Last weekend the special dance classes with our USVI instructors had such a great response that we are going to do it again this coming weekend of May 25th and 26th.
What will be different this session is that there will be 3 classes that are open to younger students. Please see the schedule for details of age specifics, times and locations. At the end of this email there are some descriptions of the classes themselves.
Classes are $10 each and will be held at 3 different spaces so please make note when you review the schedule below.
Email dancebvi@gmail.com for class descriptions and more info.
SATURDAY
9:30 to 11:00 - Modern - Diandra Jones - UPs Ballroom
11:30 to 1:00 - Fosse Musical Theatre - Derrick Evans - Sensus
1:15 - 2:15 - Hip Hop – Derrick Evans *Open to Ages 8+. Sensus
2:30 - 3:30 - Percussive Dance -Diandra Jones *Open to Ages 10+. Prospect
5:30 - 7:00 - West African - Diandra Jones - Sensus
2:30 to 4:00 - Ballet – Katie Zaytoun *Open to adults and students 10+ with some ballet experience - Prospect
4:00 to 5:00 - Hawaiian Hula - Diandra Jones - Prospect
Hip Hop Class for KIDS A mixture of old school and new school starting with a warm up, across the floor and a center combination. rhythmic variety, popping, locking, and floorwork are covered in this class.
Fosse Musical Theatre Class A movement class based solely on Bob Fosse's stylistic contribution to dance. wear black and bring heels. Choreography from the musical "Sweet Charity".
Jazz Clas Class begins with a warm up, across the floor and a center combination. syncopated rhythms, turns, leaps all wrapped up in a Giordano, River North, eclectic movement package.
Percussive Dance In this class, students explore their own body's ability to create rhythms, borrowing beats and movements from various dance styles including Tap, Irish Step, Flamenco, Clogging, Stomp, Stepping, and more. This class orchestrates a range of new rhythms, using the instrument you were born with—your body! Wear any kind of shoe capable of making noise on the floor; tap shoes, Irish dance shoes, clogging shoes, flamenco shoes... whatever you have. Prepare to shuffle, stomp, stamp, snap, clap, slap, click your body into motion!
Brazilian Samba Having trained for seven years at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music with former Samba queen and Rio de Janeiro native, Dill Costa, Diandra will share the intricate footwork, hip movement, and port de bras of Brazilian Samba, featuring both European and African influenced movements from Rio (the home of the world's biggest Carnival), Bahia, all the way to the Amazon.
Hawaiian Hula Trained at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music by native Hawaiian and dance master Lanialoha Lee, Diandra will teach traditional Hula-Kahiko dance (VERY different from Hollywood Hula performed for tourists) and begin with the basic movements of ancient hula. Students will learn an excerpt of a traditional dance as a beautiful and timeless form of communication and expression.
West African (Traditional and Modern) Diandra credits her dance training to Idy Ciss, native Senegalese and principal dancer/choreographer for Muntu Dance Company, with whom she trained for seven years at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music; and to her three-year residence in Ghana, West Africa, as a dance teacher, student, and outreach performer with Sankofa Center for African Dance and Culture. Following a warm-up and introduction to basic West African movements, students will learn a tradition Ghanaian celebratory dance from the Ewe tribe called the Gahu, and a contemporary dance trend called Azonto.
Ballet This class is suited for students with varied dance backgrounds who have the basic knowledge of ballet and ability to do full barre and center. All exercises are aimed at improving balance, control and coordination and advanced overall technique. Every class includes a comprehensive barre and ample center practice in adagio, turns, jumps and diagonals (across the floor).
Modern Trained primarily by her personal guru and professor Nana Shineflug, dancer, choreographer, dance-writer, and founder of the Chicago Moving Company; Diandra will share movements, floor work, exercises, and choreography that focuses on Nana Shineflug's theories of body consciousness.