Find rhythm, groundedness, and flow with dance classes at Ananya Dance Theatre’s Shawngram Institute for Performance & Social Justice.
Weekly Classes
Fridays: Advanced Yorchhā, 6:00-7:00pm CST, with Kealoha Ferreira
Sundays: Intro to Yorchhā, 3:00-4:00pm CST, with Parisha Rajbhandari
New Weekly Class – Wednesdays: Wednesday Water Dances, 9:30-11:00am CST, with Kealoha Ferreira – starts February 16
Pop-Up Class
Integrated Movement Patterns: Spine and Pelvis Series
Tuesday, February 22, March 1 and 8
1:00-2:00pm CT
with Lizzette Chapa
Class Descriptions
Intro to Yorchhā: Envision justice through rhythmic footwork, flowing torso, and sustained breath in Intro to Yorchhā. Each class begins with a warm-up followed by foundational Yorchhā exercises and a fun choreographed phrase.
Advanced Yorchhā: Dive into the nuance and complexity of Yorchhā. Advanced Yorchhā is designed to challenge and hone experienced movers through strength training, technique refinement, and intricate choreography. Previous Yorchhā experience is encouraged.
Wednesday Water Dances: a weekly dedication to the vitality and life force of Water. In class we will offer breath, dance, meditation, story, song, and reflection. Each class will take shape a little differently, staying responsive to the ongoing movements protecting the value and longevity of water world-wide. Facilitated by Kealoha Ferreira, an Ananya Dance Theatre Artist, Wednesday Water Dances will begin with grounding movement, flow into dedicated time for personal practice / research / reflection, and close with collective sharing. All who are committed to deepening their relationship with water are welcome to participate.
Integrated Movement Patterns: This mind-body connection series is designed by Ananya Dance Theatre company artist Lizzette Chapa to reset and replenish our two core movement generators, the spine and pelvis. Utilizing principles of Yorchhā and Pilates, Lizzette carries participants through mat exercises, image based explorations, and breath work to strengthen, soften, and restore ourselves from the inside out. Tuesday, February 22 – Spine, March 1 – Pelvis, and March 8 – Integration. Come for one or all three sessions.
Yorchhā is Ananya Dance Theatre’s trade-marked contemporary technique that intersects principles of vinyasa yoga, classical Indian dance form Odishi (from the eastern Indian state of Odisha) and martial art form Chhau (also from Odisha).
Students attending in-person classes must provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination and must wear face masks during class. No exceptions.