Teacher
Development
Intensive
Look closely at how you teach. Practice with purpose. Return to your students with clearer tools and a renewed sense of possibility.
Full days Friday & Saturday
No application fee
Good teaching takes
practice, too.
A correction can change what a student understands. A carefully built combination can reveal the next step. The way we communicate can help a dancer approach difficult work with confidence.
This intensive gives dance educators time to examine those choices through observation, workshops, class participation, and hands-on teaching with faculty feedback.
See the decisions.
Watch how teachers build a class, introduce material, and respond to the dancers in front of them. Consider the purpose behind the sequence and the correction.
Put ideas to work.
Apply what you are learning through teaching exercises and evaluations. Receive feedback on clarity, pacing, technical priorities, and student engagement.
Bring it home.
Connect new ideas to your own students and studio. Leave with practical approaches to lesson planning, communication, and thoughtful progression.
The craft behind
the class.
Explore the relationship between what you teach, how you teach it, and what your students are ready to understand.
- Class construction: Sequencing, pacing, and technical progression.
- Clear corrections: Communicating purpose and helping students apply feedback.
- Student engagement: Classroom management, attention, and motivation.
- Musicality: Connecting technique, phrasing, and expression.
- Relationships: Mentoring dancers and communicating with families.
- Teaching practice: Receiving feedback and refining your approach.
Three days of
focused development.
Begin Thursday evening, then spend Friday and Saturday immersed in the work of teaching. Enrollment is for the complete intensive.
| Day | Date | Program Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | July 22, 2027 | 6–8 p.m. CDT |
| Friday | July 23, 2027 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. CDT |
| Saturday | July 24, 2027 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CDT |
All times are Central Daylight Time (CDT), the local time in Orland Park, Illinois. A detailed session schedule will be shared separately.
Time to connect
the ideas.
The intensive is designed as a connected experience, with observation, discussion, and teaching practice informing one another across all three days.
Participation includes workshops, class observation and participation, teaching evaluations, and catered lunch on Friday and Saturday.
Please plan to attend the full program, Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon.
Full Program
$500
July 22–24, 2027
Thursday–Saturday
Thursday: 6–8 p.m. CDT
Friday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. CDT
Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CDT
No fee to apply.
Your application.
We are looking for teachers who communicate thoughtfully, are open to feedback, and want to keep developing their pedagogy.
A clear photo.
Include a headshot so we can put a face to your application.
Your approach.
Share what guides your teaching, how you support student growth, and what you hope to develop through this intensive.
Your teaching in action.
Submit a video link to one complete class you have taught. Any student age or level is welcome. Phone video is acceptable.
Focus on the teaching. Your video does not need professional production. We want to understand how you communicate, structure a class, and work with your students. Check that your voice can be heard and that the video link is accessible.
Learn inside
a working ballet school.
Spend three days in the studios at Ballet Five Eight, connecting with fellow educators and examining the daily work of developing dancers.
Bring a notebook, comfortable studio clothing, and ballet shoes for class participation.
School of Ballet Five Eight
11545 183rd Place, Suite 101
Orland Park, IL 60467
Traveling from out of town? Contact us for guidance on nearby lodging and planning your visit.
Travel and lodging are arranged separately from program tuition.
Your questions, answered.
Who is this intensive for?
This intensive is for dance educators who want to deepen their understanding of ballet pedagogy, strengthen their communication, and receive feedback on their teaching.
Do I need to apply?
Yes. Submit a headshot, a teaching philosophy statement, and a video link to one full class you have taught. There is no application fee.
What kind of teaching video should I submit?
Submit one complete class at any age or level. A phone recording is acceptable. Please make sure your teaching can be heard and the link can be opened for review.
What should my teaching philosophy include?
Describe the principles that guide your teaching, how you approach student development, and what you hope to learn. It is an opportunity to introduce your thinking and goals.
Will I receive feedback on my teaching?
Yes. Teaching practice and evaluations are part of the full program, alongside observation, workshops, and discussion.
Can I attend only part of the intensive?
Enrollment is for the complete Thursday–Saturday program. Please plan to attend all three days.
What are the dates and hours?
July 22–24, 2027. Thursday runs 6–8 p.m., Friday runs 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday runs 10 a.m.–4 p.m. All times are CDT.
What does tuition include?
The $500 tuition includes the full intensive: workshops, class observation and participation, teaching evaluations, and catered lunch on Friday and Saturday. Travel and lodging are separate.
What should I bring?
Bring a notebook, comfortable studio clothing, ballet shoes for class participation, and a refillable water bottle.
Can you help with lodging questions?
Yes. Contact info@ballet58.org for guidance on nearby lodging and planning your visit to Orland Park.
How do you approach faith and different backgrounds?
Ballet Five Eight is rooted in the Christian faith and welcomes educators from all backgrounds and beliefs. We value each person’s dignity and approach learning through respect, thoughtful dialogue, and a shared commitment to student growth. Questions about our mission and program are welcome.
Bring your questions.
Build your practice.
Take time to observe, teach, receive feedback, and return to your students with new ideas you can put to work.
Full program: $500 · No application fee
Questions? Contact our team.