Class Descriptions

Session 1 Classes

African Contemporary – Level 1 – Nii Kwartey Owoo

We’ll explore a comprehensive introduction to African dance style and technique at a moderate pace. You’ll develop your understanding of

• African dance techniques
• Rhythmic Sensitivity
• The demands and function of African dance
• Counter rhythms in the way the body works
• Polyrhythm and drum language

 

Hip-hop Technique – Level 1 – Boy Blue Flava & Fundamentals

We’ll mix and blend hip hop foundations, hip hop social grooves and routines with an understanding of dynamics and flow. A great starting place for all other Boy Blue classes over Summer School.

 

Ballet – Level 1 – Kasper Cornish

You’ll be introduced to classical ballet terminology, placement, lines and movements. We’ll investigate the origins and evolution of ballet through the relationships of movement, rhythm, phrasing and tempo. You’ll develop your sense of physical freedom and momentum through repetition and performance, with classes designed to be enjoyable and accessible.

 

Contemporary – Level 2 – Katie Cambridge

We’ll focus on exploring dynamics and musicality while utilising the whole body throughout class. You’ll use a combination of falling, shifting and creative improvisation to help build strength and play with resistance to better understand the connections within the body, and gain a powerful but efficient way of moving through space. Influenced by release-based technique this class brings a sense of fun and enjoyment to moving.

 

Ballet – Level 2 – Thick & Tight Artist – Daniel Hay-Gordon

An intermediate level ballet class designed to improve your technique, musicality, expression and virtuosity but above all, nurture your appreciation of the form. Trained in Cecchetti and the RAD, Daniel has taught ballet and contemporary internationally for professional companies and student.

 

Contemporary – Level 3 – Company Wayne McGregor Artist – Rebecca Bassett-Graham

Drawing on discoveries and experiences throughout her career, Rebecca’s class incorporates aspects of contemporary techniques such as Cunningham and release, with the use of floor work. The class will focus on alignment, coordination, use of weight and a strong sense of centre within the freedom of movement.

 

Session 2 Classes

Contemporary – Level 1 – Katie Cambridge

We’ll look at building strength, resistance, and coordination, working on using the whole body throughout class and embodying movement to the limit. Using a combination of falling, shifting and creative improvisation to help influence and connect the body, you’ll gain a powerful but efficient way of moving through space. Influenced by release-based technique this class brings a sense of fun and enjoyment to moving.

 

African Contemporary – Level 2 – Nii Kwartey Owoo

We’ll explore both the embodied and conceptual understanding of African dance techniques and performance styles. You’ll develop your understanding of the relationship between techniques, and the nuances inherent in African dance styles. You’ll learn how to demonstrate advanced technical and interpretive skills with stylistic accuracy.

 

Hip-hop Technique –Level 2 – Boy Blue Choreo Combos

A fast-paced, fun and challenging class to learn choreography combinations that focus on dynamics, texture, execution and performance.  Combos will be based on hip hop & street dance styles.

 

Ballet – Level 2 – Kasper Cornish

We’ll look further into the sequencing of instructions to underpin the strength and security of classical ballet turns, jumps and adage. We’ll investigate some advanced technical enchainments with less familiar rhythmical frameworks. You’ll develop your stamina and explore techniques to adapt physically to the more demanding class work based on repertoire. Classes are balanced with focus on both physical and performance technique.

 

Contemporary- Level 3 (Release based) – Thick & Tight Artists – Thomasin Gulgec (Week 1), Tom Davis-Dunn (Week 2)

During the class we will mobilise the body through sensation and breath, searching for lines of connection through the tissue and anatomical structure. Layering these connections to explore how they can open new movement pathways whilst offering a fresh approach to our individual movement language.

 

Ballet – Level 3 – Company Wayne McGregor Artist – Rebecca Bassett-Graham

This classical technique class will focus on alignment, balance, coordination and strength. As well as expanding your technical knowledge, you will also develop a greater awareness of body in relationship to space whilst moving with musicality, exploring a deeper level of artistry.

 

Session 3 Classes

Creative – Open Level – Boy Blue Creative Toolbox

You’ll learn Boy Blue tools and devices to develop your own creative practice.  This will be a facilitated session covering form, formula and frequency, and tools used and created by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy.

 

Creative – Open Level – Company Wayne McGregor Artist – Rebecca Bassett-Graham

This class is an opportunity to experience and explore creative tasks taken from Wayne McGregor’s choreographic practice.

 

Flying Low – Open Level – Ben McEwen

We’ll be taking a look at floorwork, through the material of Flying Low. This is a technique initiated by David Zambrano that uses fundamental movement patterns and principles (such as spiralling movements that alternate between expansion and cohesion) to dance our whole selves in, out and along the floor with speed, efficiency and pleasure. We’ll take a detailed look at the material, breaking it down to find functions that work for each of us, then we’ll put it back together for some full-bodied dancing.

We highly recommend wearing long trousers (within reason) and covered shoulders, to avoid first-day friction burns.

 

Jazz Technique – Open Level – André Fabien Francis

Developing stamina, strength and musicality will be key elements of the sessions in addition to practicing some tools for learning and retaining movement.

Good technical foundations are essential for any practitioner who seeks longevity; and so we’ll explore how we use our own body and facility to build on these foundations by making choices aiding and developing our understanding of artistic design, and execution of more complex material.

 

Tanztheater – Open level – Adrian Look

We’ll embody the Tanztheater philosophy by using authenticity and depth to combine technique and improvisation into one unique artform.

Our goal during the classes will be to use the technique to express an emotional state. Through exploring your creativity, strength and artistry you’ll visualise your emotional state, let yourself go and lose yourself in dance to experience your art on a deeper level.

 

Creative – Open Level – Thick & Tight Company (Daniel Hay-Gordon & Eleanor Perry)

Thick & Tight have developed many different systems, tools and rules in the way they create work collaboratively. Discover these and create your own through practical tasks and open-discussions. A great class for those who wish to choreograph but also for those wanting to learn more about how to work with task-based choreographers.

 

Session 4 Classes

Repertoire – Open Level – Boy Blue Rep & Vocab

Dive into Boy Blue repertoire from past productions and vocab from iconic Boy Blue pieces!  Expect high energy, dynamics, texture, execution & performance tips with these Boy Blue signature moves.

 

Repertoire – Open Level – Company Wayne McGregor Artist

This class will be led by Company Wayne McGregor dancer Rebecca Bassett-Graham. You’ll learn selected phrases from a catalogue of McGregor’s expansive repertoire.

 

Flying Low – Open Level – Ben McEwen

We’ll be taking a look at floorwork, through the material of Flying Low. This is a technique initiated by David Zambrano that uses fundamental movement patterns and principles (such as spiralling movements that alternate between expansion and cohesion) to dance our whole selves in, out and along the floor with speed, efficiency and pleasure. We’ll take a detailed look at the material, breaking it down to find functions that work for each of us, then we’ll put it back together for some full-bodied dancing.

We highly recommend wearing long trousers (within reason) and covered shoulders, to avoid first-day friction burns.

 

Jazz Repertoire – Open Level – André Fabien Francis

Building on many of the fundamental elementals found in jazz technique, including how we as individuals present movement, we will explore combinations and motif that move across the space. In addition to this we will learn repertoire material from, and inspired by, André’s career!

  

Tanztheater – Open level – Adrian Look

We’ll embody the Tanztheater philosophy by using authenticity and depth to combine technique and improvisation into one unique artform.

Our goal during the classes will be to use the technique to express an emotional state. Through exploring your creativity, strength and artistry you’ll visualise your emotional state, let yourself go and lose yourself in dance to experience your art on a deeper level.

 

Repertoire – Open Level – Thick & Tight Company (Daniel Hay-Gordon & Eleanor Perry)

Thick & Tight will teach material from their repertoire which combines dance, mime, lip-syncing, acting and satire. Learn the art of becoming a character onstage, from Marilyn Monroe to Andy Warhol; who will you transform into from one day to the next? Technically challenging and precise in form but always fun and exciting. A class designed for dancers who want to perform and entertain.