How our Summer Academies Remain Free

This spring, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens announced a NEW format for its summer youth academies in classical music and dance that enable Casa Romantica to give the gift of arts education to 50% more children. 

Music students previously participated in a two-week academy for all levels of experience. Now, they can participate in either:

• a 1-week Music Workshop with limited or no prior music instruction, or 
• a 1-week intermediate Music Academy with at least 3 years of prior experience. 

All students will receive private individual and group instruction in cello, viola, violin, or piano, with an emphasis on Western Classical Music from 1750-present.

Dance students can participate in a two-week Dance Academy with two tracks; one for intermediate dancers and one for advanced dancers. All dancers will receive ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary lessons.

Beyond lessons, Casa Romantica’s academies provide participants with a real-world look at the impact of music and dance on society today. They discover history’s greatest composers and choreographers, learn to read and compose music, see how music and dance are incorporated into film, and explore careers directly – and indirectly – related to music and dance.

Each program is tuition-free with a fully refundable $200 deposit securing students’ registration. Once the academies end, families can choose to redeem their deposit OR donate their deposit back to Casa Romantica. It’s a great way to make performing arts accessible to underserved children in our community. 

But how can they remain free? 

Casa Romantica’s summer youth academies in classical music and dance are able to remain free because of gifts from individuals and businesses who support arts education for children. 

The Music Academy and Classical Music Workshop are underwritten by Tom and Grace Lieblein with support from the Margaret Redmond Music Education Endowment, the Colburn Foundation, and from Jeff Beals and Brandi Outwin. 

The Dance Academy is underwritten with support from Bonnie Koch. Additionally, our students and their families are so appreciative of our program that 48% donate their deposits back to Casa Romantica. 

How can you help support Casa Romantica’s Summer Academies? 

If you are interested in providing underwriting support for one of Casa Romantica’s programs, please contact us at (949) 498-2139 or email Jacqui Groseth, Development Director at [email protected] to request more information.