Class Descriptions

Contemporary Level 1 & 2 (Release based) – Hannah Cameron

Classes work towards building dance-specific strength, flexibility and co-ordination. In a supportive environment, participants will be encouraged to find a free and full-bodied approach to moving. The class will explore a range of technical principles such as connectivity, using breath to release tension, and finding efficiency whilst moving into and out of the floor. There will be a progression towards expansive travelling phrases focusing on movement quality, musicality and performance. Overall, these classes are inclusive and energetic with a focus on fun and the enjoyment of moving together. 

 

Contemporary Level 1 & 2 (Limon and Release based) – Marie Forbes

Marie teaches a Limón and Release based class that explores transfer of weight, fall and recovery with an emphasis of the use of breath.  Using the principles of Limón technique her class utilises the use of weight and breath to encourage movement that works with the body rather than against it. 

Expect classes to be joyful yet challenging and tailored to the individual needs of the participating dancers.

 

Contemporary Level 2 & 3 – Tina Krasevec

Tina’s class focuses on developing an integrated movement vocabulary that incorporates fascial biotensegrity, and organic rhythmic patterning and dynamics. From somatic partner work through to traveling sequences that seamlessly travels to and out of the floor, Tina works to develop the dancers physical and musical understanding. Building on a choreological foundation, Tina’s classes are fast, fun and inspiring.

 

Contemporary Level 3 – Pierre Tappon

Expect that classes will be challenging and dynamic, suitable for students with sound technique or for those that have completed or completing professional training.

 

Flying Low Level 2 – Ben McEwen and Leila McMillan

Together we will spiral in and out of the earth, pass through expansion and cohesion, run, slide, learn how to challenge gravity, how to fall, how to rise, and how to command your body. We will work with efficient pathways to move with speed without forgetting any part of our body. We will command our body with our voice. We will pass through the space with unlimited possibilities in curve transforming the environment of dance. We will be soft, wild and powerfully spontaneous.

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

 

Gaga Dancers Level 2-3 – Natalia Iwaniec

Gaga/dancers classes are open to more advanced dancers.  classes last for 1hr and are taught by dancers who have worked closely with Ohad Naharin in Batsheva Dance Company. Gaga/dancers classes are built on the same principles as Gaga/people classes but also employ the specific vocabulary and skills that are part and parcel of a dancer’s knowledge. The layering of familiar movements with Gaga tasks presents dancers with fresh challenges, and throughout the class, teachers prompt the dancers to visit more unfamiliar places and ways of moving as well. Gaga/dancers deepens dancers’ awareness of physical sensations, expands their palette of available movement options, enhances their ability to modulate their energy and engage their explosive power, and enriches their movement quality with a wide range of textures.

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to dance barefoot or in socks. It is advisable to bring a bottle of water and a towel for use after class.

 

Gaga People Open Level – Natalia Iwaniec

Gaga/people classes are open to people aged 16+, regardless of their background in dance or movement. No previous dance experience is needed.

Gaga/people classes last for 1hr and are taught by dancers who have worked closely with Ohad Naharin. Teachers guide the participants using a series of evocative instructions that build one on top of the other. Rather than copying a particular movement, each participant in the class actively explores these instructions, discovering how he or she can interpret the information and perform the task at hand. Gaga/people classes offer a creative framework for participants to connect to their bodies and imaginations, increase their physical awareness, improve their flexibility and stamina, and experience the pleasure of movement in a welcoming, accepting atmosphere.

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to dance barefoot or in socks. It is advisable to bring a bottle of water and a towel for use after class.

 

Ballet Level 1 – Liora Goldwater

This class will have a strong emphasis on technique and alignment. We will work to build strength and fluidity of movement. Working on, repeating and building upon sequences; to build confidence in technique and therefore finding space to refine details. A fun class with great attention to detail.

 

Ballet Level 2 – Kieran Stoneley

To follow

 

Ballet Level 2 – Pierre Tappon

To follow

 

Ballet Level 2 & 3 – Christine Tanner (Week 1) and Liz Alpe (Week 2)

Week 1:  For the past 25 years Christine has taught contemporary ballet for a variety of schools, courses and companies.  Her classes are enjoyable and productive with an encouraging environment. They encompass a balanced class structure with the aims of improving technique, vocabulary, musicality and artistry. They are based upon her classical origins at the Royal Ballet School but reflect her love of contemporary dance, incorporating imagery as a tool as well as ideas based upon Rudolf Laban’s principles of choreological practice connecting relatedness, effort, actions, dynamics, time and space to movement.

Week 2:  Liz delivers a dynamically diverse class, exploring musicality to stimulate musical responsiveness and develop a strong use of rhythm and dynamics.  The class embodies the fundamental principles of classical technique together with a growing awareness of emerging artistry.  Her approach explores the underlying qualities of the classical technique in an open and collaborative way.  Liz and Christine will be sharing the teaching weeks during summer school. 

 

Yoga Open Level – Shamita Ray

Shamita teaches a flowing, Vinyasa style of yoga that combines the precision and alignment of Iyengar, with the breath and dynamism of Ashtanga. She enjoys being creative in her classes and loves challenging participants to discover what their bodies are truly capable of, while maintaining a sense of humour and playfulness. Specialising in teaching both children and adults, she uses her background as a dancer to choreograph imaginative sequences that move seamlessly from one posture to another, in a dance-like flow of breath and movement.

 

Pilates Open Level – Luisa d’Ambrosio

This mat work class is suitable for all levels of ability. Pilates is a bodywork practice taught through a unique system of exercises designed to increase physical fitness and strength through neuro-muscular awareness and the slow and gentle repetition of movements. It contains stretching and strengthening exercises that tone muscles. The technique improves posture, providing flexibility and balance. Its foundation is in the mind-body connection. It is a gentle but effective form of exercise offering a holistic approach to body conditioning.

 

Hip Hop – Foundations Open Level – Kloe Dean

This will be an upbeat, fun yet informative session journeying through Hip Hop foundations, developing variations, textures and performance technique which can be utilised both in freestyle and choreography.

 

Hip Hop – Choreography Open Level – Kloe Dean

This will be a chance to put Hip Hop foundations and variations to the test. You will be learning and performing Hip Hop choreography utilising Hip Hop foundations and vocabulary. Kloe will be focusing on the execution, dynamic journey and performance technique of the choreography as well as the performance of the hip hop movement techniques utilised.  A session filled with good vibes, good music and good training.

This group will share some of this work informally at the end of the two weeks

 

Dance Science – An Introduction Open Level – Various Teachers

The exciting and growing field of Dance Science explores areas such as mental and physical preparation, injury prevention and performance enhancement, all of which will be covered across the two-week course. In these open level sessions, you will cover topics such as effective warm-ups and cool-downs, flexibility and psychological skills training.  You will also have the opportunity to test the components of fitness required for dance using specialist equipment in the Dance Science Lab. There will be different types of activities including lectures, practical workshop sessions and mini-tasks, all to help you engage with the physiological and psychological aspects of Dance Science.

 

Richard Alston Dance Company (RADC)- Company style class Open Level

Dancers from RADC will lead a company style class grounded in cunningham style technique and drawing on a range of tasks inspired by Richard Alston’s distinctive movement style.  

 

RADC repertoire and creative Open Level

Dancers from RADC will lead a daily repertoire session drawing on past and current works.  Dancers will share the imagery and starting points behind the extracts works.  This group will share some of this work informally at the end of the two weeks.

 

Musical Theatre – Shannon Hudson

Full session description to follow.

 

Tanztheatre Open Level – Adrian Look

Adrian teaches a contemporary dance theatre class, inspired by the aesthetic of Pina Bausch and the beautiful strength and artistic expression of Tanztheater. The exercises and sequences in this class are very precise in dynamic, shape and intention. The main goal, however, is to use the technique in order to express an emotional state. The class aims to let go of any unnecessary extras and consequently strives to use conscious and meaningful movements. This class is expressive, strong and artistic and will allow you to visualize your emotional state, let yourself go and experience your art on a deep level best described as “losing yourself in dance”.

 

Urban African Contemporary Open Level – Uchenna Dance

The company will lead sessions that introduce the fundamental elements of the Uchenna movement style with a focus on African and House Dance. Classes will also explore Waacking, Vogue and Contemporary Dance; enabling you to experience the full Uchenna movement vocabulary. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn repertoire from the company’s touring show The Head Wrap Diaries.

 

Acro Yoga Open Level – Robert Keates

Open to all levels of experience, AcroYoga is for anyone who is curious about exploring gravity, contact and partnerships from a new perspective. AcroYoga is a combination of yoga asanas (poses) and foundations from acrobatics.

Expect a safe and fun introduction to the basic principles of AcroYoga through a guided learning experience in which you’ll work with two or more people as a base, flyer and spotter. Workshops will build your knowledge on still poses, transitions and therapeutics, which draws on principles from Thai massage.  We will explore sequences from the AcroYoga dance syllabus enabling you to explore and create your own sequence by the end of the summer school. You will be encouraged to feel the freedom of exploring trust and defying gravity rules. 

 

Contact Improvisation Open Level – Simonetta Alessandri & Giuseppe Asaro

These classes will help you explore new ways of moving and equip you with practical skills to develop your ability as a contact improviser. Each class starts with sequences on the floor that connect us to our own movement and eventually lead to establish a connection and communication with others. We will learn tools for exploring different muscular tone and qualities of weight, supporting and lifting, moving through all levels from the floor to the air.  We will practice exercises, which range from the simple and structural to the more complex and acrobatic. We will expand how we use our senses in dancing and follow changes of dynamic and energy into exiting, playful and surprising dances. 

First week with Giuseppe Asaro and second with Simonetta Alessandri. Two similar yet different approaches to the same Method, in which you will experience a sense of continuity and progression during the 2 weeks

 

Feldenkrais into Improvisation Open Level – Simonetta Alessandri & Giuseppe Asaro

The Feldenkrais Method is a somatic discipline which uses experiential learning to achieve a psychophysical awareness of the whole self. Through observing our own sensations and valuing our personal insights, we will identify our habits and clarify choices in order to promote efficiency, freedom and new possibilities in our physical organization. By respecting the internal logic of the body, we will grow from the somatic exploration towards working with larger and more complex movement. Awareness of the roots of a movement and the emergence of new possibilities gives us a reinvigorating sense of ownership, pleasure and challenge in our dancing. Through improvisational strategies we will access a more energetic physicality and a broader awareness of sharing space and time with others.

 

Choreological Studies Open Level – Sylvie Robaldo

These classes are an exceptional opportunity to explore Rudolf Laban’s principles and practice for performing arts and are suitable to all interested in movement, choreography, acting, performance, and directing or teaching. Students will be introduced to the Structural Model of Human Movement containing practical tools for investigating dynamics, body, space, actions and relatedness.

Each day participants will have the opportunity to explore these in solo or group material and gain new perspectives on creating, improvising, performing, developing, observing and directing performance.