Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa Announces 2026 Summer Intensives and New Documentary Filmmaking Initiative

Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa is opening its 2026 Summer Intensives with four extraordinary weeks of training led by master instructors from Tampa Bay and around the world. This year’s guest faculty includes Anaïs Roy, Iliana Babadjanova, Nathan Smith, Brian Gonzalez, Kennedy Brown, Esnel Ramos, and Olivier Munoz, Osmani Montano, and Yvonne Lemus each bringing a lifetime of artistry shaped by international stages and respected companies. Alongside the Ovations faculty, they offer students the highest level of professional dance education.

Ovations founder Orlando Pena said, “I’m excited for the intensive workshops that we are having, inviting all these internationally recognized instructors to the Tampa area. We get the opportunity to transform these kids into beautiful technicians, but most importantly, pass on the passion and love of the arts and dance. They’ll be focused on ballet and contemporary daily.”

Subscribe

The intensive is designed to nurture the whole dancer. Students ages 7 to 19 work in small groups that allow for individual attention and meaningful growth. Technique, artistry, creativity, strength, and a focused mindset are woven into every class. Many dancers describe the program as a place where they build lifelong friendships, discover new confidence, and form connections that reach far beyond the studio.

Each week includes Vaganova technique, Pointe, Variation, Character, Contemporary, Modern, Partnering, and choreography that will be performed in the studio on the final day. With faculty from Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Bulgarian National Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Tampa City Ballet, the National Ballet of Cuba, and Nashville Ballet, students train with artists who understand the demands and rewards of a professional career.

Pena added, “By offering intensive camps throughout the summer, students can take time for other activities and still come back to take intensives. Our teaching team includes artists from many countries, along with faculty who studied under Alicia Alonso, the renowned ballerina from the Moscow ballet.”

This year, Ovations is also welcoming documentary filmmaker Noah C. Haeussner to capture the intensive from the inside. With more than two decades of experience in film, television, documentary, and commercial production, Haeussner has worked with major studios including Warner Bros., Paramount, Sony Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. His producing credits include Arctic, Shawn Mendes: In Wonder, Janis: Little Girl Blue, Introducing Selma Blair, and No Cameras Allowed, along with commercial campaigns for global brands such as Volkswagen, Microsoft, Amazon, and the NFL.

The project is part of an immersive filmmaking initiative designed to bring together emerging filmmakers, actors, writers, and creatives through hands‑on collaboration, mentorship, and real‑world production experience. Haeussner will follow dancers through their daily work, offering a rare look at the discipline, imagination, and community that shape the Ovations experience. As he explains, “Dance and filmmaking are both collaborative art forms that require discipline, creativity, and trust. What Orlando Pena and the Ovations team have created is truly inspiring. I’m honored to document the journey of these young artists and capture the passion and community that make this program so special.”

Participants in the filmmaking initiative explore the full arc of production, from directing and writing to cinematography, editing, and producing. The curriculum includes a two‑week training period that leads into a professionally organized 48 Hour Film Challenge and a global premiere event, with opportunities for mentorship and international exposure through potential partnerships with organizations such as Cinemagic and other global film communities.

Haeussner shared a final reflection on the collaboration: “The Ovations Summer Intensives are about more than dance. They are about possibility. They remind us that when young people are given expert guidance, meaningful opportunities, and a supportive community, they can achieve extraordinary things. I look forward to capturing the artistry, dedication, and heart that make Ovations Dance Academy such a special place.”

Pena said, “My goal is to keep raising the bar, so our students have access to instructors who help them grow as artists in ballet, musical theater, and new opportunities like filmmaking and acting for the camera.”

Summer Intensives run June 15 through August 7 with weekly sessions from 9am to 3pm. Saturday workshops with Iliana Babadjanova and Ivonne Lemus are also available. Registration and full program details can be found at ovationsdanceoftampa.com.