Performing Arts Camp

Passing Notes & Round and Round: This workshop focuses on listening, collaboration, and musical connection. In “Passing Notes,” students will hear short note patterns played by peers and work together to replicate them as a group. “Round and Round” introduces layered rounds and chorales that gradually build into a full ensemble sound. If time allows, students will also explore phrasing and dynamics through creative group exercises.

Vocal Techniques: Strengthen your voice with essential tools for healthy singing. This workshop covers posture, breath support, resonance, and safe vocal projection, along with warm-ups and cool-downs designed to prevent strain. Students will leave with practical strategies to improve tone, stamina, and confidence in performance.

Warmups & Introduction to Drumline: This workshop introduces students to the instruments that make up a drumline, including how each one is played and what role it typically serves. Participants will learn foundational concepts and perform a few easy-to-medium warmups together. It’s the perfect starting point for anyone curious about marching percussion.

Intro to Tech: Theater isn’t just what happens onstage—it’s also the technical work that makes performances possible. This workshop introduces students to key production areas such as lighting, sound, set design, props, and backstage management. Participants will learn how each department contributes to a show and how students can get involved in future productions.

Intro to Improv: Jump into the exciting world of improvisation with games and exercises that teach the fundamentals of improv comedy. Students will practice thinking quickly, working as a team, and building scenes without a script. No experience is needed—just bring energy, curiosity, and a willingness to have fun. 

Strength & Conditioning: This workshop helps dancers develop the physical foundation needed for performance. Students will focus on core stability, flexibility, balance, and overall strength through guided conditioning exercises. These skills support cleaner execution of choreography and help dancers move with power and control.

Fitness and Jumps: Cheerleading is as much about strength and endurance as it is about spirit. This workshop focuses on building the athletic foundation that supports safe movement, strong technique, and confident performance. Participants will rotate through conditioning circuits designed to improve flexibility, control, and overall strength. Students will also explore how fitness directly enhances cheer jumps and skills—all while keeping the energy high and having fun. 

Clapping & Rhythm Games: Get ready for interactive rhythm challenges that will sharpen your sense of timing and coordination. Students will participate in clapping, counting, and call-and-response games that build ensemble awareness in a fun, low-pressure environment. Activities may include competitive rhythm rounds and variations that strengthen musical focus and listening skills.

Songwriting: Discover what goes into writing a song from the ground up. Students will learn common songwriting structures, rhyming patterns, and how bridges help shape a musical story. Participants will have the chance to write new sections of existing songs or begin crafting an original piece with a verse, chorus, and bridge. This is a creative, supportive workshop for anyone interested in music-making beyond performance.

Drumming Throughout History: This workshop takes students on a journey through the history of drumming. Participants will listen to and perform rhythms inspired by Indigenous traditions, early marching and war music, and modern pop- and rap-influenced cadences. Students will gain a broader understanding of how percussion has evolved across cultures and time periods.

Character Development: Great performances begin with strong character choices. In this workshop, students will learn how to analyze text, understand motivation, and develop unique characters for the stage. Participants will practice creating personality, voice, and physicality through guided exercises. These skills not only strengthen acting but can also support storytelling and reading comprehension in academic settings.

Guessing Games: This workshop focuses on one of improv’s most popular formats: guessing games. Students will practice how to communicate clearly, give helpful clues, and make quick creative leaps as guessers. These games build teamwork, spontaneity, and confidence in a fun, supportive setting.

Technique & Across the Floor: This session focuses on essential techniques and performance readiness. Dancers will practice traveling movement patterns that build coordination, alignment, and awareness when dancing alongside others. Skills from performance routines will be incorporated alongside classical foundations to support clean, confident execution.

Team-Building Challenges: Cheerleading thrives on trust, communication, and teamwork. This workshop is designed to strengthen those bonds through interactive challenges that combine cheer skills with fun group activities. Participants will take part in relay races and games that require collaboration, encouragement, and spirit. Each challenge emphasizes cooperation—an essential quality both on and off the sidelines. By the end, students will feel more connected to their peers and confident working together as a team.

Guess That Instrument!: Put your listening skills to the test in this interactive musical guessing game. Students will hear short audio clips of different instruments and work together to identify what’s being played. As the game progresses, the challenges become more advanced, with layered clips featuring multiple instruments at once. This workshop is a fun way to strengthen ear training and learn more about the sounds that make up an ensemble.

Healthy Belting: This session focuses on developing a strong belt sound without vocal strain. Students will explore breath support, resonance, and safe vocal placement through guided exercises. Participants will learn techniques that build strength and sustainability, helping them sing with power while maintaining vocal health.

Drumming Games: This workshop brings drumming to life through creative group games. Students will “pass the beat” in sections, build layered rhythms that evolve over time, and test their skills with rudiment-based Simon Says. Activities also include timing challenges like counting rests and coming in together as an ensemble. A high-energy session focused on fun, focus, and collaboration.

Booth Workshop: This hands-on session gives students the chance to explore the booth equipment used during performances. Participants will learn the basics of how lighting cues and sound effects are run in real time. It’s a great opportunity to gain insight into the technical coordination that supports theater productions.

Object Work: Object work is a key improv skill that helps performers build believable worlds without using physical props. In this workshop, students will practice using negative space to “create” objects, locations, and actions in a scene through clear movement and detail. Participants will learn how strong object work makes scenes more realistic, engaging, and fun for both performers and audiences.

Yoga & Stretching: This workshop is designed to help students improve flexibility, build strength, and reduce stress through guided movement and stretching. No prior yoga experience is required—just come ready to breathe, move, and recharge. Whether you’re training intensely or simply looking for a moment of balance, this session supports overall wellness for performers.

Performance Skills and Pom Dance: Cheerleading is all about commanding the crowd with energy and confidence. This workshop focuses on performance techniques that elevate any routine, from facial expressions and crowd engagement to clean, sharp motion execution. Participants will practice staying synchronized while performing with a strong spirit and stage presence. Students will apply these skills by learning a short pom dance combo, giving them a fun and exciting way to put performance into action. 

Jam Session: This workshop offers extra time to make music in a laid-back environment. Students will have the chance to play together, review challenging passages, and experiment with ensemble sound without the pressure of a formal rehearsal. It’s a great opportunity to build friendships, confidence, and musicianship through shared music-making.

Sight Singing: This workshop helps singers build strong music-reading skills through rhythm practice, pitch recognition, solfège, and interval training. Students will learn strategies for approaching unfamiliar music and performing it accurately the first time. Whether you’re new to sight singing or looking to improve, this session will strengthen your musical independence.

Create a Cadence: Students will begin by watching examples of cadences from high schools, colleges, and professional marching bands. Then, small groups will collaborate to build a short original cadence using snare, bass, and quad parts. The workshop ends with performances of each group’s creation, making this a fun mix of creativity and teamwork.

Audition Workshop: This workshop prepares students for a typical theater audition process. Participants will work with short, scripted scenes (called sides), practice performing them in a mock audition setting, and receive supportive feedback. Students will learn tips for making strong acting choices, handling nerves, and approaching auditions with confidence.

Status Workshop: In improv, status refers to a character’s level of dominance or confidence within a scene—like a leader versus a follower. This workshop teaches students how to play with status shifts to create more dynamic and engaging interactions. Through interactive games, participants will experiment with high-status and low-status choices that strengthen storytelling and character relationships. 

Combination: In this workshop, dancers will learn an exciting combination set by the choreography team. Students will focus on picking up movement quickly, performing with energy, and refining details as a group. This is a fun, performance-centered session that brings techniques into action. 

Stunting 101: Stunts are one of the most exciting and recognizable elements of cheerleading, but they require teamwork, communication, and proper technique. This workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of stunting in a safe and supportive environment. Students will learn the roles of bases, flyers, and spotters, practice essential grips and body positions, and explore entry-level stunts such as preps and extensions. Emphasis is placed on safety and trust so that everyone—new to cheer or experienced—can participate successfully.