Trollwood Academy Summer Classes

Choose from 26 different classes in the performing and production arts! Whether your interests lie in classic or contemporary musical theatre, acting, dance, improvisation, film, or jazz ensemble, you will be able to immerse yourself in the perfect learning opportunities. Make your own schedule – you can sign up for 1 to 4 classes daily in June!

Grades: 8th through graduated seniors (all grades refer to the 2022-2023 school year)

Dates: June 5-28, 2023, Monday-Friday.

Times:
Period 1  9:00am – 10:20am
Period 2  10:30am – 11:50am
Period 3  1:00pm – 2:20pm
Period 4  2:30pm – 3:50pm

Location: Trollwood Performing Arts School – 801 50th Ave S, Moorhead, MN

Fees: See Program Fees page here

CLASS PLACEMENT VERIFICATION
In order for students to learn as much as possible in their classes at Trollwood, instructors will informally assess the skill level of each participant. Teachers may make recommendations during the first day that could include suggesting another class or option that would better meet the student’s needs.

Bus Transportation: Trollwood will offer bus transportation to Trollwood Performing Arts School from various pickup points in Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead and back again. Routes will run prior to 9:00 am and again after 4:00 pm, allowing you to participate in a full day of programming at Trollwood.

For just $100.00, you may ride the bus both ways, only one way, or switch it up from day to day! Refer to Student Services for schedule/locations.

Trollwood Performing Arts School is committed to safety and will monitor COVID-19 guidelines. Trollwood reserves the right to alter or cancel programming if deemed necessary. In the event of cancellation due to COVID-19, Trollwood will refund program registration fees. Otherwise, all registration fees are non-refundable.

TROLLWOOD ACADEMY
Grades 8-12

(all grades refer to the 2022-2023 school year)

Period 1 (9:00am-10:20am):

Modern/Contemporary Dance
A class that builds on the fundamentals of modern & contemporary. Using traditional warm-up exercises and rhythmic dance sequences, the class builds strength, flexibility and coordination skills.  Emphasis is placed on expressiveness and style.  Students will be challenged to improve turns and extensions and move quicker and larger through space.

Musical Theatre – Rock Vocals
Love those pop/rock musicals? Learn the techniques needed to hit just the right note and have your vocals soar! Use dynamics, emphasis, and inflection for the correct tone and find increased confidence as a performer.

Intermediate Acting – Scene Study
For actors who already have a solid foundation in performance, intermediate acting refines and strengthens technique.  Dig deeper into character motivation, subtext, and more to fully shape your performance and really bring your characters to life!

Film Studies
Love watching movies?  Want to better understand what makes them so incredible?  This class will screen and analyze clips from popular movies, breaking down storytelling secrets such as the importance of setting, how camera movement underlines a scene, how to disguise exposition, how costuming, lighting and even the actors’ blocking all help to establish a tone–and much, much more!  From classics to contemporary films, we will explore every genre to find out why we all love going to the movies so much!  Popcorn is optional.

Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience – Costuming
High school students interested in the using their talents to create the beautiful costume pieces, should sign up for this Trollwood Academy class entitled: Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience:  Costuming.  Be a part of bringing the Mainstage Musical to life!

Period 2 (10:30am-11:50am):

Dance Improv & Choreography
This class helps build an understanding of creating meaning in dance. Students will be challenged to use skills learned in technique class to create their own choreography.  Dancers will focus on becoming more expressive in their movements. The class will explore dance improvisation games, compositional exercises and dance technique.

Show Choir
Can’t get enough singing and dancing?  Show Choir is designed for the more advanced singer and stage performer. Students will study and perform music from pop, rock and Broadway genres. Additionally, stage movement, more advanced choreography, and stage presence will be incorporated. Students will perform as an ensemble for Sun Celebration.

Intermediate/Advanced Improv – CLASS FULL!
Improvisers will begin to experiment with longer, more complicated handles (games with particular structures and rules) leading to long form improvisation.  Building on the principles introduced and mastered in Beginning Improvisation, students will begin to enhance relationships, status, and plot and perform longer open scenes.  Class participants will be given greater theatrical problems to solve alone and in groups.  More attention will be given to working interactively with audiences, analyzing the effectiveness of scenes, listening, and taking time to build a story.

Conservatory – Musical Theatre (weeks 3 & 4 – sign up for periods 2 & 3) – CLASS FULL!
For our most advanced musical theatre student, this program will enhance your triple threat skills. Learn from professionals in the industry to build your musical theatre acting, dance, and vocal technique. In collaboration with fellow artists, combine your skills to create show-stopping numbers that will wow any audience!

Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience – Lights & Sound
High school students interested in the using their talents to help create that magical lights and sound for the Mainstage, should sign up for this Trollwood Academy class entitled: Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience:  Lights & Sound.  Be a part of bringing the Mainstage Musical to life!

Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience – Set, Paint, Props
High school students interested in the using their talents to create the amazing set & props, should sign up for this Trollwood Academy class entitled: Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience:  Set/Paint/Props.  Be a part of bringing the Mainstage Musical to life!

Period 3 (1:00pm-2:20pm):

Dance for Stage
Embrace your inner Broadway star!  Improve your dance skills while enjoying classic and contemporary musical theatre tunes.  Strengthen your dance memory while learning various combinations to your favorite shows!

Musical Theatre Vocal – Acting the Song
Combine your growing acting and vocal chops in this intermediate scene acting the song class.  Start with a snippet of a scene to set the tone and then break into song in true musical theatre style.  This class will help you learn to “act the song” a crucial component of the art of musical theatre.

Stage Combat – CLASS FULL!
There are few things as thrilling as watching a well-executed fight scene in a movie or play. In addition to the thrills, stage combat can serve as an essential tool to inform character and advance plot. The tricky thing is how to pull off these complicated moves without getting hurt, or hurting your partner! The answer is proper technique, control, and practice! This class will introduce students to the basic elements of Stage Combat. To begin, students will learn how to tumble and fall (safely!) and progress to punches, slaps, kicks, and grappling. Students will also choreograph a short fight scene as a final project.

Songwriting
Immerse yourself in the art of songwriting. Hone your craft in both music and lyric writing. Receive expert support and feedback on your original material. You’ll also learn about the tools you’ll need to write and record your music.

Conservatory – Musical Theatre (weeks 3 & 4 – sign up for periods 2 & 3) – CLASS FULL!
For our most advanced musical theatre student, this program will enhance your triple threat skills. Learn from professionals in the industry to build your musical theatre acting, dance, and vocal technique. In collaboration with fellow artists, combine your skills to create show-stopping numbers that will wow any audience!

Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience – Lights & Sound
High school students interested in the using their talents to help create that magical lights and sound for the Mainstage, should sign up for this Trollwood Academy class entitled: Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience:  Lights & Sound.  Be a part of bringing the Mainstage Musical to life!

Period 4 (2:30pm-3:50pm):

Tap Dance
A class that focuses on intermediate to advanced levels of tap dancing. The course continues to build skills and confidence in tap steps, foot patterns and tap improvisation. For the more experienced tapper, the class will build upon the fundamentals, focusing on increased levels of difficulty and cleaner sound.

Musical Theatre Vocal Audition Prep
This is the perfect class to help you prepare for your next auditions! Students will learn to sing in varying musical theatre styles. Assistance will be given in choosing audition song selections and preparing cut versions of songs. Emphasis will be on delivering a musical theatre sound via healthy vocal technique.

On Camera Acting & Auditioning
Gain acting skills and confidence in front of the camera, whether for film, television, or social media.  This class gives actors the chance to learn and practice screen acting techniques in a safe and supportive environment.  All actors will get the experience of working in front of a camera, as well as learn tips such as how to “hit your mark”, pace your performance, work within the framing of close-ups or wides and more.  Students will get the opportunity to act in Moviemaking class short films as a part of their final projects.  Lights. Camera. Action!

Moviemaking – CLASS FULL!
For those that are interested in stepping up their moviemaking game, this class will delve further into how to write, produce, direct and edit your own 10-15 minute narrative project.  Whether you’re looking to recreate a scene from your favorite movie, make a music video or create your own short film, this class will give you the tools you need to push your filmmaking skills to the next level by learning to use more sophisticated editing software, as well as analyzing clips from big budget Hollywood movies and more!

Voice & Movement for the Actor
Do you sometimes fell awkward on stage?  Do you have a hard time projecting and articulating your lines? Do you feel like your voice and movements aren’t expressing your full range of emotion? Then this class is for you! Learn how to release inhibitions and integrate movement, sound, and emotion in your performance. Learn how to increase your stage presence with greater movement and voice freedom and emotion.

Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience – Costuming
High school students interested in the using their talents to create the beautiful costume pieces, should sign up for this Trollwood Academy class entitled: Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience:  Costuming.  Be a part of bringing the Mainstage Musical to life!

Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience – Hair/Makeup
High school students interested in the using their talents to create & apply the beautiful hair and makeup for the Mainstage Musical, should sign up for this Trollwood Academy class entitled: Mainstage Musical Tech Theatre Experience:  Hair/Makeup.  Be a part of bringing the Mainstage Musical to life!

TROLLWOOD ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS


Creg Sclavi

Creg Sclavi
Stage Combat

Creg is excited to begin teaching this summer at Trollwood Performing Arts School. Having earned his BFA in Musical Theatre from UW-Stevens Point and his MFA in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, Creg works nationwide as an actor, director, singer, musician, and educator.

Notable performing credits include: National Tours — Hair, Million Dollar Quartet, Evil Dead: The Musical. Regional — The Sound of Music (Asolo Rep), Grease, Miss Saigon (Paramount Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Fireside Dinner Theatre), Harbor (Dog Days Theatre).

Creative team credits include: Director – Go Forth (UWSP Fringe), Associate Director – Next to Normal (Paramount Theatre), Assistant Director – Dead Man’s Cellphone, Composer/Music Supervisor – As You Like It (FSU/Asolo Conservatory), Music Coach – The Burdens (Urbanite Theatre), Assistant Dialect Coach – Murder…Orient Express (Asolo Rep), and he is an ongoing Vocal Director for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

www.cregsclavi.com


Ginny Glaser

Ginny Glaser
Makeup Instructor

Ginny Glaser is a Los Angeles based performer with 20 years of experience as an actress, recording artist, and lyricist. She is a Trollwood alumnus, performing in the Mainstage Musical for five years in such roles as Dorothy (The Wiz), Millie (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Narrator (Joseph), and Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof). She’s thrilled to be with her Fargo friends and family this summer!


Katie Damico<

Katie Damico
Vocal Instructor

Katie Damico is super excited to be returning for another summer at Trollwood!  Katie just finished her 20th year of teaching and currently is the 7-8 choir director at Horizon East Middle School in Moorhead.  In addition to her full time teaching job, Katie also vocal directs the fall musical at Fargo North High School and is an assistant speech coach at Moorhead High School. During her many years working for Trollwood, she has vocal directed and taught for many of the programs, including winter academy, TTA, TA, Artspark and June Session vocal classes.  Katie lives in Moorhead with her husband Daniel, and two children, Isaiah (16) and Lily (13).


Matt Smith
Improv

Matt Smith is an alumni of Trollwood 2017. He currently attends NDSU for English Education and Theatre Arts. He has been learning, teaching, and performing improv for 8 years while being a part of groups such as improvanati at Fargo North High School, Linebenders, and President NDSU’s TBD Comedy. He currently coaches Fargo South High’s Troupe of Donkey Hotey.

Clothing for Trollwood Academy:

Clothes should be comfortable and movable.  Athletic wear works great!
Tops –Tank top, t-shirt, sweatshirt
Bottoms – Sweatpants, long shorts, leggings
Footwear – Appropriate shoes for the class:
Dance:  Ballet, jazz, or clean tennis shoes. Tap shoes if you are taking that section.
(If you need help acquiring dance shoes, please contact Student Services)
Acting, Improv, Musical Theatre, Other:  Clean tennis shoe.  NO sandals or flip-flops.

Please dress in layers as it can be colder in the mornings and hotter in the afternoons!

TROLLWOOD ACADEMY

Grade 8 through 2023 graduated seniors
(all grades refer to 2022-2023 school year)

Trollwood Academy exposes students to the performing arts in several curricular areas.  The applicable standards and benchmarks for this program are listed below.  Not all standards and benchmarks will be addressed in each four week session, but a significant number of them will be represented.

MUSIC

Standard 1: Singing
Students sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

9-12.1.1. Sing with expression and technical accuracy.
9-12.1.2. Sing music written in four or more parts, with and without accompaniment.
9-12.1.3. Sing in small ensembles with one student per part.

Standard 2: Instrumental Performance
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

*This standard is not applicable in Trollwood Academy.

Standard 3: Improvisation
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

9-12.3.1. Improvise stylistically appropriate harmonizing parts.
9-12.3.2. Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations.
9-12.3.3. Improvise original melodies over given chord progressions.

Standard 4: Composition
Students compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.

9-12.4.1. Compose music in several distinct styles.
9-12.4.2. Arrange pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were written in ways that preserve or enhance the expressive effect of the music.

Standard 5: Reading Music
Students read and notate music.

9-12.5.1. Know how to read a score of up to four staves.

Standard 6: Listening
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music.

9-12.6.1. Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
9-12.6.2. Understand technical vocabulary of music.

Standard 7: Evaluating Music
Students evaluate music and music performances.

9-12.7.1. Develop specific criteria for making informed, critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations.
9-12.7.2. Evaluate a given musical work in terms of its aesthetic qualities.

Standard 8: Music and Other Disciplines
Students understand the relationship between music, the other arts, and other disciplines.

9-12.8.1. Know how artistic elements and processes are used in similar and distinctive ways in the various arts.
9-12.8.2. Understand the ways in which the principles and concepts of various disciplines outside the arts are related to those of music.

Standard 9: Music, History, and Culture
Students understand music in relation to history and culture.

9-12.9.1. Know representative examples of music from a variety of cultures and historical periods.
9-12.9.2. Know sources of American music, the evolution of these genres, and musicians associated with them.
9-12.9.3. Know various roles that musicians perform and representative individuals who have functioned in each role.

DRAMA

Standard 1: Dramatic Literature
Students comprehend a wide variety of dramatic literature.

9-12.1.1. Know elements of dramatic literature.
9-12.1.2. Know and describe the elements of scripting.
9-12.1.3. Understand the impact of choice of medium.

Standard 2: Acting
Students use fundamental acting skills.

9-12.2.1.Understand the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of characters found in dramatic texts from various genres and media.
9-12.2.2. Know various classical and contemporary acting techniques and methods.
9-12.2.3. Know how characters as an ensemble communicate with audiences.

Standard 3: Production
Students use fundamental production skills.

9-12.3.1. Use technical elements to design a production plan for a scene or play.
9-12.3.2. Perform publicly and house management duties.
9-12.3.3. Manage a technical element of a scene or play.

Standard 4: Cultural Context of Drama
Students understand drama’s role in cultural and human experiences.

9-12.4.1. Know the historical, social, and cultural factors that influence the theatre.
9-12.4.2. Know characteristics of dramatic genres from a variety of cultures.

Standard 5: Consumer of Theatre
Students understand how to be knowledgeable consumers of theatre.

9-12.5.1. Understand the relationship between production elements and the director’s interpretation of the playwright’s script.
9-12.5.2. Understand the relationship of background research for a production to the audience’s comprehension and enjoyment of the production.

Standard 6: Drama and Human Development
Students understand the role of theatre in human development.

9-12.6.1. Use Understand how drama influences the development of creative thinking skills, critical thinking skills, and social skills throughout one’s life.

Standard 7: Drama and Other Disciplines
Students understand the connections between drama and other disciplines.

9-12.7.1. Know how elements of drama are used in similar and distinctive ways in various arts.
9-12.7.2. Know the ways in which drama influences other disciplines.
9-12.7.3. Know the ways in which other disciplines influence drama.

DANCE

Standard 1: Movement Elements
Students understand the role of movement elements and skills in dance.

9-12.1.1. Use appropriate technique in dance.
9-12.1.2. Know complex steps and patterns from various dance styles and traditions.
9-12.1.3. Understand the importance of using various complex time elements.
9-12.1.4. Understand the principles governing combinations and variations in a broad dynamic range.
9-12.1.5. Understand why it is important to project in dance.

Standard 2: Choreography
Students understand choreographic principles, processes, and structures.

9-12.2.1. Understand the importance of structures and forms of movement.
9-12.2.2. Understand the use of improvisation to generate movement.

Standard 3: Dance and Meaning
Students understand dance as a way to create and communicate meaning.

9-12.3.1. Understand how movement choices are used to relate abstract ideas and themes in dance.
9-12.3.2. Understand how interpretation of dance can be influenced by personal experience.

Standard 4: Dance and Thinking Skills
Students apply critical and creative thinking skills in dance.

9-12.4.1. Establish a set of aesthetic criteria for evaluation.
9-12.4.2. Formulate and answer aesthetic questions.

Standard 5: Dance, History, and Culture
Students understand the historical development of dance and its relationship to various cultures.

9-12.5.1. Know the similarities and differences among various contemporary theatrical forms of dance.
9-12.5.2. Know dance pioneers as an index to the artistic and social values of civilization.
9-12.5.3. Understand how dance and dancers are portrayed in contemporary media.
9-12.5.4. Know the traditions and techniques of classical dance forms.

Standard 6: Dance and Personal Wellness
Students understand the connection between dance and personal wellness.

9-12.6.1. Know how lifestyle choices affect dancers.
9-12.6.2. Understand the significance of historical and cultural images of the body in dance.

Standard 7: Dance and Other Disciplines
Students understand the connections between dance and other disciplines.

9-12.7.1. Know how dance is similar to and different from other disciplines.
9-12.7.2. Know how technology can be used to reinforce, enhance, or alter dances.

VISUAL ARTS

Standard 1: Media, Techniques, and Processes
Students understand and apply media, techniques, and processes.

9-12.1.1. Use visual art media, techniques, and processes to accomplish a purpose in their own works of art.
9-12.1.2. Understand how to create works of visual art that communicate an idea in one or more visual art media.
9-12.1.3. Use visual art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner.

Standard 2: Structure and Function
Students understand how works of art are structured and how visual art has a variety of functions.

9-12.2.1. Understand how the visual art structures and functions are used to accomplish personal, commercial, societal, or other art intentions.
9-12.2.2. Analyze and understand visual art organizational structures and what makes them effective or ineffective in the communication of ideas.

Standard 3: Subject Matter, Themes, Symbols, and Ideas in Visual Art
Students know a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.

9-12.3.1. Understand how to interpret, integrate, and apply subjects, themes, symbols, and ideas in works of art.

Standard 4: Visual Art, History, and Culture
Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.

9-12.4.1. Understand works of art among a variety of historical and cultural contexts in terms of characteristics, functions, and purposes of visual art.
9-12.4.2. Understand relationships among works of art in terms of history, aesthetics, and cultures.

Standard 5: Merits of Visual Art
Students understand the characteristics and merit of one’s own works of art and the visual artwork of others.

9-12.5.1. Understand various intentions of those creating works of art.
9-12.5.2. Understand how works of art are created and their relationships to historical and cultural contexts.
9-12.5.3. Understand how one’s own work of art has purpose and meaning.

Standard 6: Connections
Students make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines.

9-12.6.1. Understand and compare the similarities between the visual arts and the other arts disciplines (performing arts, literature, practical arts) that show common themes, historical periods, and cultural context.
9-12.6.2. Understand and compare the relationship between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum.