Summer program gives students chance to hone, showcase talent

By Aaron Crespo

Published: June 17, 2006

LONE WOLF — For many Oklahoma teenagers, summer is the time to catch up on sleep, lounge around the pool or take up a job. But for 275 of the state’s teens, summer means early mornings, long hours and isolation.

Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain

And the students of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain wouldn’t have their summer any other way.

“I love it and I’m mad that I didn’t come earlier,” said Cameelah Pennington, a student at Classen High School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City. She is training in modern dance under Timothy Harling, who has danced in shows all around the world.

More than 1,000 students from across the state auditioned for modern dance, along with eight other disciplines, for the chance to attend the two-week session. All students who are accepted receive a full scholarship.

Once there, students participate in their art form and that of all the students and teachers in the institute. The performances, which continue through June 25, often show that collaboration.

“It’s such a great program, like there’s nothing like this in New York City. New York City is cutting all its arts funding and everything,” said Heidi Reinberg, 45, one of the film teachers at the institute. Reinberg and co-teacher Ross Kauffman, 38, have two weeks to create a film with their students.

“They were very clear at the outset, ‘You have to have a movie done in two weeks,’ and that’s a huge, huge challenge,” Kauffman said.

The documentaries that Kauffman and Reinberg are known for usually take years to create.

For the students, the institute is an opportunity to work with top artists.

“Awesome music, some of the best music I’ve played,” said Cameron Daniels, 17, a Putnam City student.

Daniels was accepted in the orchestra program for bass. During his two weeks, he will work with two award-winning conductors.

The experiences during the two weeks bring some students and teachers back year after year.

“Different instructors have different takes,” said Julie Wright, 18, of Stillwater, who came to the program two years ago before returning this year. “OSAI is whatever the instructor wants it to be and whatever the students want to make it.”

Wright, who is studying drawing and painting, said she hopes the experience she receives from teacher Jakki Kouffman will give her an advantage when she starts college this fall at Harvard University.

In addition to their own classes and all performances, all students at the institute attend special classes for activities such as ballroom and hip-hop dancing.

For more information on the summer performances or other events, call the arts institute at (580) 563-3002 or visit http://oaiquartz.com/.