Laredo ISD to host free Limelight dance camp, expands summer band and fine‑arts schedules

Laredo ISD’s fine‑arts department told trustees on Wednesday it will offer a free district‑sponsored dance camp in mid‑June and is rolling out summer band and fine‑arts schedules intended to boost participation and cross‑campus collaboration.

Fred Rodriguez, coordinator for fine arts, said the district contracted Limelight, a program run by Brandon Villareal, to provide a technique‑focused dance clinic for the district’s three high‑school dance teams (the Tigerettes, Golden Spurs and Silver Roses). Rodriguez said the camp is scheduled in mid‑June and will include June 14; it will be free to students, run at Nixon High School, paid for by the LISD fine‑arts department and campuses will only be responsible for meal arrangements during lunch.

Director of Fine Arts Guillermo Pro told the committee the camp is intended to improve technique for students who often lack private‑studio experience and to foster “horizontal alignment” — opportunities for students and coaches across campuses to connect. Pro said the district expects roughly 25 participants per campus on average and that Garcia Early College — which recently formed a dance team called the Phoenix Flames — planned to send about 10 students. Rodriguez said the district negotiated a flat fee of $3,000 for the two‑day clinic and that sessions will run roughly 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

Trustees asked logistical questions about student transportation and campus coordination for lunches. Rodriguez said sponsors will coordinate transportation (including the district activity bus when available) and that campuses are arranging meals through fundraisers or, as a back‑up, the Child Nutrition Program.

Pro also presented summer band schedules and other fine‑arts initiatives, saying high attendance at band camps (he cited a band with about 95% attendance) and multiple summer opportunities help recruitment: “Success is your greatest recruiter,” Pro said, arguing that high‑school visibility helps attract middle‑school students. Trustees asked whether middle‑school camps would follow; Pro said the district plans to start at the high‑school level and expand to middle schools as participation grows.

The district emphasized the camp is additive to other private or outside camps students may attend, and trustees discussed equitable meal coordination for students on site. No vote or formal board action was taken at the committee meeting on the camp contract or related schedules.