Regional Dance America presents the 2026 Performance Workshop

RDA’s Performance Workshop offers dancers from across the nation a unique opportunity to train with world class faculty in our signature trusted environment. Each day features energizing technique classes in ballet, pointe & variations, and contemporary styles, along with repertory and personalized coaching sessions. Each day will culminate in a performance demonstration of the variations and rep learned during the day.

Dancers must be at least 12 years of age and studying dance at an intermediate to advanced level.

Online Application & Registration – RDA Associates
All RDA Dancers receive automatic acceptance to the Performance Workshop and may register at any time. Apply for scholarship consideration through RDA’s Online Scholarship & Recruitment Process.

• Tuition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600
• Two application deadline options for RDA’s Online Scholarship & Recruitment Process:
  • December 1, 2025 (Option 1) or January 19, 2026 (Option 2)
  • Applications are reviewed and scholarships awarded in accordance with RDA’s Online Scholarship & Recruitment Process timeline.
• Registration closes May 15, 2026 or when spaces fill.

Kristopher Estes-Brown is an American multidisciplinary artist who has created works as a choreographer, composer, and theater director.

As a choreographer, he is best known for his athletic, expressive movement style, unique musicality, and eye-catching theatricality. Estes- Brown has created over 90 original contemporary dance pieces as well as 8 full-length story ballets. His stage works have been performed all across the United States and Europe by numerous dance companies with great acclaim. In 2015, Estes-Brown founded Concept Zero, a contemporary music and dance company. There, he has created six acclaimed evening- length multimedia productions that fuse original music, dance, film, and stagecraft. In 2022, Estes-Brown was appointed Resident Choreographer for both Mareck Dance and Milwaukee Ballet 2, and in 2023, he received a commission from the National Choreographer’s Initiative. His choreography has earned numerous honors, including Regional Dance America’s Emerging Choreographer Award. Most recently, he was named a 2025 Bogliasco Fellow, and his work can also be seen in the Sundance short film Crude Oil.

As a composer, Estes-Brown’s music melds a big cinematic sound with dance theater aesthetics. His commissions include original scores for notable choreographers and theater producers nationwide, and his musical compositions can be found in short films and digital media offerings. Estes-Brown has created over 50 original musical scores through collaborations with groups as Circus Scorpius, Pegasus Ballet, Ballet 314, Milwaukee Ballet, Moving Arts, and Renverse Ballet.

Estes-Brown studied both classical dance and music while growing up in his hometown of Kansas City. Eventually, he would go on to dance professionally in many ballet companies across the United States including Milwaukee Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and Eugene Ballet. After performing professionally, Estes-Brown directed the American Youth Ballet for 15 years where he created works specifically for the training and education of young dancers. Alongside his work with AYB, Estes-Brown was the Director of the Upper Level Academy at the American Dance Center, a professional ballet training academy. He also had the honor of being selected as the Regional Dance America Adjudicator for the MidStates Region in 2023 and currently serves as RDA’s Programs Director.

2026 Faculty to be announced soon!

Below is a sample schedule to give you an idea of what a day will look like at the Performance Workshop. Please be mindful that schedules are subject to change.

*Dancers should arrive 15 minutes before first class and depart no more than 15 minutes after nightly demonstration.

Dancers – Tuition only
RDA Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600
Non-RDA Associates  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $650

Location – Kingwood, Texas
Kingwood Ballet
2755 W Lake Houston Pkwy., Kingwood, TX 77339

– Host families may be available on a first come, first serve basis. Email programs@regionaldanceamerica.org to be added to the list.
– Unsupervised Housing at local hotels, Airbnb, etc.

Additional Fees

• Optional: In addition to tuition, there may be housing and meal fees depending on your Host Family needs.
• Optional: Performance Workshop merchandise options (with prices listed) are available for purchase within your online registration.

Tuition Policies

• Tuition will be billed in two installments:
  • A non-refundable $250 deposit due upon registration
  • The remaining registration balance due within 30 days of registration, or by May 15, 2026, whichever date comes first
• All scholarships received will be subtracted off the total payment due and reflected in the invoice(s) that follow.
• Any Participant who has not paid in full by May 15, 2026 will not be allowed to participate in Regional Dance America’s Performance Workshop, and any registration deposit paid will be forfeited.
• Regional Dance America accepts PayPal, checks*, cashier’s checks, or credit/debit cards. All payments are non-transferable. *If a check is returned for any reason, a $25 fee will be charged.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to programs@regionaldanceamerica.org.

2026 Facilities information coming soon!

Dress Code & Items to Pack

For Dancers

• For ballet classes: Solid colored leotard and pink tights with pink ballet slippers or flesh tone tights with flesh tone ballet slippers (ballet slippers or pointe shoes must match the color of the dancer’s tights to elongate the leg line), OR fitted solid color t-shirt or leotard, black tights, and white ballet shoes with white socks.
• For modern, contemporary, and jazz classes:  Black tights, leggings, or dance shorts recommended. Alternatively, dancers may wear their pink or flesh colored tights.
• For hip-hop classes: Dance sneakers are recommended but not required. Please be sure your shoes have clean soles to protect the studio floor.
• For ballroom classes: Character shoes are recommended but not required. Jazz shoes are an acceptable substitute for character shoes.
• Ballet skirts are permitted at the discretion of the teacher; no leg warmers during class. Warmups and sweatpants will only be permitted in hip-hop classes.
• Hair must be swept back and secured up from the face. Braids and locs are encouraged but should not exceed a length much lower than the shoulder. The thickness of the braids or locks should allow for a safe, secure, appropriately sized bun that does not move. Dancers with short hair must keep their hair neat, secure and away from the face.
• Dance socks are permissible at the discretion of the teacher or choreographer. Please bring options! While packing for the PW, be sure to include ballet slippers, jazz shoes, pointe shoes, dance sneakers, and black socks along with an assortment of colored leotards, tights, skirts, etc.
• Modest personal jewelry is permitted as long it does not risk injury to the dancer. No dangly earrings or smart watches.
• Please bring options! While packing, be sure to include ballet slippers, jazz shoes, pointe shoes, dance sneakers, and black socks along with an assortment of colored leotards, tights, skirts, etc.

General Packing List

Dancewear

• Assorted Leotards or Fitted Dance Shirts & Tights (Pink and/or Flesh tone, Black)
• Black Leggings and Dance Shorts
• Dance skirts and/or pants
• Studio Warm-ups and/or Sweat pants
• Ballet, Pointe, Jazz Shoes, Dance Sneakers (Character Shoes if you have them. Not Required.)
• Black or Skin-Tone Dance Socks
• Hair Supplies (brush, comb, bobby pins, hair ties, hairnets, hairspray)
• Band aids, blister supplies, KT Tape (RDA will have first aid supplies on-site, too)
• Sewing Kit (or back up shoes and tights!)

Miscellaneous

• Dance Journal
• Phone Charger
• Headphones
• Wallet and Identification (if applicable)
• Umbrella
• Reusable Water Bottle
• Light snacks (for your room and/or dance bag)

Please label all items with the Participant’s name.

2026 Policies, Contacts & Checklists information coming soon!