Ultimate summer study guide.

400-plus listings. Exclusive interviews. Insider advice and tips. Read here to find the right program for you and how to get the most out of it.

At first glance many summer study programs look the same, but even within the same genre there are big differences--some emphasize artistry and technique; others focus on performance opportunities and versatility. Figuring out the best fit means doing some research. DM's annual Summer Study Guide listings outline the basics, but you will want to take a closer look at the ones that most interest you. Comb web sites, find out who's teaching, and what styles are included, as well as performance opportunities, outings, workshops, scholarships available, room and board, or college credit given. Talk to someone who attended the program last year or call the organization and ask questions. To give you a sampling of your options, DM highlights six summer study programs around the country, interviewing their main teachers. Plus, writer Elizabeth Kendall takes us inside the National Ballet of Canada's teacher training seminar and Susan Broili brings us to the American Dance Festival, where we catch up with Russian choreographer Olga Pona, a guest in this past year's International Choreographers Commissioning Project.