en Avant School of Dance – 1841 Bay Rd, EPA
June 24 – July 28
Programming for Ages 3-14 Years
en Avant School of Dance is proud to open enrollment to our 5-week Summer Dance Camp in East Palo Alto. Youth participants will experience dance and theater training from professional dancers and master teachers in our Bay Road studio, in East Palo Alto with a concluding performance for friends and family and community.
The curriculum will include choreography that participants will perform on July 27th and 28th, in “Folk Dances” the annual folk tale and music celebration produced by en Avant School’s parent company, Mannakin Theater & Dance. All youth participants are invited to join us in this concluding performance!
Photo by Alexis Bartlett
Summer Dance Camp 2024
June 24-July 28
en Avant School of Dance is the Academy of Mannakin Theater & Dance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Tuition at en Avant School of Dance is subsidized by grants and donations.
- All participants are required to submit their most recent tax forms and/or pay stubs
- Acceptance to en Avant School of Dance is NOT based on income. All students and families are welcome
- Parents will be required to sign and honor a contract of participation
- Families at higher income levels may be invited to contribute towards the financial health and success of en Avant School of Dance
- No students will be turned away due to lack of funds
- Acceptance into the program is at the discretion of the program director, Traci Cottam
Pay half of summer tuition today as a deposit to hold your spot. The second payment is due by June 24th.
New students incur a one-time registration fee of $125 – includes dancing uniform, ballet shoes, hair supplies and en Avant School ballet bag
Photos by Alexis Bartlett & Bruce Fram
Our Young Dancer students (ages 2.5-6) take class four days per week (Monday-Thursday). Class sizes are limited to 10 dancers, and will focus on ballet, art, music, and Mexican Folklorico. These classes incorporate storytelling and arts and crafts.
Our Upper-Level Dancer students (ages 6-14) take class five days per week (Monday-Friday). Class sizes are limited to 12 dancers, and will focus on ballet, conditioning, contemporary, jazz, art, music, and Mexican Folklorico.
Want to sign up for a free trial class?
epa@mannakindance.org
650-300-9291
Summer Dance Camp Performance
July 27th and 28th
The curriculum will include choreography that participants will perform on July 27th and 28th, in “Folk Dances” the annual folk tale and music celebration produced by en Avant School’s parent company, Mannakin Theater & Dance. All youth participants are invited/expected to perform in this concluding performance!
All students must attend a dress rehearsal on Friday, July 26th
No refunds for tuition or registration fee
New students must pay a one-time registration fee of $125
Registration Fee Includes all Necessary ballet materials including:
- Ballet bag
- Uniform leotard and tights
- Ballet slippers
- Tutu or skirt (level dependent)
This MTD program is supported by The Atkinson Foundation, Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, San Mateo County Arts Commission and California Arts Council to bring your family high level ballet training.
Countdown to Summer Dance Camp!
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Nathan Cottam
Photo by Hans Halberstadt
Nathan Cottam is a dancer and choreographer devoted to welcoming more people into the appreciation and performance of dance and theater arts. Raised in Buffalo, New York and the Mountain West, Nathan was exposed early in life to music and drama, finally joining them together in the study of ballet at Brigham Young University.
After completing a BS in sociology, Nathan went on to earn a Master of Fine Art in Dance from the University of Arizona. He has performed with many companies including Oakland Ballet, Bay Pointe Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre and the Serbian National Ballet in Belgrade. In 2013 Nathan founded Mannakin Theater and Dance to showcase his own choreography and artistic vision. With his company, Nathan has created many new dances, produced three tours of Serbia, and conducted outreach with Syrian and Afghani refugees in Bulgaria and young children in East Palo Alto, CA.
Traci Cottam
Photo by Steven Trumon Grey
Traci Finch lives in San Francisco, CA and currently assistant directs and dances with Mannakin Theater & Dance. Traci spent ten years in New York City, dancing with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, New Chamber Ballet, and CelloPointe. Recent projects have included guesting with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens; dancing in Signals from the West, Bay Area Artists in Conversation with Merce Cunningham at 100; and Marco Pelle’s T+I at Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. She has performed classical and neoclassical ballets with Neglia Ballet in Buffalo, NY. Originally from Utah, Traci graduated from Brigham Young University with her BA in Dance.
Traci has choreographed work presented in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Lake Tahoe. She currently teaches at en Avant Dance in East Palo Alto and is guest faculty member at Tahoe Youth Ballet. She has taught around the United States in New York, Utah, California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Montana.
Greyson Gerdts
Greyson Gerdts is a performer, choreographer, and teacher. She trained under the direction of New Jersey Ballet company member Jessica Lavorgna for a majority of her childhood. Greyson’s teaching career began in 2017 when she choreographed the Old Library Theatre’s production of Children of Eden. Her choreography earned her a nomination for Best Choreography at the end-of-season Gala. Greyson graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2021 with a BA in Dance with concentrations in performance, choreography, and education as well as an Italian Studies minor. In early 2022, Greyson was invited to return to her alma mater, James Caldwell High School, to choreograph her high school’s spring production of Matilda. Choreographing for the community and stage she once danced with felt like a full circle moment and an honor! She returned again for the 2023 spring production of Grease, which closed this past March. Greyson is beyond thrilled to be here in California at Mannakin Dance!
Leah Dorman
Leah Dorman began dancing at the age of 4 at Ballet Petit under artistic director Peggy Peabody. She fell in love with flying around the ballet studio and performing on stage, and has danced and/or taught at the studio ever since. In her teens she expanded her dance repertoire to include modern, jazz, and contemporary classes at Ohlone College, helped choreograph multiple original ballets with BP’s Jr. Company, and began assisting with the 3-4 year old pre-ballet classes. As a student her favorite roles included the Rat Queen in The Nutcracker, the Wolf in Peter and the Wolf, and Stepsister in Cinderella. She has also performed with a few local dance companies including in Mannakin Theater & Dance’s The Nutshell performance in 2020. Leah is thrilled to begin teaching at en Avant School after substitute teaching a few times in fall 2022. When not dancing, Leah can usually be found conducting cell biology research as a data scientist in San Francisco.
Rolana Smith
Rolana Smith lives in East Palo Alto with her husband and her two young dancers, who have been dancing with en Avant for 4 years. Rolana has loved dancing since a child and has taken classes in an array of different dance styles, including ballet, jazz, belly dancing, and tap. She has performed with en Avant School of Dance, and loved working behind the scenes as a “ballet mom”. Rolana has worked with children and youth for 15+ years in youth ministry, coaching, childcare, and raising her own daughters. She is excited to teach a Mint class in the Fall. Rolana’s day job is supporting women as a Women’s Pastor in Palo Alto, and spends her free time biking, playing games, and cooking.
