HARRISONBURG, VA – Join Shannon Hummel and Cora Dance artists for a summer youth dance camp experience where movement, storytelling, and creativity come
together. Designed for rising 7th–10th graders of all abilities, this immersive program invites participants to explore dance as a powerful tool for expression, connection, and performance. According to a press release, whether you’re a seasoned dancer, a theater or music enthusiast, an athlete, or simply curious about movement and creativity, this Court Square Theater (CST) camp is for you.

Add Water, Make Dance, a collaboration between CST and Cora Dance, meets July 7-11. CST also offers Discovering Musical Theater (rising grades 1-4, July 14-19) and Exploring Musical Theater (rising grades 5-8, July 21-26). Financial-need-based scholarships are available for each camp; scholarships are provided in part by The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County, Earlynn J. Miller Fund for the Arts.

Dance camp meets Monday-Thursday 9 am to 4 pm. Friday’s schedule begins at 10 am and concludes with a 5:30 pm showcase.

The Early Bird fee – valid through April 30 – is $299. Beginning May 1, registrants will pay the full price of $349. Registration closes June 2, unless the maximum number of participants is reached prior to that date.

Information, registration forms, and scholarship applications for Dance Camp are available at courtsquaretheater.org/act-one/cora-dance-camp.

Visit courtsquaretheater.org/act-one/summer-theater-camp for information on this summer’s two Musical Theater Camps.

Led by Shannon Hummel and Ammara Shafqat, Add Water, Make Dance includes explorations of contemporary dance, improvisation, and movement games to build confidence, coordination, and creativity. Participants will translate their ideas and personal experiences into dynamic choreography and use team-based activities to spark imagination, build trust, and encourage
bold artistic choices. Short creative writing exercises will also support dancemaking, and a culminating performance showcase brings everything together, highlighting the collaborative and individual artistry of each participant.

Founded in 1998, Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance performs the work of choreographer and arts educator, Shannon Hummel. The professional company is a dynamic cohort of artists, educators, and community advocates who work collaboratively to create and perform Hummel’s detailed and emotionally powerful choreography, on tour across the United States and in two dedicated education hubs: Cora Dance Alleghany in the Alleghany Highlands of VA and Cora Dance Brooklyn in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. Artistic Director Hummel, who lives in Clifton Forge, previously served on the faculty at her alma mater James Madison University.

Ammara Shafqat is a dance educator, performer, and arts administrator from Harrisonburg who has worked professionally throughout the state as well as in New York City. She holds a BA in Dance from James Madison University, where she was a member of JMU’s pre-professional touring company, the Virginia Repertory Dance Company, as well as serving as the Co-Director of JMU’s Associate Dance Ensemble for first-year dance majors. Now in her 4th season working with the company, Associate Director Ammara heads the Cora Dance Alleghany team.