. She joined the university’s pre-professional dance company, Dance Theatre, in the Spring of 2019. During her tenure, Genáe was fortunate enough to serve as Treasurer of the Company for two years before serving as President during her senior year. Prior to Miami, Genáe trained in various
genres such as ballet, modern, and contemporary, just to name a few. This training was completed primarily at Stivers School for the Arts (2012-2018) under the direction of DeShona Pepper Robertson. This May, Genáe completed her fourth-year as a fourth-grade math teacher in the Cincinnati Public Schools district and was named an Adopt-A-Class Teacher of the Year Finalist. Concurrently, she has had the opportunity to work with beautiful young dancers at Mutual Arts Center, for the past four seasons, in ballet and modern. Genáe has always had a passion for arts education, as she recognizes just how powerful a range of knowledge is for all, but especially, the youth.
Mutual Arts Center
HARTWELL Location
8222 Monon Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45216
Convenient to I-75, Kroger (just a block away!), Country Fresh Market, charming small business district of Wyoming, and more conveniences. Located in a somewhat secluded area with old, tree-lined streets and large yards on 1.25 acres, with plenty of free parking. Doors are locked at all times with video surveillance.
hello@mutualarts.org
513.494.6526
We also accept text messages
FAQs and OTHER POLICIES
Please scroll up for the refund policy.
This unique week-long summer program is designed just for teens to explore Modern and Contemporary forms of dance. We also provide them with the opportunity to gain exposure to college dance programs in the region.
Dancers will benefit from being in a robust program with other serious dancers, whether or not their final pathway is a degree in dance.
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers’ professionals teach within academic traditions and invite esteemed professors of dance who will share with students information about their programs.
The Modern Dance Teen Intensive is an invigorating week of dance that is both challenging and supportive. This is a safe, judgement-free zone for teens to have fun and make new friends.
No audition is required!
Generally, participants are 13-18 years old and very advanced.
If your dancer is not very advanced, we encourage them to attend, as faculty are supportive for all dancers at any level. We understand how intimidating it may be to be in a room full of other dancers who are learning more quickly, but we assure all dancers that we all have been there at some point. We have had many less-experienced dancers attend and enjoy the week tremendously, challenges and all!
If your dancer is younger and has a lot of experience, they can still sign-up if you are okay with them being in an environment with other teens up to 18 years old. If you have any questions regarding this, feel free to send us an email! hello@mutualarts.org
As an organization, we do not have a strict dress code, per se. Individual instructors may vary in their opinions. In general, we encourage Modern Dancers to wear movement that assists in their flow and does not impede footwork. This may include, for example, yoga or gym attire, however: we ask NO mid-driffs and for full bottom coverage at least to mid-thigh. We ask dancers not to wear shorts other than “bike shorts” due to the amount of open-leg floor and inversion work we do. Chinese kneepads are encouraged. Floor work is extensive: please have coverage for backs, arms, and legs available at all times
We advise you bring the following:
- Lunch if you don’t want to leave the Center campus. We have a microwave, fridge, hot water kettle, and stove available. However, within walking distance are: Kroger, Wendy’s, UDF, and Gold Star. Within driving distance are: Dragon City, La Casita, Penn Station, Country Fresh Market, Wyoming Community Coffee, Half Day Cafe, Wyoming Pastry Shop, Station Family + BBQ, Pollo Shaddai, Amma’s Kitchen (all-vegetarian Indian), We do BBQ, Song Long (Vietnamese), and more.
- Reusable water bottle. The drinking fountains are out of commission due to COVID. We will have filtered water coolers available.
- Layered clothing. The studio may get warm, but we recommend items to cover legs, arms, and backs for floor work. All of our floors are Marley. The lower level studio is cushioned Marley.
- Chinese knee pads. They may find these helpful if they are not accustomed to floor work. These are not soccer or football knee pads, but much thinner and made of natural fibers.
- Note-taking materials. Our seminars will contain great information. Writing it down helps you remember!
The Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers’ Teen Intensive will run from 9:00am-4:10pm. Our doors will open at 8:45am for drop off and our staff will stick around until 4:20pm for pick up!
Unfortunately, we cannot provide housing. However, we do have some trusted families in the city who may be able to host a dancer and are happy to make some introductions. Please email hello@mutualarts.org if you have serious interest in this.