Love is...love

Dear Friends,

When we were brainstorming the theme for Summer 2025, we wanted to choose something that opposed the stress, loneliness, and global conflict that our students are surrounded with in their daily lives. LOVE was the obvious choice. At every turn this summer, we saw that LOVE has an incredible ability to multiply.

In Theater, we saw LOVE in community in "Oliver!" where a rag-tag ensemble of misfit characters finds support in one another. We saw these same sentiments mirrored in students encouraging one another to be brave in auditions and in Last Day Cabaret. From the Theater Department, we also saw LOVE show up as a force to counter difficult feelings like grief in the world premiere of "Aviva vs. the Dybbuk."

In the Art Department, we saw LOVE embodied as self-expression during the Community Day Fashion Show. In Photography classes, we saw LOVE of nature, as students found artful framing of flowers and foliage across campus.

Additionally, in the Nature Department, LOVE was careful study, as students filled their field notebooks with drawings of plants and birds, growing their awareness of the natural world around them. In Chess, LOVE revealed the possibility for time to pass without notice while spending time together.

In the Creative Writing Department, students showed the power of LOVE through evoking empathy in storytelling. From Playwriting to Poetry, students found their unique voices worthy of sharing, and the audience responded with a standing ovation.

In the Dance Department, we saw not only empowerment and trust in self as students performed, but we also observed audiences squealing with LOVE in response to the energy Dance students brought to the stage.

On the Music hill, many moments of collaboration and improvisation illustrated the power of honing one's own skill alongside friends and teachers. In Composition classes, students learned how to channel what they love into original pieces of music.

Discovery students brought our insect of the summer into the theme of LOVE by raising (and LOVING) butterflies and illustrating the power of transformation in "The Hungry Caterpillar."

While it is always sad to say goodbye at the end of a beautiful summer filled with community, creativity, and celebration, LOVE reminds us that there is always more to come. See U next time!

 

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Share Your Feedback With Us

Thanks for choosing Usdan!

We know that you have many options for summer programs, and we are grateful you put your trust in us.

We hope you will share your experience with us and invite you to take this survey. Your feedback is vital to helping us to continue to improve our program. In appreciation of your participation, your name will be entered to win a $250 VISA gift card.

 

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Don't Say Goodbye, Say See You Later

Save the Date for the Re-U-nion Show

Join us on Sunday, September 28 at 4:00 p.m. for a performance featuring students in Theater, Dance, Music, Creative Writing, and more. Look out for information on how to RSVP coming soon.

If your child is performing, they will receive an email invitation early next week from enrollment@usdan.org.

 

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Festival Recap

Wrapping up a Festival season for the books

Members of the acclaimed orchestra The Knights opened the week on Monday, August 18 with a beautiful musical performance.

 

The following day, The Knights performed original works by our Senior Classical Compositional Majors and Minors at Festival on Tuesday, August 19. The Knights returned to campus after being Artists in Residence at Usdan from 2020-2023 to work side by side with the students to bring their pieces to life.

 

For our August Community Day on Wednesday, August 20, the Dance Department brought their enthralling energy to the stage with performances inspired from all around the world. From cyborgs to superheroes, the crowd went wild in response to these incredible performers.

 

At Festival on Thursday, August 21, Junior Vocal Ensemble Majors and Minors captured the crowd with songs including their rendition of "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" from "Lilo and Stitch." For the second Festival of the day, Senior Vocal Ensemble Majors and Minors followed up with a playful repertoire including "Unruly Heart" from the musical "The Prom."

 

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Return2U

Promise your child another magical summer!

8-week Session: June 29 – August 21, 2026 (closed Friday, July 3)

4-week Session A: June 29 – July 24, 2026 (closed Friday, July 3)

4-week Session B: July 27 – August 21, 2026

Return2U is now open! Get early bird pricing and first pick of classes for returning students and their siblings. It’s an opportunity to promise your child another inspiring summer full of boundless creativity, play, and friendship amidst the wonder of 140-acres of natural beauty. Enroll today and look forward to another unforgettable Usdan summer.

 

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Halloween is Around the Corner...

Do you have your tickets to the RISE?

Return to Usdan for the ultimate Halloween experience: The RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns.

The entire loop of Usdan will be filled with over 10,000 illuminated objects including 7,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns, 3,000 specialty lanterns, and hundreds of family-friendly Halloween-themed visual displays to bring out the magic of the season on Long Island!

Tickets are selling quickly so reserve your spot today

 

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Week 8 in Photos

Children's Theater students spooked and ooked the crowd during "The Addams Family" at the Hillside Theater on Thursday, August 21.

 

 

The Junior Art Major students marched in full force from the Art Village to the Amphitheater on Thursday, August 21 during Usdan's annual Art Parade. Leading the parade were Usdan Artists in Residence and the founders of Hip-Hop, DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell.

 

Consider yourself... delighted! The Senior cast of "Oliver!" wowed the audience with their rendition of Lionel Bart's beloved musical based on the Dickens' classic.

 

A Usdan favorite, Comic Con always hits. Comic Art students dressed up as their favorite comic characters and shared their zines, stickers, badges with parents, guests, and their fellow students at Community Day.

 

 

As part of the Knights visit to Usdan, the Orchestra members worked with Junior Orchestra students. Pictured here is Knights cellist Karen Ouzounian working with a Junior Cellist.

 

This week's August Community Day brought friends, family, and rain to campus for a cozy day of student artwork all over campus.

 

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WEEK 8 IN MEDIA

For more photos and videos, follow us on Instagram and TikTok.

 

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Calendar

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Sunday, September 28

Re-U-nion Show

4:00 p.m. | McKinley Amphitheater

 

October 1 – November 3

The RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns

Usdan Campus

 

Thursday, November 13

SAVE THE DATE! Alumni Engagement Party