Archive

March 6-April 24, 2024
Wednesdays, 8:00-9:30am

Price: $160
Pre-registration required – no drop-ins.
Registration closes: February 25
Register here.

Contemporary Forms
The core themes of this practice will include sensory exploration, movement as meditation, and engaging with the body’s intuition. In each class, we will move through improvisation and phrase work to engage the senses and awaken the body. Movement material will have an expansive, animal-like virtuosity. Over the course of the series, we will extend phrase work, using imagery and prompts from our research to explore individual choice-making. This series is designed for intermediate/advanced movers who are interested in researching their unique movement modalities in a space based in curiosity and joy.

Sarah McCullough (she/her) is a Minneapolis-based movement artist and educator. Originally from Virginia, she attended James Madison University and earned her BA in Dance and Mathematics. Since joining Minneapolis’ dance community in 2018, she has performed the works of Carl Flink, Mathew Janczewski, Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Berit Ahlgren, Helen Hatch, Marisol Herling, and more. Alongside her performance work, Sarah is an educator in contemporary forms. While at JMU, she served as Co-Director of JMU’s Associate Dance Ensemble where she led a weekly company class and mentored 20 first-year dance majors in the early stages of their collegiate dance journey. She has led classes at the Limón Twin Cities Intensive, ARENA DANCES’ Instinct Summer Intensive, The University of Winchester (UK), North Carolina State University, as well as several high school dance programs and studios across Minnesota and Virginia.

Please join us at TU Dance Center for a six-week GYROKINESIS® workshop for adults with Wendy Anderson. No experience is necessary.

Class Description:
Starting with breathing patterns and progressing into motions that mobilize the spine through arching, curling, bending, spiraling, and waving. Connecting with the breath, the movement starts to feel like a dance. Oxygenating the circulatory system, stimulating the nervous system, and opening the body. Exercises are done on chairs/stools, in standing and lying positions.

Six Weeks, March 6-April 10
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:45pm
$85
Online registration required.

Wendy Anderson has trained as a dancer, fitness professional, Pilates trainer, and presently Gyrotonic Trainer. She is an authorized teacher and teacher trainer (Pre-Trainer) of both Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic. Having the good fortune of working with some of the most renowned Master Trainers, including Juergen Bamberger, Juliu Horvath (creator of Gyrotonic), and Paul Horvath (physiotherapist), Wendy has also trained on all pieces of Gyrotonic equipment! She trains all levels of students from highly accomplished athletes to the very beginner who has started their adventure with Gyrokinesis or Gyrotonics later in life. “Always amazed by the beauty, depth, and sophistication of this movement modality, and how people can benefit from gyro on all levels of their being.”

A unique exploration into the vast realms of horizontal and vertical movement/stillness. The workshop aims to cultivate a deep sense of awareness through mindfulness practices rooted in Buddhism, providing participants with the opportunity to come back home to the joy of dance. This workshop is designed for individuals who currently dance, used to dance, or aspire to explore movement/stillness as an art form. It is also open to anyone seeking to enhance their artistic expression through embodied practices. Everyone is encouraged to use a gentle and exploratory approach to movement, valuing quality over quantity, and promoting a sense of connection with one’s body through movement, dialogue, and writing.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
March 8, 9, and 10
10:00-11:30am
$10 per class, $30 for the entire series.
Attendance on all three days is recommended.
We offer a sliding scale to accommodate diverse financial situations.
Register.

Kei Tsuruharatani (she/they) is a transgender dance artist and educator from Osaka, Japan. She has performed on Broadway in Jagged Little Pill, The King and I, and Miss Saigon, and has appeared on TV shows such as Good Morning America, Harlem, and the Tonight Show. She has danced at the Metropolitan Opera for 6 seasons and performed with Eastman Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui in Belgium. With a B.A. in dance and theater, Kei has dedicated herself to the art of mindfulness education. Holding a qualification as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction facilitator, she has diligently crafted and delivered programs that weave mindfulness practices into both everyday life and the performing arts. Her personal practice is deeply rooted in the Buddhist tradition of Burma.

“One of my primary intentions is to provide a workshop environment that is not only welcoming but actively celebrates diversity. As a transgender woman myself, I understand the importance of creating queer-safe spaces where everyone feels seen, respected, and embraced.”

Balanced Body® Reformer 2 Instructor Training
March 15-17, 2024

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

Fee: $449 + $60 materials.
$499 after February 23.

Reformer 2 expands the potential of the Reformer with intermediate and advanced exercises and includes associated safety protocols and modifications. Reformer 2 also explores programs designed for specific populations including pre and post–natal clients, clients with osteoporosis, and clients with lower back issues. Class design, dynamic assessment and correcting common dysfunctional movement patterns are also included.
Prerequisite: Reformer 1

Instructor: Matthew Hodge-Rice

A child and parent/caregiver Creative Movement class, this 8-week workshop is designed for children ages 2-4 and their parent/caregiver who are interested in a shared movement experience that engages the senses of curiosity and play.

Both child and caregiver will participate in developmentally appropriate movement exercises that incorporate elements such as effort, shape, and tempo. Music will play an essential role in the class as students will be asked to respond to sounds as well as make sounds themselves. Participants will be encouraged to join at their own comfort level with the understanding that observation is often the best form of learning with younger children. This class will give children and caregivers the opportunity to learn more about themselves and one another through the art form of dance.

March 16-May 4
Saturdays, 9:00-9:45am
No class on April 6 and April 13.
At TU Dance Center.
Register here.