A year ago, we spent Christmas and the first half of January in Miami, Florida, exploring summer opportunities for young performers. Why Miami? We had received several enquiries from families planning to spend part of their summer in the region during the FIFA World Cup and looking for high-quality performing arts programmes for their children.
Our initial research focused on two well-known performing arts programmes: Camp Arsht, a musical theatre camp for young people aged 10–17, and the Summer Theatre Academy at the University of Miami.
Unexpectedly, the family we work with in the Ready2Print project applied not to Camp Arsht, but to AileyCamp Miami. Looking back, we could not have wished for a better coincidence, as it gave us a first-hand insight into one of the most respected youth arts programmes in the United States.
Operated in partnership with the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, AileyCamp Miami is an acclaimed, award-winning six-week summer day camp that has been running for 18 years. Each summer, approximately 100 young people residing in Florida are selected and divided into small age groups of around 25 participants.
Today, we are sharing the experience of 13-year-old Maria and her family.
The Application Process
Applying to AileyCamp is more than simply filling out a registration form.
Applicants are asked to explain why they would like to participate. The selection process also includes an in-person audition and interview.
This is what Maria wrote in her application:
I am applying for AileyCamp because I want to challenge myself, grow as a performer and develop the skills I need for my future. An opportunity like this has never come my way before, and I want to make the most of it. I hope to improve my voice control, stage presence, movement and emotional expression. I want to be in a place where my creativity can thrive. When I visited the Adrienne Arsht Center with my family and classmates, I was amazed and inspired by the performances. I never imagined that one day I might have the opportunity to perform on that very stage. I believe AileyCamp would be a huge step forward in my artistic journey.
The audition day included much more than an interview. Applicants were taken into a studio, where they were asked to learn and repeat a dance combination. The faculty observed how they picked up choreography, moved and worked as a group before conducting individual interviews. Successful applicants were notified shortly afterwards.
A Fully Funded Programme
One of the most remarkable aspects of AileyCamp Miami is that participation is completely free, apart from the 50-dollar registration fee that can be reimbursed if a child completes the course.
The programme provides participants with:
- camp uniforms and dancewear,
- breakfast and lunch every day,
- field trips,
- transportation to and from the camp by dedicated buses.
In return, participants are expected to make a full commitment. Attendance is mandatory, and missing days are generally not permitted.
Six Weeks of Intensive Training
One of the main ideas of AileyCamp is to invest in the community and teach children through the arts, building and expressing their self-confidence and creativity via dance.
Around 80% of the programme is devoted to dance.
Without any previous dance education, students train in ballet, jazz, modern dance and West African dance, accompanied by live drumming.
The remaining part of the programme focuses on personal development and creative communication, including breathing exercises, diction, public speaking and confidence-building activities.
A Typical Day
Every morning at 7:15, Maria’s parents drive her about ten minutes to the nearest designated camp bus stop. Transportation routes are organised according to where participants live.
The camp bus arrives at the Adrienne Arsht Center around 8:00 a.m., where breakfast is served before classes begin at 8:30.
At 4:00 p.m., the students return home using the same bus service.
Training takes place in studios across both buildings of the Adrienne Arsht Center, while full-cast rehearsals are held on the theatre’s professional stage.
After six weeks of rehearsals, every participant takes part in a final performance. Admission is free, although tickets must be reserved in advance through the theatre’s website.
More Than Dance
Every edition of AileyCamp is built around a central theme.
This year’s theme is T.I.M.E. – Teach, Inspire, Mentor, Elevate.
Throughout the programme, students explore the concept of time from different perspectives. They discuss how our understanding of time changes across cultures and generations while also developing practical skills such as time management, teamwork and personal responsibility.
Maria’s Biggest Challenge
For Maria, the experience has been incredibly rewarding—but far from easy.
Maria says that the teachers are very inspiring and very supportive, and the campers are having lots of fun.
“I find it difficult to remember all the choreography straight away,” she says. “But when I do it correctly, I feel proud that I didn’t give up. After the first week, they awarded me the ‘Most Improved’ certificate, and this boosted my confidence.”
Some participants have previous dance training in AileyCamp behind them, while Maria is experiencing it for the first time.
“I don’t have the flexibility they do. I can’t do the splits, and after classes my whole body hurts.”
Students returning from previous years have told her that this year’s programme is even more demanding than before.
Yet she sees that as part of the experience.
“It’s a challenge, and that’s why I keep trying.”
In fact, after only a few weeks at camp, she was already asking her parents to enrol her in dance classes during the school year so she wouldn’t lose everything she had learned.
Back to Where Our Story Began
Although this time our journey led us to AileyCamp Miami, Camp Arsht remains another excellent option for families spending the summer in South Florida.
This one-week musical theatre camp is open to young people aged 10–17 and welcomes participants of all experience levels—no previous training is required. Campers work with professional teaching artists to learn acting, singing and dance while rehearsing a junior musical production that culminates in a free public performance. The programme runs Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The registration fee is $475 and includes lunch, snacks, camp T-shirts, a water bottle and a bag, with discounts available for siblings. Unlike AileyCamp, Camp Arsht is open through standard registration rather than a competitive audition process, making it an accessible option for families seeking a high-quality performing arts experience during the summer.
It is worth noting, however, that Camp Arsht is a day camp and does not offer residential accommodation. Families travelling from outside the Miami area should therefore arrange suitable accommodation with a host family or relatives who can not only provide meals and overnight supervision but also ensure reliable daily transportation to and from the Adrienne Arsht Center throughout the programme.
