June 26-28, 2026

3-day intensive

Join us for a one-of-a-kind Adult Summer Dance Intensive at Gulf Coast Dancenter – an annual experience designed for adult dancers seeking high-quality training in a focused and inspiring environment. This three-day intensive is open to adult dancers ages 18+ from across the Tampa Bay area, Florida, and beyond, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in dance, expand your training, and deepen your artistry.

This year, we are honored to welcome guest artist Christina Cichra, who will lead precision jazz classes, sharing the technique, musicality, and performance quality developed during her eight seasons as a Radio City Rockette.

Dancers will train in a thoughtfully curated schedule including ballet, contemporary, precision jazz, and variations. This intensive is designed for adults who are looking to challenge themselves, gain exposure to new styles and teaching perspectives, and grow both technically and artistically while connecting with a community of dedicated dancers.

To support an effective and rewarding experience, a minimum of one year of consistent ballet training is strongly recommended. The intensive will be offered in two levels: a Beginner/Advanced Beginner level for dancers with at least one year of current training, and an Intermediate/Advanced level for those with more extensive dance experience.

At Gulf Coast Dancenter, our Adult Program is rooted in the belief that adult dancers deserve quality instruction, intentional training, and a true artistic experience. This intensive reflects that philosophy, offering a space that is both rigorous and inspiring.

Offered only once each year, the Adult Summer Dance Intensive is a special opportunity to train with purpose, broaden your experience, and be part of a dedicated adult dance community.

(includes 12.5 hrs of dance classes, 2 socials, and a swag bag of goodies)

Spots are limited as intensive is capped to maintain quality.

Who:

• • Dancers who are 18+
  • Must have prior dance experience, however, we do have 2-levels.
  • Beginner/Advanced Beginner – at least one year of current ballet training.
  • Intermediate/Advanced – multiple years of dance training.

2 Levels Available:

• • Beginner (Level 1 & 2) – You’ve just started ballet in the last 2 years, and you’re more comfortable with a slower pace, and being able to watch someone during combinations.  **Must have completed at least 2 Intro to Ballet Series or have prior ballet experience.
  • Intermediate/Advanced (Level 3 & 4) – You’ve been taking class consistently for at least 3 years (or maybe you’ve just returned to ballet!), and are starting to feel comfortable with a faster-paced class, but you still need help breaking down steps, or you need to watch someone, from time to time.  Advanced dancers are welcome to come and work on their foundation and technique while immersing themselves in a supportive adult dance community.

Classes you will get to experience at this workshop:

• • Ballet – a technique based class that lays the foundation for posture, movement, flexibility and body control.  This class helps to set up a dancer for success in all the other dance genres.
  • Variations – you will learn a ballet “variation,” or dance choreography from a famous ballet.
  • Precision Jazz – is a specialized dance form focusing on extreme uniformity, meticulous attention to detail, and a blend of jazz, tap, and ballet technique.  It goes beyond traditional jazz by emphasizing that dancers move as a single entity rather than as individuals, requiring precise arm pathways, specific eye lines, and synchronized high-energy movement.
  • Contemporary – fuses together many different dance styles such as ballet, jazz, modern, and lyrical. This genre of dance often includes floor work, improvisation and a versatility of body lines and dynamic movements. Contemporary dance is the exploration of the total movement potential of the body.
  • Stretch – each day will end with a guided stretch class to make sure that your muscles are cared for and you stay safe while dancing with us for the intensive.

Schedule for workshop:

“Beg” = Beginner, Level 1 & 2

“Int/Adv” = Intermediate & Advanced, Level 3 & 4

Friday, June 26th

• • 3-4pm: Check in at studio and welcome Swag Bag
  • 4-5:30pm:  Precision Jazz (Beg) / Contemporary (Int/Adv)
  • 5:30-7pm:  Precision Jazz (Int/Adv) / Contemporary (Beg)
  • 7-7:30pm Stretch/Roll out session
  • 7:30-9pm: Welcome social to meet your fellow dancers (food and drinks will be provided)

Saturday, June 27th

• • 10-11:30am: Ballet (Beg) / Ballet (Int/Adv)
  • 11:30-12:30pm:  Variations (Beg) / Variations (Int/Adv)
  • 12:30-1:30pm:  Lunch Break (you can pack a lunch or run out to grab food)
  • 1:30-3pm:  Precision Jazz (Int/Adv) / Contemporary (Beg)
  • 3-4:30pm:  Precision Jazz (Beg) / Contemporary (Int/Adv)
  • 4:30-5pm:  Stretch/Roll out session

Sunday, June 28th

• • 9-10am: Breakfast social (food and drinks will be provided)
  • 10-11:30am:  Ballet (Beg) / Ballet (Int/Adv)
  • 11:30-12:30pm: Variations (Beg) / Variations (Int/Adv)
  • 12:30-1pm: Stretch/roll out session
  • 1-2pm: Lunch Break (you can pack a lunch or run out to grab food)
  • 2-2:30pm: Preparation for photo shoot
  • 2:30-5pm:  Professional Dance Photo Shoot (Additional Cost)

Lodging Options:

For my out of towners here are two hotels that are in a nice area and extremely close to the studio.  They are also close to shopping and restuarants. 

• • Hampton Inn & Suites, Largo (1.8 miles from studio) Hampton Inn Website
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Largo-Clearwater by IHG (2.1 miles from studio) Holiday Inn Website

If you would like to upgrade your stay and be on the beach then I would recommend Indian Rocks Beach.

• • Holiday Inn & Suites Clearwater Beach S-Harbourside by IHG is a nice hotel on the water and you can walk to the beach. (Indian Rocks Beach).  A restuarant is attached as well as a few great ones that you can walk to. Holiday Inn Harbourside Website

As a special optional add-on to our workshop, we are excited to offer our adult dancers an unforgettable professional dance photo shoot.

This is your chance to step into the studio and be captured at your very best. Our faculty will guide you through posing and presentation so you feel confident, supported, and ready to shine, while the talented photographers from SoHo Images capture beautiful, professional-quality images of your dancing.

Whether you want a keepsake of your experience, a celebration of your progress, or simply a fun and empowering moment for yourself, this photo shoot is a wonderful way to end the intensive.

Please note: this experience is optional and available at an additional cost. All photos will be available for purchase directly through the SoHo Images gallery link, which will be shared once images are ready.

SoHo Images Website/2026 Gallery Link

Anne Carollo – Ballet and Stretch Instructor

Anne is the founder and director of Gulf Coast Dancenter, a ballet-focused studio established in 2011 in Pinellas County. She is also the founder of Gulf Coast Ballet Theater, a nonprofit professional ballet company that provides performance opportunities for both youth and adult dancers.

Her professional training began in Gainesville, Florida, and continued through prestigious summer intensives including The Rock School for Dance Education and Atlanta Ballet. She went on to dance professionally with Orlando Ballet, performing in productions such as The Nutcracker and Carmen.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Anne is an ABT® Certified Teacher and holds additional certifications in ballet, jazz, and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). She is passionate about strong, intelligent training that is both structured and supportive.

In addition to directing her studio, Anne has worked to make ballet more accessible to adults through her Adult Dance Program and her educational YouTube content, helping dancers begin or return to ballet at any stage of life.

For Anne, teaching is about helping dancers discover what they are capable of, no matter when they start.