Dance Institute
July 11 – 24, 2027 | MPulse Summer Performing Arts
Two-Week Summer Program
The MPulse Dance Institute assists young dancers in their pursuit of a comprehensive dance education. Participants are introduced to the U-M Department of Dance, one of the premier dance programs in the country. The MPulse Dance Institute is held on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus where dancers gain an immersive pre-college dance experience in a bustling university environment.
Institute Dates: July 11 – 24, 2027
Institute Tuition (including room & board): $4,425
Application Status: CLOSED
Non-Refundable Application Fee: $75
Priority Application Deadline:
February 1, 2027*
Priority Admissions Notification:
March 1, 2027
*Applications will remain open until the program is full. Rolling application submissions will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Please check the application status above to see if we are still accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Application Fee Waivers
Review the qualifications and the documentation you will need to provide here: How can I apply for a fee waiver for my application? Qualified students/families will reach out to the Acceptd Support team to request a waiver code to waive the $75 application fee. Fill out this fee waiver form to request a code.
Program Sample Schedule
While schedules vary year-to-year, the 2026 schedule will provide insight into the programming provided.
Faculty
Amy West
Clinical Assistant Professor of Dance
Amy West is an Assistant Professor of Dance and the Health & Wellness Coach at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan, where she has been a member of the Dance faculty since 2009. She is also the Director of the MPulse Dance Institute at the University of Michigan, a summer program for high school dancers. Prof. West is a dedicated educator, teaching ballet technique, ballet repertoire, pointe, Teaching Methods & Dance Pedagogy, and the First-Year Seminar, whose curriculum she pioneered. She also mentors senior BFA capstone concerts, guiding students through the final steps of their academic journey.
Her 24-year career as a professional ballet dancer and freelance artist includes performances with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet West, Colorado Ballet, and New Jersey Ballet, as well as principal roles with Nevada Dance Theatre and David Taylor Dance Theatre. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the Santa Fe Opera, Opera Colorado, Seattle Opera, and Dallas Opera. Her international experience includes training and performing with the Deutsche Staatsoper Ballet, Bayerische Staatsoper Ballet, and Paris Opera Ballet, as well as scholarship at the David Howard Studio in New York City. She holds a BFA from the University of Utah, where she received the William F. Christensen Scholarship.
Prof. West is a certified Health & Wellness Coach through the Mayo Clinic and the National Board of Health & Wellness Coaches. She also holds certifications in Personal Training and Health Coaching through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), as well as Pilates, Essentrics, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and Nutrition through Precision Nutrition. Through her practice, Amy West Wellness, she brings together her expertise in movement, wellness, and nutrition to offer personalized coaching and workshops for musicians, elite athletes, and everyday movers, with an emphasis on helping individuals cultivate strength, resilience, and well-being throughout their lives.
At the Michigan Ice Dance Academy, founded by Olympic medalists Charlie White and Tanith Belbin, she served as ballet coach, wellness coach, and on-ice coach for internationally ranked ice dancers. Her past teaching credits include the New Jersey School of Ballet, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, David Taylor Dance Theatre, and guest teaching with the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artists Program. She also founded The Dancer’s Studio in Littleton, Colorado.
Prof. West has made significant contributions as a choreographer, producer, curator, and fundraiser. She choreographed Oklahoma! and Annie at The Encore Musical Theatre Company and has created and produced benefit performances supporting ALS research and awareness. In May 2024, she curated and produced Women Defining Themselves, followed in May 2026 by The Women Who Move Us, both benefit fundraisers supporting the Scott Pranger ALS Center at Michigan Medicine.
Prof. West presents regularly at national and international conferences, including the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Drawing on decades of experience as a performer, educator, and wellness professional, she brings a unique perspective to supporting individuals in building sustainable, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Eligibility & Audition Requirements
Eligibility
The MPulse Dance Institute is open to students entering grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) in the Fall of 2027.
Audition Requirements
Students must submit FOUR separate video files. Please submit no more than the video files requested. Details are listed below.
Introductory Section – Video 1
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- Personal Statement: Student Introduction (15-30 seconds)
- A brief close-up shot in which you state your full name, current city, state, and country of residence.
- A brief description of your training and background in dance, including current teacher(s), the genres of dance you are currently studying or have studied, and the number of years of dance training in each genre.
- A brief statement about why you are passionate about dance, why you want to study at Mpulse Dance Institute, or something else interesting about yourself.
- Personal Statement: Student Introduction (15-30 seconds)
Performance Section – Video 2, 3 & 4
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- Video 2: Preferred Movement Technique (2 minutes max)
- Up to 2 minutes in any technique or style that you do regularly. This may include no more than two styles. These videos should showcase the skills that best represent you as a dancer, highlighting your strengths.
- Remember that each dance technique has different values and skills. Please be sure to demonstrate the physical and artistic values of the specific technique or style you choose. Your selection should demonstrate your skill level in that technique, along with its complexity, depth, and range.
- Be sure to perform class exercises/movements that feature:
- Your ability to move with musicality or rhythmic sensitivity
- Your physical coordination necessary for the technique that involves moving in place and through space
- Video 3: Solo (1 minute max)
- Perform a solo, either during a recital or from material from a recital, in your preferred style. This section may include videos or YouTube links of a dance work you’ve done in the last 18 months. If the video is of an ensemble or group work, please indicate who/where you are in the video. Costumes are allowed. We are trying to get a sense of who you are.
- Video 4: Improvisation (1 minute max)
- Submit an unedited video of dance improvisation. All styles, expressions, and audio choice are welcome.
- Please do not exceed one minute of movement.
- Video 2: Preferred Movement Technique (2 minutes max)
Letter of Recommendation: Applicants must submit one teacher evaluation (artistic teacher or mentor(s) preferred), academic teacher, or non-relative who can speak directly to the student’s academic aptitude, potential, and classroom performance.
Please note – Applicants will need to provide the email address for their recommender via the Acceptd application platform. Recommenders will then privately submit their letters of recommendation via Acceptd. Your recommender will not be prompted to submit your recommendation until you hit “submit” on your application. Please make sure your recommendation is also in by the deadline given above.
Tips for audition videos:
- Please dress so we can see your movement and body clearly. Baggy clothing can obscure the movement and lines of the body.
- Ensure you have enough distance between you and the camera so that we can see your whole body.
- Provide clear, audible, close-up, AND distance views within the aforementioned videos
MPulse Scholarships
Merit Awards
A limited number of scholarships are available for extremely talented students based on Faculty discretion. Consideration for these scholarships is automatic for applications received by the priority application deadline.
Need-Based Awards
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $125,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:
- Monthly Expenses
- Previous Year’s Tax Return
- Statement of Need
Watson Scholarship (For Michigan Residents Only)
In the spirit of the life of a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1942) and Michigan physician, the Watson A. Young Scholarship promotes academic excellence and college aspiration among students with financial need. These need-based scholarships support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U-M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education. More information about the Watson Scholarship.
Housing Accommodation Information
High school-aged participants are required to live on campus and stay in the Bursley Hall dormitory. Programs that include adult students (18+) may elect to live on campus, and will stay in the Baits II dormitory. Both buildings are on the University of Michigan’s North Campus and are a short walk from where most classes and events will be held. Participants should be aware of the following information regarding the dorms:
- Neither dormitory has air conditioning in the dorm rooms.
- Rooms are double occupancy. Bathrooms are shared between hall-mates in typical dorm style. Roommate requests can be submitted to [email protected].
- Linens / pillows / toiletries are not provided. Participants should be prepared to bring all necessary items to live in the dorms. The bed size is Twin-XL for purposes of securing bedsheets. Room & board are included in the price of tuition.
Meal Information
Participants will receive meals in Bursley Dining Hall located in Bursley Hall, a short walk down from Baits. Participants can access Bursley’s daily menu via the link provided.
Contact Us
MPulse Summer Performing Arts Institutes
Office of Engagement & Outreach-Youth & Adult Programs
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Stearns Building │ 2005 Baits Drive │ Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-936-2660
Email: [email protected]
Emails and phone lines are monitored at the following times
Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm EST