Summer Dance Intensive
Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts at Cotter Schools, 1115 West Broadway Street, Winona, MN 55987
About
Summer Dance Intensive includes daily dance classes and time spent studying dance under the direction of seasoned professional instructors. Participants also visit Kellogg, Minnesota's Famous LARK Toys, attend a Great River Shakespeare performance, explore the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, and discover downtown Winona during the session.
• Ages: 11–18 years old
• Schedule: Summer Dance Intensive runs June 14–27, 2026, with seven to nine hours each day spent studying dance under professional instructors
• Price: 2026 Tuition $1,250 for Tuition $1,200 for Room and Board. Two Week Tuition and Fees Tuition only: $1,250 • Room and Board Fee: $1,200
Summer Dance Intensive participation is by audition only, and the audition class is free and open to all interested participants. The audition class spans two hours and consists of a 1.5-hour ballet class followed by 20 minutes of pointe work, and students with expertise in other dance genres can bring prepared work in another genre with a presentation time limit of no longer than 2.5 minutes. Even if a student is not on pointe, they are invited to participate in the pointe section using flat shoes. Video auditions may be submitted directly to the Director of Dance, Tammy Schmidt, for those unable to attend an in-person audition.
Boarding options are available for students who require accommodations during the intensive, and participants may choose to stay at home or in personal accommodations, or opt for the on-campus boarding program. Nutritious meals are provided to all boarding students, including a stipend for eating out when off campus, and special dietary considerations can be accommodated upon request. Dormitory facilities currently include only male and female restrooms and shower areas, and no gender-neutral or inclusive restroom and shower options are available at this time. The boarding experience enhances the sense of community and camaraderie that is a hallmark of MCA's Summer Dance Intensive.
Cotter Schools advances a tradition of Catholic education that began in 1911 and has continued for more than 110 years, and its mission states that Cotter Schools challenges students to achieve their full potential and use their lives in the service of others. Thanks to the support of the Minnesota State Arts Board, a limited number of full and partial talent-based scholarships for Minnesota residents are available, including one comprehensive scholarship that covers tuition, room, and board for the duration of the intensive. MCA offers talent-based scholarships awarded on a case-by-case basis, and all interested applicants must audition.
The program extends an invitation to the community, as well as families and friends of participants, to attend a showcase as audience members. It partners with organizations across the community to help better Winona, Minnesota, and the surrounding areas. One parent from the 2025 Summer Dance Intensive stated that, as a ballet instructor, they were pleased with the amount of knowledge their daughter brought back and planned to encourage their own students to consider the program. Another parent, Morgan Gish, shared that they were immensely grateful for their children's experience at Cotter Schools and described it as a faith-based education that supports academic growth, character development, and a strong sense of community.
Last updated February 23, 2026.
• Ages: 11–18 years old
• Schedule: Summer Dance Intensive runs June 14–27, 2026, with seven to nine hours each day spent studying dance under professional instructors
• Price: 2026 Tuition $1,250 for Tuition $1,200 for Room and Board. Two Week Tuition and Fees Tuition only: $1,250 • Room and Board Fee: $1,200
Summer Dance Intensive participation is by audition only, and the audition class is free and open to all interested participants. The audition class spans two hours and consists of a 1.5-hour ballet class followed by 20 minutes of pointe work, and students with expertise in other dance genres can bring prepared work in another genre with a presentation time limit of no longer than 2.5 minutes. Even if a student is not on pointe, they are invited to participate in the pointe section using flat shoes. Video auditions may be submitted directly to the Director of Dance, Tammy Schmidt, for those unable to attend an in-person audition.
Boarding options are available for students who require accommodations during the intensive, and participants may choose to stay at home or in personal accommodations, or opt for the on-campus boarding program. Nutritious meals are provided to all boarding students, including a stipend for eating out when off campus, and special dietary considerations can be accommodated upon request. Dormitory facilities currently include only male and female restrooms and shower areas, and no gender-neutral or inclusive restroom and shower options are available at this time. The boarding experience enhances the sense of community and camaraderie that is a hallmark of MCA's Summer Dance Intensive.
Cotter Schools advances a tradition of Catholic education that began in 1911 and has continued for more than 110 years, and its mission states that Cotter Schools challenges students to achieve their full potential and use their lives in the service of others. Thanks to the support of the Minnesota State Arts Board, a limited number of full and partial talent-based scholarships for Minnesota residents are available, including one comprehensive scholarship that covers tuition, room, and board for the duration of the intensive. MCA offers talent-based scholarships awarded on a case-by-case basis, and all interested applicants must audition.
The program extends an invitation to the community, as well as families and friends of participants, to attend a showcase as audience members. It partners with organizations across the community to help better Winona, Minnesota, and the surrounding areas. One parent from the 2025 Summer Dance Intensive stated that, as a ballet instructor, they were pleased with the amount of knowledge their daughter brought back and planned to encourage their own students to consider the program. Another parent, Morgan Gish, shared that they were immensely grateful for their children's experience at Cotter Schools and described it as a faith-based education that supports academic growth, character development, and a strong sense of community.
Last updated February 23, 2026.
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