Archive: Workshops, Intensives, Master Classes, and Open Houses

Moving Practice is a weekly class series for professional dancers. Classes prioritize rigor, diversity of contemporary aesthetics, variety of class content, and commitment. Professional level dancers of all styles are welcome.

Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30AM at The Arena
José A. Luis teaches throughout November.

José writes:

“What are our roles as a student, teacher? Dancer vs. choreographer? Individual or group. Do we understand one before the other? Movement practice will offer guided movement under a curious, creative landscape. I approach possible answers by remembering how I experience the world, and ultimately how we all access who we are – through our senses. I challenge who I am and what I offer, knowing we are all practicing being with each other anew.”

Striving for continual growth, I would like to approach class with a holistic framework. A conscious effort to connect mind, body, and soul will be explored through phrase and improv-based movement. Beginning with a mindful meditation focused on breath and body scan, we can connect ourselves with the environment. Consciously engaging in re-discovered anatomical functions to support low level phrases onto standing. Class will progress the mind-body relation through weight, energy, and intention (related to time and space) with developed movement. Ultimately, we will call on our individual essence to fully experience virtuosic phrases and each other as we prepare to step outside of class.

Pre-register at https://www.arena-dances.org/class-payment/

Over the course of this three-day contemporary movement workshop, move BIG, sweat, and play with us while we build awareness and explore expansive possibilities within our own bodies. With improvised and structured movement vocabulary, we will research freedom, 3-D expansion, mobility, rigor, presence, agency in choice-making, and empowerment within each of our selves. Led by AMP Co-Director, Joanna Lees.

Suitable for professional, pre-professional, and/or intermediate/advanced movers, ages 18+. Knee pads recommended. This is a great way to keep moving over school or holiday breaks. Low/no cost options available. Come as you are!

In person and virtual options available. Drop in for one, two or all three days. Pre-registration highly encouraged through AMP’s website. Those who pre-register will be given priority should class size need to be limited. Current CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety will be followed.

Monday, December 20
Tuesday, December 21
Wednesday, December 22
10:00am-12:00pm

Rates
Single day/drop in rate: $18
Two-day bundle rate: $32
Three-day bundle rate: $45

Registration and more info at alternativemotionproject.org. Email questions and inquiries to alternativemotionproject@gmail.com.

With enthusiasm and openness, we will begin by weaving warmth and direction into the muscular and skeletal support systems of the body. By interlacing thought and body processes, we will code new connections over grounding and physical movements that will help us move breath and new energy into our spaces.

Contemporary Dance – Master Class
Saturday, November 13
10:00-11:30am
Drop-in $17. Flexible pricing and free parking!
Pre-register at https://www.arena-dances.org/the-arena.

Shane Larson was raised in Minnesota, where he received his early training at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. He graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. He also studied at SEAD in Austria. Since living in New York City, he’s branched out to collaborate with punk musicians, film makers, improvisational music ensembles, and site-specific visual artists. He is also a multimedia video artist making collage-based work about memory. Shane joined the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in 2015.

An Eight-week Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Series with Sarah Baumert

Sundays, 4:00-5:00pm CST and Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm CST
November 14-January 19
No class November 24 and 28, December 26 and 29.

This series will explore how we can interrupt our habitual patterns of stress. We will investigate how we hold tension in our system, observing it and then disturbing it, and looking for sensations of comfort and pleasure. In Awareness Through Movement®, we explore how we can move with the smallest amount of effort. The smallest amount of effort or exertion will facilitate the maximum amount of sensory differentiation and thus make information available for new learning. Slow movements will facilitate a parasympathetic response, the rest and digest response of the nervous system.

Interested in this series, but experiencing financial hardship? 
During the last year I have been called to offer the healing work I do, through yoga and the Feldenkrais method to more people, and a more diverse demographic. With the support of my scholarship fund, I am able to offer these classes at a reduced rate. If you need financial assistance, please contact me directly. I would like to make these teachings accessible to everyone.

“Sarah’s instruction is uncanny – incredulously balanced, seemingly telepathic.” – Inez

Moving Practice is a weekly class series for professional dancers. Classes prioritize rigor, diversity of contemporary aesthetics, variety of class content, and commitment. Professional level dancers of all styles are welcome.

Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30AM at The Arena
José A. Luis teaches throughout November.

José writes:

“What are our roles as a student, teacher? Dancer vs. choreographer? Individual or group. Do we understand one before the other? Movement practice will offer guided movement under a curious, creative landscape. I approach possible answers by remembering how I experience the world, and ultimately how we all access who we are – through our senses. I challenge who I am and what I offer, knowing we are all practicing being with each other anew.”

Striving for continual growth, I would like to approach class with a holistic framework. A conscious effort to connect mind, body, and soul will be explored through phrase and improv-based movement. Beginning with a mindful meditation focused on breath and body scan, we can connect ourselves with the environment. Consciously engaging in re-discovered anatomical functions to support low level phrases onto standing. Class will progress the mind-body relation through weight, energy, and intention (related to time and space) with developed movement. Ultimately, we will call on our individual essence to fully experience virtuosic phrases and each other as we prepare to step outside of class.

Pre-register at https://www.arena-dances.org/class-payment/

Moving Practice is a weekly class series for professional dancers. Classes prioritize rigor, diversity of contemporary aesthetics, variety of class content, and commitment. Professional level dancers of all styles are welcome.

Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30AM at The Arena
José A. Luis teaches throughout November.

José writes:

“What are our roles as a student, teacher? Dancer vs choreographer? Individual or group. Do we understand one before the other? Movement practice will offer guided movement under a curious, creative landscape. I approach possible answers by remembering how I experience the world, and ultimately how we all access who we are – through our senses. I challenge who I am and what I offer, knowing we are all practicing being with each other anew.”

Striving for continual growth, I would like to approach class with a holistic framework. A conscious effort to connect mind, body, and soul will be explored through phrase and improv-based movement. Beginning with a mindful meditation focused on breath and body scan, we can connect ourselves with the environment. Consciously engaging in re-discovered anatomical functions to support low level phrases onto standing. Class will progress the mind-body relation through weight, energy, and intention (related to time and space) with developed movement. Ultimately, we will call on our individual essence to fully experience virtuosic phrases and each other as we prepare to step outside of class.

Pre-register at https://www.arena-dances.org/class-payment/

Drop-in $17. Flexible pricing and free parking!

Join us for Amy Jones’ Pilates mat class, 9:30-10:00AM, before Moving Practice!

With enthusiasm and openness, we will begin by weaving warmth and direction into the muscular and skeletal support systems of the body.  By interlacing thought and body processes, we will code new connections over grounding and physical movements that will help us move breath and new energy into our spaces.

Shane Larson was raised in Minnesota, where he received his early training at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. He graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. He also studied at SEAD in Austria. Since living in New York City, he’s branched out to collaborate with punk musicians, film makers, improvisational music ensembles, and site-specific visual artists. He is also a multimedia video artist making collage-based work about memory. Shane joined the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in 2015.

Pre-register at https://www.arena-dances.org/the-arena.
Drop-in $17. Flexible pricing and free parking!