Minnesota Dance Theater

Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) is an acclaimed Minneapolis-based dance company and school (founded in 1962) that offers year-round training plus seasonal intensives for young dancers.

MDT’s headline offering during school break is its Summer Program (ages 8–18), a conservatory-style intensive running June 15–July 2, 2026 (with 1–3 week options) and a weekday schedule of 9:30 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. The curriculum is ballet-based but broad and well-rounded, with classes that can include ballet technique, pre-pointe/pointe, men’s rep, contemporary, partnering, choreography, jazz, character, and strength/conditioning (and more), designed for dancers who’ve already mastered ballet fundamentals and want to level up.

MDT also offers additional summer options for younger dancers, so families with littles can look for the young children’s camps (ages ~4–7) alongside the older intensive. In these fun-filled weeklong camps (from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., with some half-day options)), young dancers discover the joy of movement, music, and imagination. They enhance their coordination, develop fundamental dance skills, and challenge themselves by learning basic choreography. Ballet classes are held daily in the morning, and are supplemented with afternoon jazz classes, choreography, themed arts and crafts, stretching and conditioning, and storytime & dance media, culminiating in an end of week performance to show off for family and friends.

June 15 - August 7, 2026

528 Hennepin Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55403

4 - 7 Years‍

• Half-day: $280/week
• Full-day: $395/week

‍Discounts:

• 4-year olds: 10% discount applies if they sign up for both half-day weeks in July and August
• 5-6-year olds: 10% discount applies if they sign up for both full-day weeks in July and August (half-days are not eligible for discount)
• 6-7-year olds: 10% discount applies if they sign up for both full-day weeks in July and August (half-days are not eligible for discount)
• An additional 5% sibling discount will also be applied automatically if you register two or more students at the same time.

‍8 - 18 Years
$467 - $550/week

‍Discounts:

• A 10% discount will automatically be applied at checkout if your dancer commits to all three weeks.
• An additional 5% sibling discount will also be applied automatically if you register two or more students at the same time.

Programs can be registered for online here.

info@mndance.org

‍Contact Us Form

What Parents Like

• Strong training + “best school” reputation in the community. Multiple public recommendations describe MDT as a top-tier training environment in Minnesota, citing high-caliber teachers and the foundation it gave dancers (skills + passion). (1)
• Kids thrive and families stick with it for years. A grandparent review says the training program gave their grandchildren “the opportunity to thrive,” and another family notes they’re “so thankful” they chose MDT for their daughter over multiple years. (1)
• Faculty gets explicitly named and praised. One parent explicitly calls out “fantastic school and fantastic faculty,” even naming a teacher they loved—always a good sign when families feel the instruction is personal and memorable. (1)

‍What Parents Think Could Be Improved‍

• The most verifiable “parent voice” online tends to be short recommendations about MDT as a school, rather than detailed breakdowns of the summer intensive day-to-day (grouping, pace, workload, etc.), which parents should keep in mind.

‍Our Take

‍The clearest online signal is that families value MDT for serious, high-quality training and faculty, and that kids tend to grow and thrive in the program—exactly what parents want if they’re choosing a conservatory-style summer experience. This is something to keep top of mind when in your search; are you looking for a fun, fluffy introduction to dance and movement, or do you want structure with the expectation your child will excel in this sport?