Young Dancers Workshop

Modern (Wolcott)

This vigorous class combines the virtuosity of classical technique and the release of post-modern dance with Wolcott’s own dramatic idiosyncrasies. The result is a quirky but highly athletic aesthetic that one student describes as, “Punk rock/release-based modern dance.” Young dancers are invited to explore their own performance skills while honing their core technique. Each student is challenged to master contemporary movement. Classes focus on strength training, flexibility and teaching the mind and body to work smarter, not harder. By exploring the physics of body weight through drops, catches and turns, students develop a technique that is both dynamic and nuanced. Phrase work includes gesture, patterns of flight and fall, inversion and performance skills. Material for class is drawn from various techniques and movement styles including Limon, Hip Hop, ballet, release technique and pop culture. Wolcott will include a sense of fun and creativity in this approach to growth.

Modern (Henderson)

The class opens with full-bodied moving that warms us up from the core out to the tips of our fingers and toes. As we move, we will focus on specificity--exactly what and how we are moving, as we find ease within our skeletal alignment. We will explore increasingly complex movement phrases and play with texture, rhythmic structures, breathe and weight. We will learn large, loopy phrases, losing our center and finding joy in our dancing.

Ballet (Tornay)

This class is designed to place intensive emphasis on development of solid technique. A combination of classical and modern techniques is taught with a strong emphasis on epaulement (upper body) working in harmony with the rest of the body. Students are encouraged to discover and strengthen individuality within the classical form and to experience their dancing as an expressive and rewarding aspect of their lives.

Ballet (Mirk-Robles)

The object of this class is to provide an understanding of body placement, the use of the skeleton, the influence of gravity through the body in a turned out position and the use of energy from the floor throughout the body in basic ballet. The barre is used to build strength and coordination. The center work introduces an organic relationship to direction and movement, along with an understanding of different movement qualities, such as fluidity in adage, suspension and sharpness in turns, and "balon" in small and big jumps.

Jazz  (Perez)

This class is an organic approach to Jazz dance technique, exploring anatomy, body alignment and placement in order to move more freely and with ease. Students learn to work within his or her natural range of motion preventing the predisposition of injury while intelligently and logically preparing the body for dance through proper and efficient stretching and dance technique exercises. Full expression, rhythmic movement patterns and travel through space are highlighted in across the floor exercises and in the combinations.

Contemporary Caribbean (Isaac)

Spinning through movement that comes directly out of Reggae, Soca, Latin and traditional dances of the Caribbean, this class focuses on fluidity, strength, versatility and finding rhythm in all corners of the body. Particular emphasis is placed on exploring the balance between highly physical athleticism and subtle joint articulation, taking each movement apart and reintegrating these social dance styles into a modern dance body.

Hip Hop (Archibald)

This class incorporates the technical fundamentals of both modern dance and hip hop into a gritty street level execution of contemporary dance. This style pushes the dancer athletically to move with and against gravity as well as lyrically fly across space, encompassing both the hard edge of street dance with the fluidity of classical technique. Soul and conviction are emphasized through the movement in order to strengthen technique and performance qualities.

Improvisation (Rogers)

Improvisation, composing dance in the moment, is a way to explore new movement possibilities and engage the imagination while in motion. It allows the body and mind to unite with creativity. Each class focuses on finding new potential for how to move and how to think about movement. We dedicate time to basic concepts, such as time, space, quality of movement, use of the body’s weight and contact with a partner, and begin to develop a palate of movement unique to you.

Modern Repertory (Keigwin)

This class introduces the creative process of dance making and the rewards of performance. Everyone is engaged in collaborative games, athletic improvisation and physical brainstorming. The students take an active part in exploring new dance vocabulary, fine-tuning the craft of choreography and making creative decisions. Our ultimate goal will be to structure a new dance that will have an informal showing at the end of the festival.

Return to top