Summer intensives are an opportunity for dancers to expand their horizons, but at Long Beach Ballet’s Ambassadors to China summer intensive, the cultural exposure is on another level. The unparalleled program includes three weeks of training and rehearsals in Long Beach, California, followed by two weeks of performances, master classes, and sightseeing in China.
“It is important for every American to experience other cultures, but especially someone on a path to being a professional ballet dancer,” says Long Beach Ballet artistic director David Wilcox. “Visiting other countries exposes students to diverse cultures, broadens perspectives, and fosters empathy. It enhances problem-solving skills, cultural competence, and language abilities while inspiring creativity and self-discovery.”
While in China, the exchange is truly cross-cultural: Intensive students collaborate with dancers from local Chinese ballet schools in three different cities on a full-length performance of Wilcox’s Coppélia, and are immersed in the Chinese style of ballet as well as traditional Chinese dance. Studying with …