2nd Annual Summer Dance Intensive

July 22-25, 2024

Wilkins Studio Location

Join Studio G for our second annual Summer Dance Intensive! We’re bringing in esteemed instructors from across the region to expose dancers to new styles and techniques. This year, we brought back some fan-favorite instructors and are excited to host new faculty at our studio.

We have a room for students age 7-12 and a room for 13+. All participating dancers can take our daily Group Stretch/Warm Up class for free!

Take class for all four days or purchase a single day! We pride ourselves on offering unique opportunities for our students and dancers across the region. You don’t have to be a current Studio G dancer to attend - the intensive is open to ALL dancers age 7+.

Come join us!

Monday, July 22

Room 1 - Ages 7-12

4:00-5:00 - Seminar: Mastering the Growth Mindset with Belle Jessen (all ages)

5:00-6:00 - Classic Jazz with Belle Jessen

6:00-7:00 - Lyrical with Mariah Aivazis

7:00-8:15 - Overstretch/Improv with Mariah Aivazis

8:15-9:00 - Seminar: The Full-Time Dancer with Belle Jessen (ages 11+)

Room 2 - Ages 13+

4:00-5:00 - Seminar: Mastering the Growth Mindset - Belle Jessen (all ages)

5:00-6:00 - Lyrical with Mariah Aivazis

6:00-7:00 - Classic Jazz with Belle Jessen

7:00-8:15 - Contemporary & Improv with Belle Jessen

8:15-9:00 - Seminar: The Full-Time Dancer with Belle Jessen (ages 11+)

Seminar Descriptions

Mastering the Growth Mindset

Topics include:

  • The power of affirmations, journaling, and manifestation

  • The right approach to taking classes at your home studio, workshops, and conventions + beyond

  • How to improve with constructive note-taking and self-reflection

  • The 10 things that require zero talent + more

This session will help you not only in dance but also in LIFE! Students of all levels will take away tips to improve their personal, school and dance lives.

The Full-Time Dancer (ages 11+)

Topics include:

  • Post-High School Training

  • Auditioning

  • Social Media

  • Opportunities in the dance industry

  • Photo Portfolio, Resume and Reel

  • Representation

  • Budgeting and Side Hustles

Whether you want to pursue dance full time or on the side, this session will have tons of tips on self promotion and how to build your personal brand.

Tuesday, July 23

Room 1 - Ages 7-12

4:00-4:30 - Group Stretch with Sammie McGowan

4:30-5:30 - Broadway Jazz with Trevor Sones

5:30-6:30 - Strength, Conditioning & Progressions with Sammie McGowan

6:30-7:30 - Commercial Jazz with Elisa-Marie Alaio

7:30-8:30 - Tap Technique & Combo with Matt Saffron

8:30-9:15 - Advanced Tap Tricks with Matt Saffron

Room 2 - Ages 13+

4:00-4:30 - Group Stretch with Sammie McGowan

4:30-5:30 - Strength, Conditioning & Progressions with Sammie McGowan

5:30-6:30 - Broadway Jazz with Trevor Sones

6:30-7:30 - Tap Technique & Combo with Matt Saffron

7:30-8:30 - Heels with Elisa-Marie Alaio

8:30-9:15 - Advanced Tap Tricks with Matt Saffron

Wednesday, July 24

Room 1 - Ages 7-12

4:00-4:30 - Group Stretch/Conditioning with Stephanie Jingle

4:30-5:30 - Technique with Kara Ingold

5:30-6:30 - Lyrical Combo with Kara Ingold

6:30-7:30 - Ballet with Stephanie Jingle

7:30-8:30 - Contemporary with Stephanie Jingle

8:30-9:15 - Pointe with Stephanie Jingle
(ages 11+)

Room 2 - Ages 13+

4:00-4:30 - Group Stretch/Conditioning with Stephanie Jingle

4:30-5:30 - Ballet with Stephanie Jingle

5:30-6:30 - Contemporary with Stephanie Jingle

6:30-7:30 - Technique with Kara Ingold

7:30-8:30 - Lyrical Combo with Kara Ingold

8:30-9:15 - Pointe with Stephanie Jingle
(ages 11+)

Thursday, July 25

Room 1 - Ages 7-12

4:00-4:30 - Group Stretch with Isabella Mangretta

4:30-5:30 - Intro to Cirque Training with Isabella Mangretta

5:30-6:30 - Hip Hop with Alex Isenberg

6:30-7:30 - Dance Team/Side Line with Kendall Lilley

7:30-8:30 - Leaps, Turns & Jumps with Kendall Lilley

Room 2 - Ages 13+

4:00-4:30 - Group Stretch with Isabella Mangretta

4:30-5:30 - Hip Hop with Alex Isenberg

5:30-6:30 - Dance Team/Side Line with Kendall Lilley

6:30-7:30 - Intro to Cirque Training with Isabella Mangretta

7:30-8:30 - Leaps, Turns & Jumps with Isabella Mangretta

Pricing

Purchase the full-intensive rate and SAVE!

4-Day Full Intensive

Register for all four days - 20 hours of class!

  • Early Bird (register BY June 9) - $275

  • Regular Rate (register AFTER June 9) - $325

1-Day Intensive Pass

Register for one full day (cannot mix and match classes day to day; full day must be purchase for each date)

  • Early Bird (register BY June 9) - $100

  • Regular Rate (register AFTER June 9) - $125

Studio G accepts cash, checks made to “Studio G” or credit card payments. All credit card payments are subject to a 5% processing fee.

We offer a sibling discount for families! The first dancer will register at full price, and each additional child will receive a 20% discount on any classes they register for. Highest cost sibling will be at full price.

Use coupon code SIB20 at checkout to receive your discount.

Apply for Our SGDC x SDGTA Scholarhip!

Studio G Dance Center is extremely excited to partner with the Studio G Dance Team Association (SGDTA) to offer one (1) full intensive registration scholarship to ANY dancer age 7-18 for this year's intensive!

The goal of the SGDTA is to support good sportsmanship among youth in the competitive dance arena and the enrichment of performing arts students through various fundraising efforts. This is an excellent opportunity to make the intensive accessible to dancers in our area.

The application is open now through May 31, 2024. The awardee will be announced at our 2024 recital, "Fantasy and Folklore," in June and will be chosen anonymously by SGDC Summer Dance Intensive faculty member Belle Jessen!

Applicants must complete the application below and will agree to the following scholarship requirements:

  • Awardee must attend all four days of the SGDC 2nd Annual Summer Dance Intensive July 22-25.

  • Awardee will take photos with faculty to be used for intensive recap and promotion of future intensives.

  • Awardee will record a ~:30 promo about their experience at the intensive for future promotions.

  • Awardee will record a ~:30 promo about the scholarship and thanking the SGDTA.

We hope you are as excited for the intensive as we are! We can't wait for you to dance with us.

Note: If you apply to the scholarship but pay to receive the Early Bird rate and are awarded the scholarship, you will be reimbursed for the Early Bird rate.

Summer Intensive Staff

  • Mariah Aivazis

    Owner, Elevate Dance Collective
    Warren, OH

  • Elisa-Marie Alaio

    Owner, fireWALL Dance Theater
    Pittsburgh

  • Kara Ingold

    Instructor & Performer
    Pittsburgh

  • Alex Isenberg

    Owner, Isenberg Entertainment & Performer
    New York City/Los Angeles/Toronto

  • Belle Jessen

    Instructor/Perfomer
    Chicago

  • Stephanie Jingle

    Educator & Choreographer, Freelance
    Pittsburgh

  • Kendall Lilley

    Captain, Ohio University Dance Team
    Pittsburgh/Athens, OH

  • Isabella Mangretta

    Dancer, Virgin Voyages & SGDC Alumna
    New York City

  • Sammie McGowan

    Instructor & Certified Personal Trainer
    Pittsburgh

  • Matt Saffron

    Faculty, West Virginia University School of Dance Theatre
    Wheeling, WV

  • Trevor Sones

    Regional Director/Faculty, REVEL Dance Convention
    Pittsburgh, PA

Faculty Bios

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  • Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Kara grew up training at Ultimate Dance Complex. During high school, she attended Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where she was educated in many styles of dance including ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. Eager to extend her training to the next level, she attended Point Park University. Kara earned a dance degree with a concentration in modern and graduated Summa Cum Laude in April 2023.

    During her time at Point Park, she was able to work closely with Lloyd Culbreath, Maud Arnold, Kiesha Llama, Jesse Factor, and Kiki Lucas. She also worked with Cassidy Noblett, Adam Cates, and Sissa Strain during her training at Commercial Dance Intensive. Kara also had the opportunity to represent the Pittsburgh CLO at the Rock Steelers Style Fashion Show. Since graduation, she has been educating dancers in the Pittsburgh area and traveling with VIP Dance Competition.

  • In the performing arts world, Alex Isenberg emerges as a multifaceted artist, displaying his versatility as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and creative director! He’s danced with artists such as Madonna, Channing Tatum, Liza Minelli, and Jax, and has appeared on stage or silver screen alongside names like Heather Graham, James Corden, Laverne Cox, and Cheryl Burke. While scrolling the channels or catching up on a show, you may have seen him on Dance Moms or as the spokesperson for the most recent SmileTrain campaign. As a teacher and educator, Alex was taken under the wing of Brian “BT” Thomas (Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, P!nk, Missy Elliot) early in his career, and garnered priceless lessons and mentorship, propelling him into crafting his style of teaching.

    Lately, Alex and his wife, Hannah, direct and facilitate a mentorship program that educates, trains, and prepares aspiring young professionals for a career in the arts.

  • Belle is a versatile performing artist, choreographer and teacher currently based in Chicago. With 20 years of experience in the dance industry. her career has dabbled in both the concert and commercial worlds.

    Credits: Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Banks, Moby, The Voice, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Visceral Dance Chicago, Arrogant Elbow, Chicago Dance Crash, Point Park University

    As an educator and mentor, Belle considers herself a true nurturer for the next generation of dancers. Her style blends her technical training with experimental movement and diverse musicality.

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  • Kendall Lilley is a Pittsburgh native who has been dancing dancing competitively since 4th grade, training in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and acro. She is currently the head captain of the Ohio University Dance Team. Since becoming a part of the dance team, she has learned a lot about pom and wants to share with others what she wishes she knew before heading into college dance team auditions my senior year of high school to prepare the next generation of collegiate dancers.

  • Isabella Mangretta is a graduate of Point Park University and alumna of Studio G Dance Center. She has been seen on the lady ships of Virgin Voyages cruise line dancing internationally in countries including Spain, Italy, France and the Caribbean. She currently resides in New York City training in circus, including hand balancing and partner acro. She is thrilled to be visiting her family and teaching in the very place that made her into the dancer and person she is today!

  • Sammie McGowan began dancing at Larry Cervi’s School of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh at the age of 2. Throughout the years, she has trained in many styles including ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. In high school, she was accepted to study at Point Park University and Joffrey Ballet School for the summers, leading her to Point Park’s Pre-professional program her senior year. In 2022, Sammie graduated from James Madison University with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance.

    Since then, Sammie has actively been teaching and choreographing dance locally in Pittsburgh. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer that specializes in dancers and Certified in Applied Stretching Theory and Practice. Her mission as a teacher is to provide proper education to dancers with injury prevention at the forefront while maintaining a safe space for individual artistry and exploration.

  • Matt Saffron is a native of Morgantown, WV and has been dancing since the age of six. He has had extensive training in tap, jazz, and ballet. He won world honors performing in Germany as a member of the 2000 USA Tap Dance Team.

    Matt has been a featured dancer and dance captain in productions of Guys and Dolls, Will Rogers Follies, Oklahoma, 42nd Street, Mame, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie and A Chorus Line. In Montreal, he performed as an original member of Tap’d Out in their premier show. Matt joined the cast of Tap Dogs for their 10th anniversary tour and has since traveled the United States, Mexico and most recently South Africa as part of the cast for the past eight years.

    During his off time, Matt teaches and choreographs in the Morgantown, WV, Pittsburgh, PA and upstate NY areas.

  • Originally from Clearfield, Pa, Trevor received a BA degree in Dance from Mercyhurst University. National Tour Credits: CATS, Beauty and the Beast. TV/Film Credits: ZIPS Dry Cleaners, The Knot, CATS National Tour commercial, “Step Up 3D”, Good Morning America, “Do You Dance, Ms. Parker?” Trevor has worked extensively with Royal Caribbean as a Dancer/Dance Captain (Hairspray, MAMMA MIA), Associate Choreographer (GREASE, Name That Tune), and Director (Bada Bing Bada Boom). He then worked with RWS Entertainment Group in NYC as a Dancer/Dance Captain, Casting Assistant, Associate Choreographer, and Director/Choreographer. Most recently he toured Germany, Switzerland, and Dubai with SweetBird Productions "Rock The Ballet X" and "Romeo and Juliet" as a Dancer/Dance Captain.

    Currently, Trevor is a Regional Director/Faculty at REVEL Dance Convention! During the Summer season, he travels to dance studios all across North America as a Guest Choreographer and Teacher. Follow his journey at @trevorsones