Summer at WCFA
Ballet Technique Intensives. Kids Camps. Evening Classes.
Stay cool this summer – come join us for our two ballet technique intensives, evening July classes, and camps for dance, drama, and music!
2025 Dance and Art Camps (Ages 3-10)Registration Opens February 2nd 2025


Dance & Art Camp Week One: June 16th-20th
Dance & Art Camp Week Two: July 7th-11th
Dance & Art Camp Week Three: July 14th-18th
Dance & Art Camp Week Four: July 21st-25th
Designed for ages 3-10, our summer camps offer a fun and creative way for kids to explore the arts. With flexible week-by-week options, you can choose the schedule that works best for your family. Spaces are limited, so be sure to register your camper today! No prior experience is needed. Campers will be separated into proper age groups for most of the day.
Campers will have the opportunity to dance, sing, make music, play, and explore their artistic side through pastels, paintings, and sketches. They’ll also enjoy tumbling, stretching, and a variety of other exciting activities. Led by our Conservatory staff and special guest teachers, this camp promises to be an unforgettable summer experience filled with creativity, movement, and fun!
Stay cool and dive into the arts with WCFA this summer!
Camp Rates
Half Day Camp (ages 3-10): 9:30am-12:30 pm at $225 a week
Full Day Camp (ages 6-10): 9:30am-3:00pm at $300 a week.
(Sibling discounts available).
Reserve your space now with a $100 deposit
Ballet Technique Intensives (Ages 9+)
Registration Opens February 2nd 2025
WCFA’s technique weeks are designed to equip, educate, strengthen and prepare the dancer. This rigorous schedule is packed with challenging and informative classes taught by excellent guest artists (TBA) and WCFA faculty. Students will train in ballet technique, pointe/pre-pointe/variations, partnering, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, precision, Progressing Ballet Technique/strength training, injury prevention, anatomy, and dance history.
Technique intensive weeks are mandatory for WCFA level 4-company for placement/auditions. WCFA Level 3 students are invited to attend and audition for Level 4. Intensives are geared for ages 9+ with at least 1 1/2 – 2 years of dance experience. Placement classes will take place on the first day of classes each week.
Students should wear leotards, tights, warmups/coverups, and bring ballet , tap, and jazz shoes. Students en pointe should bring their pointe shoes. Dancers will need to bring a lunch, water to drink throughout the day, and a notebook with a pencil/pen for taking notes.
Week One : June Dance Technique Intensive
June 23rd–27th
9am- 4pm
Week Two : Dance Technique Intensive + WCFA Level Placement/Nutcracker Auditions
July 28th-August 1st
9am – 4pm
Cost: $400 /week for approx. 32 hrs instruction.
$100 deposit due at registration with full balance due on the first day of intensive.


Wilmington Conservatory Dance Intensives -
Guest Faculty


Cheryl Cutlip– is the founding director of THE PROJECT DANCE FOUNDATION, formed as a mission to bring hope and healing to the world through the universal language of dance. The organization got its start in New York City in 2002 and has presented 3-day dance events in over 25 cities around the globe including Canada, USA, Australia, China, The Philippines, Israel, UK, Costa Rica, Peru, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
A native of North Carolina, Cheryl’s dance career began in Nashville, TN at OPRYLAND USA. After working on a cruise ship, living in Japan while dancing at TOKYO’S DISNEYLAND, and performing in the European tour of 42ND STREET, Cheryl moved to New York where she became a RADIO CITY ROCKETTE.Cheryl enjoyed performing with the ROCKETTES for 15 years where her duties included dance captain; assistant choreographer and spokesperson for nationally televised appearances including one-on-one interviews with Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Larry King. She was the co-choreographer for KICK INTO FITNESS; and choreographer for CHRISTMAS ACROSS AMERICA promotional tours, THE YANKEE PENANT PARADE and NBC’s ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING special.
Other career credits include the Broadway National Tour of CRAZY FOR YOU and the Broadway benefit to the stars version of MACK AND MABLE starring Jerry Herman and Donna McKechnie. Cheryl also danced in the jazz company, WALKERDANCE under the direction of Chet Walker where she performed in a benefit concert for lyricist and composer, Stephen Schwartz. Cheryl currently directs a precision dance company called The Carolina Snowbelles and operates The Space @ Project Dance, the foundation’s dance training and education headquarters in Boone, NC.
Cooper Everson– based in New York City, is a freelance artist that combines his years of classical training and professional work with his adept contemporary ability. Beginning his training in Northeast Connecticut where he is from, Everson studied tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, and partnering, while also choreographing for his high school’s dance department. Everson would later shift his focus to classical ballet and study under the directorship of Mariaelena Ruiz and Heather Iller of the Cary Ballet Conservatory. While training Everson would perform with the Cary Ballet Company as a principal artist in Nutcracker and many original works. Upon completing his training at Cary Ballet Conservatory, Everson would move to Columbus, OH to join BalletMet as a member of their second company, BalletMet II where he would perform in numerous works by the company’s then artistic director Edwaard Liang and choreographers such as Alexander Eikman and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. In the Winter of 2022 Everson transitioned fully to New York City, and has been dancing and collaborating ever since. Upon completing Broadway Dance Center’s Professional semester, Everson has been enjoying jumping from stage to stage performing with companies and creators such as The International American Ballet lead by Analia Farfan, American Liberty Ballet, Conflux Dance Theatre in Richmond, VA, Dance Theatre of Jacksonville, Maria Konrad of Nashville Ballet II, Venus Williams, Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts, and many more.
Sarah Matzke – is a human that uses the studio as laboratory and movement as choreographic medium. Her research focuses on embodied cognition and the roles of experiential learning theory. Matzke holds a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University. She has served as professor of dance at Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at Dallas, and Störling Conservatory of Dance. Matzke is the co-founder of Aaron + Hur, a non-profit organization that equips leaders to use somatic movement for healing and community reconstruction. As a guest artist, Matzke has worked throughout the United States, South America, Southeastern Asia, and the Middle East.
Dayna Fox – UNCSA alumna and School of Dance ballet faculty member Dayna Fox has spent more than 25 years teaching in UNCSA’s high school and undergraduate ballet programs, and has served as director for the Preparatory Dance program for young children. She had many experiences in her life that have and continue to shape her journey as a teacher. Fox’s early training in the Vaganova technique, combined with 25 years of teaching children, has made her a stickler for correct placement and alignment; developing core strength; understanding the concept, development and application of rotation; and emphasizing the importance of classical line, positions and aesthetics. As a teacher, Fox tries to instill a feeling of “self” in her students, helping them realize how each of them has something unique to offer. Fox believes her job as a teacher is to provide students with all the tools and inspiration they will need to ultimately achieve their goals as confident young adults and artists.
Addison Hand – Raised in Central Florida, Addison trained in classical ballet from a young age. She continued her dance education at Palm Beach Atlantic University earning a BFA in Dance and a minor in Exercise Science. During her time at PBAU, Addison was thrilled to work with outstanding faculty and guest choreographers such as Christopher Huggins, Cheryl Cutlip, and Jon Lehrer. She also spent a semester studying dance at the University of Roehampton in London, England. Addison was named Outstanding Graduate for the Dance Department at PBAU and graduated with honors through the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. As an emerging Reformer Pilates instructor, Addison is passionate about helping others discover the joy of movement and develop strength and awareness to prevent injuries. She currently dances with Ad Deum Dance Company under Randel Flyn.
Drop- In July Evening Classes (Ages 3+)
This July 1st through July 24th, Wilmington Conservatory is offering flexible drop-in evening classes for all ages and levels (3+ years). Enjoy four-weeks of classes for all ages with the freedom to pay by class or week by week—perfect for those looking to stay active and beat the heat! Our drop-in dance classes provide an easy and convenient way to stay engaged. Private lessons and coaching are also available, as well as studio rentals. Join us this summer for a fun and flexible way to stay creative and maintain your training.