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

Learn ballet at any age!

This 8-week Ballet Fundamentals Session will teach adult students the basic steps of ballet, how combinations in class are built and the history and roots of ballet terminology. No ballet or dance experience necessary!

Thursdays, September 28-November 16
6:15-7:30pm

Balanced Body® Pilates Mat 1
In person and online attendance options.

October 6-8
Friday: 4:00-8:00pm
Saturday: 11:30am-6:00pm
Sunday: 9:30am-4:30pm

Fee: $549 + $60 materials

Paragon Pilates and Physical Therapy offers Pilates teacher training through Balanced Body Education. Mat 1 forms the foundation of the Pilates method. This course includes an introduction to the history and principles of the Pilates method and the beginning and intermediate level exercises. Each exercise includes training on modifications, challenges, the purpose of the exercise and any precautions for injuries and special populations. How to design and teach group classes and guidelines for teaching seniors and pre and post–natal classes are included.
Prerequisite: Balanced Body® Movement Principles

Instructor: Matthew Hodge-Rice

Step by Step: Introduction to Stepping Workshop with Step Afrika! is 60 minutes of highly energetic, percussive unity in motion. In this free, assembly-sized introductory workshop, participants enjoy learning step choreography and discovering how dance brings people together. The program introduces the ties between stepping, college life, and academic achievement while discovering the rhythm, physicality, and history of stepping.

All are welcome! Space is limited, and registration is required. 
Learn more about Step Afrika! here.

Monday, October 9 at 6:30pm

Join us for a special workshop with Alexis Zanety this fall at Zenon!

In collaboration with the MN International Dance Festival and Dance Projects by ME, Alexis Zanety hosts a unique Circular Movement Drawing Technique workshop at Zenon Dance School this October. Alexis created the Circular Drawing Movement technique, which is a combination of Cuban Modern Dance, Neoclassic, and Afro-Cuban Dance techniques, characterized by fluid continuous organic movements. Click here to learn more about the technique and Alexis’ work.

Circular Drawing Movement with Alexis Zanety
Friday, October 13, 10:00-11:30am
In person. Register here.
Drop-in: $15

Alexis Zanety is a contemporary teacher and choreographer and former first soloist for Cuba’s National Dance Company (CNDC). In 2002, he reallocated to Mexico by invitation from the Teatro Degollado to enrich the dance community with his artistry while performing and choreographing at the most important international festivals and operas in the country. In 2016, he reallocated to Houston, Texas, and began sharing his expertise and passion at the local and national level at places such as Cornish College of the Arts, University of Washington, University of Houston, University of Oklahoma, and Afro Latin Fest. He was also invited to the 2018 and 2019 International Association of Blacks in Dance Congress as a guest teacher. In November 2019, he was recognized by the Congress of Texas for his many accomplishments in the Houston cultural landscape. Sylvester Turner, Mayor of the City of Houston, proclaimed November 9, 2019, as “Alexis Zanety Day” to honor Alexis’ passion for the arts and overall contributions to the arts scene.

Click here to learn more about the 2023 MN International Dance Festival, October 17-21!

Balanced Body® Introduction to the Chair for Rehabilitation Professionals
October 13, 12:00-4:00pm
Fee: $150

The chair, created by Joseph Pilates, provides a wide variety of exercises in a small footprint. In the clinical setting, the chair offers opportunity to work functionally in sitting and standing both bilaterally and unilaterally. This course is an introduction to Chair exercises and includes regressions for the client in active rehabilitation as well progressions for the beginning, post-rehabilitation and advanced wellness client. This training is appropriate for clinics working with the Wunda Chair, Combo Chair and ExoChair. This course will include equipment set up, clinical application, and safety.

Instructor: Ann-Marie Chesterfield, DPT

Dance is the art of being.

Ayako offers this workshop as a daily practice of being—as a human, mover, performer, artist, dancer, and choreographer. Through this practice, Ayako will share the way to find our centered, grounded, and balanced selves through imagery (and physical reality) based exercises.

Through improvisational and simple compositional exercises, participants will raise a keen awareness of the expansiveness as well as the depth of being. Participants will explore ways to open up the body-mind as an empty conduit to welcome new wind flow through themselves and feel fullness.

Ayako will share how to expand and develop the tangible and intangible tensegrity (tension x integrity) through our bodies and minds to sense new relationships within and around us. Participants will be asked to create their own short dance.

Minneapolis-based Mary Willmeng has been a dance colleague of Ayako since 2007. Together, Mary and Ayako are excited to be able to realize an in-person workshop and share the Art of Being worldview with Minneapolis!

Art of Being: De-Growth/Slowing Down
Saturday, October 14
1:00-3:00pm
At Arena Dances

Early Bird Special: $20 – Register by October 13.
Drop-in: $23-25, sliding scale.
Registration is recommended.

To register, please contact Ayako at furyuayajp@gmail.com. Payment details and instructions are below. Registration is complete when you contact Ayako and payment is sent.

Payment: Zelle (Ayako Tsuchiya, furyuayajp@gmail.com), Venmo (@Ayako-Tsuchiya) or PayPal: paypal.me/AyakoTsuchiya
Thank you!

Please contact for any questions: furyuayajp@gmail.com (Ayako) or Mary, marywillmeng@gmail.com.

This JSB Dance Intensive is intended for adult dancers with some dance training beyond fundamentals. The over-arching goal of this Intensive is for participants to deepen their understanding of ballet and related movement modalities; engage in a creative physical pursuit in a friendly environment; and commit to wellness and regenerate their energy.

Train with movement experts who value personal growth and agency. Our instructors love sharing the joy of dance with
participants of all ages and abilities!

October 17-21, 2023
Tuesday-Thursday evenings
Friday-Saturday daytime
With optional Friday and Saturday evening activities!

Multiple Enrollment Options:

• Entire Intensive, Tuesday through Saturday
• Partial Evening, Tuesday through Thursday
• Partial Daytime, Friday and Saturday

The Minnesota International Dance Festival (MNIDF) brings together international dance instructors, choreographers, community members, and emerging Twin Cities artists for a week of community exchange through workshops and performances. This year’s featured country is Mexico. The festival will include 3 week-long workshops, a choreographer panel conversation, and three performances.

Workshops October 17-20, 2023:
Class A | 10:00-11:30am – Alexis Zanety, Circular Drawing Movement
Class B | 11:30am-1:00pm – Dora de la Torre, Mexican Folkloric Dance
Class C | 1:30-3:00pm – José A. Luis, Dance Composition

Informal Showcase Performance at the Southern Theater on October 21 at 1:30pm.

The doors to The Cowles Center are wide open and waiting for all dancers, choreographers, and movement artists to join the Programs and Advisory Committee and staff for a morning of connection!

This is a free opportunity to get to know the building, the people within it, and the programs you might be interested in. Whether you’ve been dancing on stages for years or just learned to point your toes, we’re excited to meet you!

Saturday, September 16
9:00am-12:30pm

Open House highlights:

• Breakout sessions featuring topics like pathways to funding, movement classes, and more!
• Resource Fair
• Light breakfast
• $5 parking/transportation subsidy available with pre-registration
• Translation available onsite upon request.