California State Summer School for the Arts

California State Summer School for the Arts offers a Theatre Program, an Animation Program, an Architecture & Environmental Design program, and a Dance Program. The Theatre Program includes classes, performances, talks, masterclasses, and rehearsal time. The Dance Program includes ballet technique, modern dance technique, improvisation and composition, and jazz/hip-hop/funk classes.

Programs

• Theatre Program — Students currently enrolled in grades 8 through 12; CSSSA is open to students entering grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 next fall 2026, and to students graduating from high school in spring 2026. · Classes have four blocks during the day: two classes before lunch and two after. Evenings are reserved for performances, talks, masterclasses, and rehearsal time. Saturdays have a slight adjustment.
• Animation Program — 10, 11 or 12 next fall; high school in the spring of graduation. · Mondays through Saturdays in workshops and classes.
• Architecture & Environmental Design — 10, 11 or 12 next fall 2025; high school in the spring of 2025. · Studio-based curriculum.
• Dance Program — Students entering grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 next fall from high school in the spring of graduation. · Four-week intensive experience. Ballet technique class four days per week; modern dance technique class four days per week; improvisation and composition classes twice each week; jazz/hip-hop/funk classes three days each week.

At a glance

• Ages: 13–18 years old

About the provider

The school was created by a bill signed on September 28, 1985. It held its first summer session in 1987 and became a permanent program of the state in September 1990. CSSSA says it has trained more than seventeen thousand highly talented students. The mission of CSSSA is to annually provide a select number of California high school students of the visual, literary, performing and media arts with an intensive learning experience conducted by distinguished arts professionals, designed to enhance the students’ artistic skills and to develop their understanding as individuals of their potential for growth as creative artists.

The Dance Program says applicants who cannot commit to the full four-week program will not be admitted. It also says students are expected to arrive in good physical condition, free from injury or illness, and ready to work hard in a challenging environment.

Last updated September 18, 2026.