Nutcracker Camp
Dates and Time: July 6–10
Full Day: 9:00 am–4:00 pm
Morning Session: 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Investment:
Morning Session (Silver and Gold or outside EMC equivalent): $350
Full Day (Platinum, Titanium, and Company Elite or outside EMC equivalent): $450
Levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Company Elite
The Nutcracker Summer Intensive is a thoughtfully designed, week long experience created to honor tradition while supporting dancer growth, balance, and professional development. This intensive provides dancers with focused ballet training, meaningful rehearsal time, and a clear, supportive pathway toward elevated roles in EMC’s 2026 production of The Nutcracker Suite.
For Platinum, Titanium, and Company Elite dancers, this intensive serves as the official pathway for casting elevated Nutcracker roles. Dancers will participate in daily ballet technique classes, pointe or Pilates class, learn and rehearse each elevated variation, and work closely with a ballet coach throughout the week. By training and rehearsing daily, dancers are given the time and structure needed to grow technically, artistically, and confidently.
On Friday, dancers will participate in a formal audition for all elevated roles. After observing the dancers throughout the entire week, EMC choreographers, alongside guest adjudicators, will determine casting. This process ensures that each dancer is evaluated not only on audition day performance, but also on work ethic, growth, focus, and commitment demonstrated throughout the week. Guest adjudicators provide an objective outside perspective, while home choreographers bring valuable insight from daily rehearsal and training.
This structure allows dancers a full week to prepare for the audition experience, offering real world exposure to the emotional and physical demands of auditioning. Dancers gain confidence navigating nerves, presenting themselves professionally, and performing under pressure in a supportive environment.
Elevated roles available include Clara, Nutcracker, Spanish, Arabian, Mouse King, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, and Sugar Plum Fairy. There are roles for dancers who are en pointe as well as off pointe, and all dancers will be given opportunities to learn and grow.
An abbreviated morning track is available for Silver and Gold dancers who wish to strengthen their ballet technique and gain exposure to elevated material as preparation for future opportunities. This session includes a morning ballet technique class followed by a variations class where dancers will learn adapted versions of Act Two variations as a growth focused learning experience.
The Nutcracker Summer Intensive lays the foundation for The Nutcracker returning as part of EMC’s 2026 season, thoughtfully woven into our Holiday Celebration and calendar. This intentional approach creates space for something truly special while supporting dancers, families, and our team.
Click the link to enroll and email [email protected] if you have questions.
Corinne graduated with honors at The Baptist College of Florida with a Bachelor of Music Education in the Spring of 2022. As a child, she studied music, dance, art, and gymnastics at EMC and is very excited to return to the music academy as an instructor!
Maddie is a senior at Susquehannock High School and started her performing arts journey just last year. Before then, her focus was basketball starting at the age of 5 and playing through her freshman year. After discovering her passion for theater, she began taking vocal lessons at EMC in March of 2021. Maddie was also a member of show choir and theater dance. She has been in both musical productions of Annie Jr. and Aladdin Jr. at EMC. At school, Maddie participated in both band and choir and is looking forward to joining her school’s theater program.
Hayden grew up around music, becoming a very versatile performer. His study began at age 6, taking drum lessons with his father James McGarvey. Currently a freshman at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Hayden studies classical percussion with Don Liuzzi of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Robert van Sice, and Eric Millstein. With these teachers, he studies timpani, snare drum, marimba, xylophone, hand drums and multi-percussion. Other disciplines he is learning at Curtis include piano, music theory, music history, ear training, singing and chamber music. While attending Susquehannock High School, Hayden became a very successful percussionist for PMEA honors groups. On top of numerous district and regional festivals, he performed two years in the PMEA state orchestra, as well as one year in the National All-Eastern Wind Ensemble. During High School he performed with the jazz band, pep band, marching band, orchestra, and wind ensemble. Hayden also attended the renowned Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in 2019 where he played as principal percussionist in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to classical percussion, Hayden is well versed in drum set playing, previously studying with his father and Tench Tillman. He currently studies drum set with John Riley of the Manhattan School of Music, and has played in various settings such as jazz combos, jazz big bands, rock bands, duos and recording sessions. Hayden can be heard on Brendan Wiencek’s debut album Endless Bonds, as well as his latest single, Second Base. Hayden is very excited to pass on his knowledge and passion for music to his students at EMC.
Emily Runkle
Carly Faye After dancing professionally and teaching in NYC for 10 years, Carly Faye has returned to her hometown of Baltimore, MD. She has been training dancers in Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Street Jazz, Tap and Ballet for over 15 years. She firmly believes dance is for every BODY, and wants to instill a love of movement in all of her students. She believes in process over product, and hopes all of her students learn to love hard work. Carly Faye has also served as an Adjudicator and Master Teacher with Starquest International, Spotlight Dance Cup, and Impact Dance Adjudicators. Carly Faye, with her sister Hannah Mae, currently co-hosts, “Count Me In: A Dance and Education Podcast” where they discuss dance, education, and so much more. They have in depth conversations with working artists, educators, writers, producers, from all over the world about their experience in dance and education. She finds this platform to be the perfect opportunity to continue to educate herself and others on the dance world, teaching strategies, and the importance of arts education. The podcast has proven to make her a better educator and human.
