Behind the Scenes at ICON

Our Mission

Our Mission

To provide students with a safe, interdisciplinary, and holistic arts education with a focus on designing a path specific to each learner’s personal artistic goals.

Our Vision

Our Vision

Building better artists. Building better humans.

Our Core Values

Caring.

Not only do we cultivate an environment where every student feels safe to express their creativity, but we strive to instill an attitude of caring in every student that comes through our doors. Being an artist means maintaining an open and caring attitude towards oneself and others. ICON students learn a mindful approach to the classroom, particularly in the arts. We make time, we listen, and we engage with one another with respect and integrity. Approaching our work together with care sets the stage for healthy collaborations.

Innovating.

Every day, ICON students come to school to immerse themselves in the arts. Each classroom endeavor focuses on innovating expression and creativity for a new generation of artists. We may be reimagining something that has been done before or developing something entirely new. Sometimes an unexpected outcome — maybe even something that feels like a failure — can bring about an exciting shift in our expression and creative process. 

Persevering.

Part of our journey as artists and humans is developing resilience. Pursuing the arts as a career means learning to accept critique and utilize constructive criticism as a driving force for growth. This is a skill we believe goes far beyond one’s journey as an artist — it is a foundational skill for success in life.

Students at ICON work through all kinds of challenges together as collaborators in the arts. From group discussions of visual art processes to collaborative devising of theater pieces, students learn dedication to their craft and an ability to cooperate with others. Remaining steadfast in our commitments helps us to maintain academic rigor, reach our educational goals and develop our artistry.

 

Arts Education

ICON offers an in-person, intensive arts education for 8th-12th grades plus postgraduate gap year. All of our disciplines take a project-based learning approach. Program offerings are designed to complement each student’s academic course of study.

Learn more about project-based learning

At ICON we offer 3 programs:

Full Day students at Iowa Conservatory have the option to either board or commute. Each student is offered a unique, personalized schedule that caters to their individual interests, skill level, and learning style. Students receive 25+ hours of private and small group coaching sessions with world-renowned faculty weekly.

Academic courses are completed in the state-accredited online learning program through the Iowa City Community School District.

Students each choose to major in Dance, Theatre Arts, Music, Visual Arts, or Design & Production. In addition to their major, they take classes in every department to broaden their understanding of the arts and build real-world experience. Upon graduation, ICON Full Day students receive a high school diploma from ICCSD and a high school Certificate of Performing and Visual Arts Industry Fundamentals with Arts Area Specialization from ICON.

Half Day students receive a comprehensive arts education, including 16+ hours of arts curriculum with our expert arts faculty weekly. The Half Day option creates a perfect opportunity for students who want to remain in their home school setting, but need a more intensive arts curriculum to suit their educational needs. ICON Half Day students head to our campus every afternoon to immerse themselves in the arts along with Full Day and Gap Year students.

Students participating in the Half Day program are placed in classes based on interest, skill level, and experience. Weekly opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration are built into the Half Day curriculum. ICON Half Day students enrolled for more than two years receive a Certificate of Completion in Performing and Visual Arts Industry Fundamentals from ICON.

The ICON Gap Year program is perfect for student-artists looking to continue exploring their passions. Our program is meticulously designed to expand their knowledge of the arts and their expertise in their craft before attending college or entering the professional world. ICON’s renowned arts faculty work closely with Gap Year students to achieve their dreams, whether that means preparing for college auditions or placement in professional companies.

Students may elect to pair ICON’s arts education with college courses of their choosing or concentrate solely on building their artistic portfolio. Upon completion of two semesters of ICON Gap Year programming, students receive a Gap Year Certificate of Performing and Visual Arts Industry Fundamentals with an Arts Area Specialization.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.

ICON is committed to creating a safe, responsive, and supportive environment in which there is equal opportunity for all students and all staff.

It is our policy that no one shall be treated differently or have any action directly affecting them taken on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, or disability where a person is otherwise qualified or could be with reasonable accommodation.

Members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect. Teachers and other staff members are expected to teach and to demonstrate by example that all members of the community are entitled to respect.

Harassment of a student by another student, faculty, or staff member is a violation of school policy. This includes (but is not limited to) harassment based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or disability. Sexual harassment is a form of harassment that also violates school policy.

ICON does not tolerate conduct that interferes with students’ education, opportunities, performance, or physical and psychological well-being, that creates a hostile learning environment or that is threatening or seriously intimidating.

Health & Wellness

The physical and emotional health and safety of our students is a top priority at ICON. Our commitment to caring for each student-artist does not stop at arts education and academic support. We know that in order to learn and grow, personal health must be flourishing and all students must be safe. There are multiple on-site supports for our students:

  • Our Student Life Team attends to each student’s quality of life inside and out of the classroom. A team of school counselors, live-in student residential assistants, and on-site support staff in the mental health field supports Student Life in this endeavor.
  • Student Life is in weekly contact with every student to ensure their well-being as they navigate the high school experience.
  • Licensed psychologists and social workers are available for “drop-in” appointments onsite for students that may need additional support.
  • Our Crisis Team is trained on best practices and school safety plans and procedures to assist in case of emergency (weather, medical, etc.).

If students indicate a need for further support, we provide families with a curated list of health referrals in the Iowa City area. We are lucky to have University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, a world-renowned institution filled with expert physicians, right in our neighborhood. 

Creators of ICON

Leslie Nolte

Head of School & Artistic Director

Beth Brown

Curriculum & Instruction Director

Why Iowa City?

If you've ever been to Iowa City, you know the better question is: why not?

Dubbed “The Greatest Small City for the Arts,” there’s no better place to immerse yourself in creativity. Opportunities lie around every corner — from local music venues and art galleries to a BIG 10 university right in our backyard, ICON students find no shortage of places to learn and create.

As a UNESCO City of Literature, Iowa City attracts world-class arts, artists, and education year-round. Between the walkable neighborhoods and bustling downtown, this place packs a ton of cultural and recreational opportunities within a safe, caring town that passionately supports its local arts scene. Not to mention, it’s ideally located within a four hour drive of Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and St. Louis. It’s easily one of the midwest’s best hidden gems. Don’t just take our word for it — plan a visit and see why locals love living here!

Campus & Student Life

We’re located in a historic, tight-knit neighborhood in Iowa City. Students can feel this in everything from the safe, walkable streets to the friendly local businesses with midwestern charm peppered throughout the area. Our newly renovated facilities encompass nearly 18,000 square feet inside the Brewery Square building. 

ICON’s space includes professionally and intentionally designed dance, music, theatre, and visual arts studios; practice rooms, a costume lab, student commons, and academic classrooms. Just down the street is our very own James Theater, a performance space that readily transforms from black box to recital stage to theatre lab.

Outside of classes, our Student Life team ensures every young artist at ICON can find ways to connect with one another and with Iowa City as a whole. From barbeques in the park and weeknight outings for froyo to attending touring and local theater productions, Student Life organizes a wide variety of activities on a weekly basis to help students make the most of their time while at ICON. 

 

ICON Stages With:

Tuition & Fees 2024-2025

Tuition COST*

*Tuition payment plan options available upon request.

Additional Fees :

Deposit: $1000

Annual Registration: $350

Student Life Fee: $350

Academic Fee for ICCSD OLP

Out of State Residents $7,635*

Iowa Residents $0

Boarding: pricing per bed per month unless otherwise noted

  • 2 bedroom – $800
  • 3 bedroom – $700
  • 3 bedroom (4 people) – $600

Meals: Students bring their own lunch to campus, and boarding students cook at home in the care of residential assistants.  Additionally, there is a student  lounge with refrigerator and microwave available in the school building.

*Out-of-state academic fees outlined here.

About Leslie Nolte

Leslie Nolte is a celebrated and seasoned visionary in the realm of performance arts and arts education. Through many avenues, she has enriched the arts community in which she lives. Most notably, Leslie is the founder of The James Theater, a dynamic and accessible performance and event space; a producer and artistic director of many varied productions and ventures from The Nutcracker to Newsies; an award-winning choreographer with numerous professional accolades; an investor in several theatrical productions including the Tony-Winning Broadway musical The Cher Show; an accomplished business leader; and a teacher by trade and by heart.

Under her direction as founder and artistic director, Nolte Academy has grown from a one-woman dance studio to a premiere arts program with 25 specialized instructors and more than 1,000 students. Now in its 23rd year, Nolte Academy’s breadth of instruction spans from dance (ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, acro) to Pilates to visual and theatre arts classes. Nolte Academy students are taught precise technique and have opportunities to share space with professional choreographers, master teachers and numerous guest artists.

With a focus on high-quality productions, students also have opportunities to grow and learn on stage. While studying with Leslie and faculty, students have participated in varied professional opportunities, such as New York Fashion Week and Austin Dance Festival. Numerous Nolte Academy alumni have gone on to immerse themselves in professional programs, including The Juilliard School, Martha Graham Dance Company, the School of American Ballet, Radio City Rockettes, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Ballet West, Houston Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Florida State University and Point Park University.

Leslie has founded many performance opportunities including: Open Doors Dance Festival, a summer dance intensive which brings world-class performing artists and instructors to engage and perform with her students; Youth Rising, a spoken word/dance co-production; DanceWorks, a production of classical ballet repertoire and original works; Performing Arts Preschool, an innovative on-site arts-immersive preschool educated scores of children during its nearly 10 year duration.

Beyond her studio work, Leslie brings workshop dance instruction to area schools as part of Kennedy Center’s Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child program, helping to guarantee access and equity to the arts for all students. Leslie has also been a guest lecturer at The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and was the 2019 recipient of the Larry Eckholt Award recognizing her commitment to Iowa’s Corridor arts and culture community.

About Beth Brown

Beth is an arts educator and educational psychologist. Her first love is working with children, and she has been designing programming for youth ages 3-18 for the past thirty years. Most notably, she has written curriculum and taught music for over two decades in the Iowa City Community School District from pre-k to high school. She has also directed the Iowa City Youth Choir and the Nolte Nutcracker Chorus for over ten years. Early on in her career she garnered a strong foundation in educational and recreational leadership: guiding, caring for, and building an outdoor leadership training program for high school overnight campers at YMCA Camp Wapsie, working there for nearly a decade. She has a BM in Vocal Performance and Music Education and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on developmental science.

Beth began her partnership with Leslie Nolte over ten years ago when they opened a successful early childhood performing arts school together. Most recently, Beth has supported Nolte Academy in the role of Curriculum and Personnel Director, working with Leslie’s 30-plus arts faculty in a variety of arts education programs.

Beth is also an adjunct professor in the University of Iowa College of Education, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in instructional design, cognitive learning theories, and human development. She enjoys working with both inservice and preservice teachers in a variety of capacities, including mentoring, teaching, writing, and presenting in the arts education field.

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