Summer Dance Intensive 2024

Clarence McDorman received his ballet training from Dame Sonia Arova and Larry Long, both hailed by The New York Times in the 1980s as preeminent ballet teachers in the U.S. Clarence danced professionally with Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet, Ruth Page Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, NevadaBallet Theatre and choreographed the musical "Fairy Tales" off- Broadway. A dramatic dancer, he has portrayed principal character roles in much of the classical repertoire, such as LordCapulet in "Romeo and Juliet", Von Rothbart in "Swan Lake", Dr. Coppelius in "Coppelia", and Drosselmeyer in "Nutcracker". Clarence also danced in numerous opera ballets coached by Maria Tallchief. As a ballet instructor, Clarence has been Principal Teacher for Ballet Academy of Texas, Ballet Conservatory of Asheville, International Ballet Academy (SC) and BirminghamBallet Academy, and has served as Ballet Master for the respective pre professional companies of these schools. He served as an adjunct Professor of Ballet for the School for Classical andContemporary Dance at Texas Christian University, Interim School Director for The School ofBallet Indiana, and been a part time upper level teacher for Greenville Ballet School. Guest teaching includes ABT National Audition Tour, Interlochen Summer Institute, and the Jacobs School at Indiana University. Choreography includes original ballets for The Fine Arts Center inSouth Carolina, Winter Works Asheville, and Arkansas Festival Ballet. His students have gone on to dance with ABT, NYCB, on Broadway, at Juilliard, and have won full scholarships to all of the major ballet schools in the country. Clarence coached an advanced male protege to win"Best Male Dancer" at the American Ballet Competition two years in a row and has had numerous students invited to compete at YAGP Finals. He holds a Master's degree in Ballet Pedagogy from NYU and ABT, graduating with a perfect Grade Point Average for the entire program, and he has achieved ABT Affiliate Teacher status in years past presenting advanced students for ABT Exams. In 2010, Clarence was featured in Dance Teacher Magazine for his work with ABT Curriculum. In 2023, he was a popular teacher of intermediate/advanced Adult Ballet at Houston Ballet Academy. Currently, Clarence is on faculty with Covington RegionalBallet in the Atlanta metro area, teaching the pre professional levels.

Merryn McKeough is an Atlanta-based choreographer and movement artist. An Emory University graduate, Merryn danced with the Emory Dance Company for four years and

presented work at ACDA, receiving highest honors in dance and movement studies. In Atlanta,

performances and choreography have included Play. Risk. Research., the Center for Puppetry Arts’ XPT, Bautanzt Here at Elevate Atlanta, Dance Canvas, Beacon Dance’s Moving Bodies/Moving Hearts/Moving Minds, and Fall for Fall Dance Festival. Merryn’s choreographic

interests lie at the intersection of movement, people, and play.