Description

Welcome to the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute (TZDI) at the Colburn School. Led by Artistic Director Janie Taylor, TZDI includes both our Youth Dance and Dance Academy programs. Our mission is to honor and extend the great traditions of ballet, modern, and tap dance. This is accomplished by forming students of all ages as collaborative agents who will take the art of dance forward. Students learn masterworks and deepen their understanding of the great tradition of this art form. They also collaborate with the choreographers of today and develop their own creative voices. Our holistic artistic education shapes dancers as thinkers, artists, and performers as they experience life in the cultural heart of a global city. The small class size allows for each dancer to develop in their own way, through mentorship and personalized guidance that nurtures their unique gifts and prepares them to join any dance company around the world. Attending the Colburn Dance Academy requires a high level of commitment and passion. We require applicants to have already studied ballet for a minimum of four years. We train students age 13–19 in the summer and students age 14–19 for the year-round program. Female dancers should be able to exhibit excellent pointe work. Our curriculum is both ballet-focused and includes other dance forms to shape our dancers as well-rounded artists.