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Master Tap Classes: Dianne Walker “Lady Di” and Guillem Alonso

Minnesota tappers – don’t miss this amazing opportunity to take master classes from world renowned tap dancers!

Master Tap Classes with Dianne Walker and Guillem Alonso
Sunday, January 22

Dianne Walker “Lady Di” (Boston)
Intermediate Class: 1:00-2:15pm
Advanced class: 2:30-3:45pm

Guillem Alonso (Barcelona, Spain)
Advanced class: 1:00-2:15pm
Intermediate class: 2:30-3:45pm

Classes held at Heartbeat Performing Arts Center, located 8 min south of MOA, off 77/Cedar Ave. Address below.

Tuition: $25 per class
Ages 12 through adult.
To reserve a spot in class, email kristinheartbeatpac@gmail.com, or call Heartbeat at 952-432-7833.

Dianne Walker: Considered a pioneer in the resurgence of tap dance with a career over 30 years spanning Broadway, television, film and international dance concerts. She’s been dubbed the “Ella Fitzgerald of Tap Dance.” The Boston Herald called her “America’s First Lady of Tap” and in Dallas, “The Ballerina of Tap”. Savion Glover and his contemporaries affectionately call her “Aunt Dianne” in acknowledgment of her unique place as mentor, teacher and confidante. In appreciation of her personal style and elegance as a performer, as well as her eloquent and passionate commitment to the art of tap dance, mentors and peers refer to her as “Lady Di”.

Guillem Alonso: Guillem Alonso has been, as a teacher and organizer, the driving force behind a new generation of tap dancers in Barcelona. He is currently directing the Escola Luthier Dansa (Barcelona), where he organizes his Professional Tap Training Program, open to dancers from around the world. He won the Dansacat 2010 Prize. He has been a soloist in the show Fire Of Dance, traveling to Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Holland, Slovakia, Hungary and Belgium. He acted on Broadway at the New Victory Theater (New York) with the show La Vida Es Ritmo, which has co-created with the company Camut Band. His work has been screened at the festivals of Edinburgh, Toronto, New Haven, Greenwich, and Tàrrega (Spain). He is one of the few dancers who practice sand dance style, with which he has gained prestige and international recognition.

The Arena – Drop-in Moving Practice with Benny Olk

Moving Practice is a weekly class series for professional dancers. Classes prioritize rigor, diversity of contemporary aesthetics, variety of class content, and commitment.

Benny Olk teaches Moving Practice in January:
Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30am

Professional-level dancers of all styles are welcome.
Pre-register here.

Suggested $17 per class; however, there is a pay-as-able option on all classes – we would rather you join us than not be able to attend due to financial limitations.

Class description: This class will offer an introduction to Cunningham technique, emphasizing rhythmic, directional, and physical clarity in order to organize movements with efficiency and at the same time making room for discovery. The class begins with exercises for the torso, then moves to legwork, then across the floor, and finally into jumping. Each class will contain something everyone can do and something no one can do. “The only way to do it is to do it,” as Cunningham himself said.

Benny Olk (he/him) is a performing artist and teacher based in Minneapolis with an interest in contemporizing and contextualizing American modern and post-modern dance. As a member of Lucinda Childs Dance Company, he performed reconstructions of pieces such as Dance and Available Light. He performed in reconstructions of Crises and Suite for Five among others by Merce Cunningham, and has premiered works by Moriah Evans and Anthea Hamilton. Benny holds a BFA in Dance from NYU and an MA in New Performative Practices from Stockholm University of the Arts.

Winter Dance Experience at Young Dance

Join Young Dance on Monday, February 20, for a day of classes featuring a variety of fun styles! Spend your day off from school exploring new styles of dance with your friends! Classes include Family Dance, Creative Movement, plus full-day or half-day Variety Camp.

Family Dance – Ages 1-6 with caregiver – February 20, 9:15-10:00am
Join us for a morning of dancing together with teacher extraordinaire, Julia. Children and caregivers will get a special start to their day, exploring movement and stories in a fun environment.

Creative Movement – Ages 4-7 – February 20, 10:00am-12:00pm
Your little one can explore the possibilities of movement with a focus on storytelling. From a personal experience to the depths of their imaginations, children will spend time expressing the stories that reside in their bodies and minds. In this fun-filled class, children develop large and fine motor skills, as well as coordination, rhythm, and listening skills as they go on their creative adventures.

Variety Dance Camp – Ages 7-13 and 14-18 – February 20, 1:00-4:30pm or 9:30am-4:30pm
Send your dancers to us for the whole day, or just the afternoon! In this camp, dancers will experience a variety of styles. 

Registration opens Monday, January 23! Register at register.youngdance.org.

Erin Thompson Teaches Advanced Contemporary Classes in Person and on Zoom

Erin’s advanced-level contemporary hybrid class through Zenon Dance School includes floor work, standing warm-ups, and phrase work, all designed to enhance the healthy use of joints and muscle groups as dancers release their weight fully into the support of the ground. Experiential awareness, body mapping, improvisation, and creative work are included as dancers channel their own expressive artistry within the movement. The delightful Dean Magraw will accompany on guitar.

Thursday mornings, 9:30-11:00am

Registration is open through Zenon’s MindBody portal and closes ten minutes before class.
See you in person or virtually soon!

Modern Dance Class with Thern Anderson at Tapestry

Anyone can dance and find pleasure in movement! Thern Anderson’s modern dance class at Tapestry Folkdance Center will focus on body awareness, rhythm, movement patterns through space, and ensemble dancing. Improvisation will give dancers the opportunity to explore their own movement creativity and its relation to others. Floor work using somatic principles will build strength, ease, and flexibility. All ages are welcome!

Mondays, 12:00-1:30pm
Drop-ins welcome.

$15-20, sliding scale. Cash or check made out to Kathryn Anderson.

Contact Improvisation Jam

We meet every Monday (holidays included) at The Center for Performing Arts in room 105w. Entrance through the new wing on 38th Street.

6:30pm: Opening circle, short guided warm-up/exercise followed by an open jam
8:20pm: Closing circle
8:45pm: Entire jam wraps up

Suggested donation of $5 for space rental. The building recommends masks in dance spaces and a signature on their liability waiver. We have that waiver available when you first walk into the dance room.

Free West African Dance Classes

Free West African drum and dance classes with Fode and Whitney of Duniya Drum and Dance every Thursday.

Drum 6:00-7:00pm then dance 7:15-8:15pm. Classes are drop-in and we will have drums available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Classes culminate in a student performance and community gathering on February 16.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Hothouse Studio Rental – Northeast Minneapolis

Make Hothouse your home! Our space is available for hourly rentals to independent artists and arts organizations. Book a single session for rehearsal, or run your programming here. Like a community garden, filled with unique plots, the beauty of Hothouse is in the diversity of the people that fill our space.

Studio 1 is 900 square feet, and Studio 2 is 1000 square feet. Both studios include:

  • Sprung, Marley floor
  • Mirrors
  • Sound system
  • Portable barres
  • Fitness equipment
  • Adjustable lighting
  • Wifi
  • Individual lobbies with seating
  •  Access to a restroom and filtered water station
  • Large windows with a view of the Minneapolis skyline
  • Free lot and street parking

Rental prices vary based on the type of event, starting at just $12 per hour. Fill out the First Time Rental Request form at the bottom of this page to introduce yourself and book the space!

Daily Drop-In Classes at Hothouse

Open dance and fitness classes seven days a week! Class offerings include ballet, Krump, yin yoga, contemporary, heels, The Ellové Technique®, jazz, BollyX, modern, Arabic dance, hip hop, sessions, and more.

Hothouse is a multi-purpose studio space in Minneapolis featuring drop-in classes for teens and adults. Whether you’re already involved in the local arts scene, an aspiring dance professional looking to bolster your training, or just a human who loves to move, Hothouse offers classes that celebrate the bliss of movement and embrace you for who you are.

Come as you are, leave as more.

Visit our website or find us on MINDBODY to view the full schedule and book your next class!
Free lot and street parking.

Zenon Dance School – Winter Classes in Person and Online

Zenon Dance School is excited to welcome you back for another season of dance this winter!
Registration is open for the Winter Session, January 9-March 19, 2023.
Classes are held in person unless otherwise noted.

Monday
10:00am: Intermediate 2 Contemporary with Joanna Lees
5:30pm: Contemporary Floorwork with Anna Pinault
7:00pm: Beginning/Intermediate Jazz with Jennifer Glaws – Hybrid

Tuesday
10:30am: gaga/people with Berit Ahlgren
6:00pm: All Levels Hip-Hop with Arturo Miles
7:00pm: Beginning 1 Jazz with Allison Rubin Forester – Hybrid

Wednesday
9:30am: Composition/Improvisation with HIJACK – Online-only February 1, February 15, March 1, and March 15
5:30pm: Musical Theatre Jazz with Xan Mattek
5:30pm: Intermediate 1 Contemporary with Ruby Josephine Smith
5:30pm: Beginning Ballet with Lisa Erickson – Online
6:30pm: All Levels Tap with Xan Mattek
7:00pm: Open Levels Hip Hop with Averie Mitchell-Brown

Thursday
9:30am: Advanced Contemporary/Modern with Erin Thompson – Hybrid
5:30pm: Afro Modern with Roxane Wallace
7:00pm: Intermediate Modern with Dustin Haug – Hybrid

Friday
10:00am: All Levels Jazz with Ayumi Shafer and Xan Mattek – Hybrid
12:00pm: Intermediate 2 Ballet with Penny Freeh

Saturday
9:00am: All Levels Yoga with Ariel Linnerson – Online
10:00am: Beginning 1 Modern with Roxane Wallace
12:30pm: Beginning 2 Ballet with Ben Johnson

Sunday
10:15am: Creative Movement for ages 3-4 with Eliana Durnbaugh
10:15am: Creative Movement for ages 5-6 with Sofia Arisian
11:00am: Youth Hip Hop for ages 7-10 with Sofia Arisian
11:00am: Youth Modern for ages 11-14 with Eliana Durnbaugh