Archive

The Arena – Contemporary Flow with Mathew Janczewski

Contemporary Flow with Mathew Janczewski
Fridays, 10:00-11:30am
At the Arena, now through November 18
Pre-register!

Suggested $17 per class, but ARENA DANCES offers 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 focuses on opening up curiosity, finding internal pathways within the body and the contrast of those same pathways. An assortment of texture, speed, density, length, force and resistance will be taught to open these skills.

Mathew’s work as Artistic Director of ARENA DANCES is best described as contemporary, spanning an array of styles – from quietly evocative to physically demanding, full of spiraling momentum that draws energy into the core and spreads it out like disco ball beams of light. At times, movement focuses on the dancers’ bends and folds, creating shape as one shifts and moves, forging moments of connection.

Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Gretchen Pick

“Stories are among our most potent tools… We need to unearth old stories that live in a place and begin to create new ones. We are story makers, not just storytellers. All stories are connected, new ones woven from the threads of the old” (Robin Wall Kimmerer).

Join ARENA DANCES for our weekly Studio Stories podcast, where each week we reminisce on Twin Cities dance history with a new special guest. This week on Thursday, November 3 we have Gretchen Pick for Season 8, Episode 107!

Gretchen Pick has been an active dancer, teacher and choreographer in the Twin Cities since 1993 and has been the Executive Director of Young Dance now for 22 years.

Studio Stories airs Thursdays at noon. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or find it here!

Give to the Max Day – Please Consider a Gift to ARENA DANCES

ARENA DANCES is participating in the thirteenth annual Give to the Max giving event taking place this year starting on Tuesday, November 1, and culminating on Thursday, November 17. Give to the Max is a statewide giving event that raises millions each year for more than 6,000 causes across Minnesota and beyond. Considered Minnesota’s holiday for generosity, donors have given more than $225 million since the inaugural Give to the Max Day in 2009.

Please consider making a generous gift to ARENA DANCES this November to support numerous impactful upcoming projects in the 2022/2023 season, including:

The continuation and expansion of ARENA’s DanceON educational outreach program, focused on incorporating dance into K-12 Minneapolis Public Schools, along with the development of workshops for professional performing artists to acquire skills of dance pedagogy to teach in these K-12 academic settings. This season, DanceON will hold residencies in the Lucy Laney Community School and Hall STEM Academy.

The seventh annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival, which aims to offer masterclasses, panel discussions, performances featuring both emerging and established choreographers, and more taking place April 24-29, 2023 at The Southern Theater.

Sponsor a dancer towards the research for ARENA’s next work entitled Erased Steps, beginning with the $6,000 needed for movement generating rehearsals starting in January 2023 with the talented Dustin Haug, Leslie O’Neill, and Laura Selle Virtucio. Erased Steps will premiere in Fall 2023 with a cast of 12-16 Twin Cities dancers at the Union Depot in St. Paul.

Our goal is to raise $12,000 this GTM Season to further ARENA’s impact in creative education, arts engagement, and curation of live performances to share with our wonderful dance community.

We thank you for your contribution and consideration.

MotionArt Adult Modern Dance Classes

MotionArt’s mission is to share the art of dance and the joy of movement with people of all ages and abilities. We strive to enrich lives by fostering creativity, body awareness and self-expression in a fun, non-competitive, welcoming environment.

We offer ongoing dance classes in-studio, on Zoom, and outside (weather permitting). Paying the regular rate helps keep our organization afloat; however, no one will be turned away for inability to pay. There is also an option to pay what you can.

Please go to motionartmn.org to sign-up for classes, or contact Pam Gleason for information.

Ageless Dance
Mondays, 4:00-5:15pm – Center for Performing Arts, Studio #105
Thursdays, 4:30-5:45pm – Center for Performing Arts, Sunroom

Beginning Modern Dance
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:15pm – Zoom only

Intermediate Modern Dance
Wednesdays, 10:30am-12:00pm – Center for Performing Arts, Sunroom

Mixed Level Modern Dance
Tuesdays, 7:00-8:15pm – Center for Performing Arts, Studio #105
Saturdays, 4:00-5:30pm – Hybrid: Center for Performing Arts, Sunroom, and Zoom

James Sewell Ballet – Open Advanced/Professional Class and Coordi™ Classes

Ballet students jump in with pointed toes, ankles crossed and arms en bau

Come join the JSB dancers in our open professional class! All classes are ballet unless noted otherwise.
Sign up for in-person company class or virtual Coordi™ class at www.jsballet.org/classes.

November 2
Wednesday, 9:30-11:00am CT – Leah Gallas, with Eric Jensen on piano
No class Thursday or Friday.

November 7-11
Monday, 9:30-11:00am CT – Deirdre Murnane
Tuesday, 9:30-11:00am CT – Kerry Parker, with Pat Lyles on piano
Wednesday, 9:30-11:00am CT – Leah Gallas, with Eric Jensen on piano
Thursday, 9:30-11:00am CT – Chloe Duryea
Friday, 9:30-11:00am CT – James Sewell

Coordi™ Class
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00am taught by James Sewell.
Ongoing. Virtual-only at this time.

What is Coordi™? It’s a movement study based on multiple kinetic patterns happening at once. Physical brain teasers combine with ballet for unexpected pathways and alignments that challenge both your mind and body! Learn more about Coordi™ here.

Friday Morning Jazz: Erinn Liebhard This Week

Come groove with Erinn Liebhard at this week’s Friday Morning Jazz class at Zenon Dance School! Erinn’s approach to jazz emphasizes groove, interaction and improvisation, is inspired by both social and concert dance movement (particularly that with African diasporic roots), and is driven by jazz music.

Class runs 10-11:15am CST and remains hybrid, with plenty of in-studio space for masked students and a high-quality Zoom option for folks joining from home/ remotely. Drop-ins encouraged. Register for class at zenondance.org, and #GetYourAssToClass!

Bharatanatyam Classes at the Ragamala Training Center

three images of students and professional bharatanatyam dancers

The Ragamala Training Center offers Bharatanatyam classes for beginners (children and adults) as well as experienced dancers. Led by highly-skilled company members, classes in Bharatanatyam dance are enriching, fun, and foster cultural awareness.

Ragamala Training Center offers introductory through advanced level classes for ages 7 through adult. 

Introductory (Adavu) Class
Saturdays, 2:00-3:30pm
Fall session: September 10-December 17
You can view the full calendar here.

Registration
Please use this link to submit your registration.

New Student Introductory Tuition
Full-year tuition – $950
Paid in installments – $500 for fall semester and $550 for spring semester
We also offer discounts for families enrolling more than one student.

For more information, please go to: https://www.ragamaladance.org/training-center

The Ragamala Training Center welcomes students with prior experience in Bharatanatyam to audition for upper-level classes. Please contact us at admin@ragamaladance.org before registering for classes beyond the introductory level.

Rent the Young Dance Studios

Photo of a dance studio with windows at the far wall

Young Dance has two large studios available for rent in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul. Easily accessible by the Green Line light rail, the 16 and 67 bus lines, and with ample parking in the Fairview Business Center parking lot. The space is fully ADA accessible with ramps to the sprung studio floor and automatic door openers.

Rentals are currently available:
Monday-Thursday, 8:00am-3:30pm
Tuesday, 7:45-9:00pm
Wednesday, 7:15-9:00pm
Friday, 11:00am-9:00pm
Saturday, 3:00-9:00pm
Sunday, 8:00-10:45am and 3:15-9:00pm

The studios are newly equipped with sprung Harlequin Marley flooring, a Bluetooth speaker system, and wifi. A projector with AV adapters is available by request. Studio 2 has ballet barres and a mirror. The studio has a clear COVID safety plan including regular disinfecting of all floors and surfaces and a new HVAC system that refreshes the air 7-8 times per hour.

Studio 1: Measures 41′ x 38′ and rents at $25/hour
Studio 2: Measures 38′ x 38′ and rents at $20/hour

To book the space email kathleen@youngdance.org or call 612-423-3064. Payment is required upon confirmation of rental with a signed rental agreement and liability waiver.

Young Dance Fall Classes

Four class images of young dancers paired with the Young Dance logo

Since 1987, Young Dance has encouraged youth in our community to build body and spirit through the art of dance. Our mission is to transform lives through movement. We are an inclusive community where creativity flourishes, encouraging personal and artistic excellence through diverse forms of dance.

Young Dance is committed to offering a fun and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Our Teaching Artists are some of the best in cities, bringing their experience and expertise to a myriad of styles and techniques. The 2022–23 Session includes Afro-Modern, All Abilities Dancing, Ballet, Breaking, Creative Movement, Choreography, Dance Together, Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern, and the Young Dance Performing Company.

Classes begin Thursday, September 15, and continue through Sunday, May 21, 2023. The final weekend of the session culminates in performances at the Luminary Arts Center.

Registration is now open! Some classes fill quickly so enroll today! 

Community Movement Collective Open Classes

CoMoCollective offers small group classes for professionals and adult dancers alike to keep us moving together!

Wednesday, November 2
Foundational Ballet with Kendall Kramer – 12:00-1:15pm

Thursday, November 3
Ballet with Leah Gallas – 10:00-11:30am
Accompanied by Susan Hsu

Friday, November 4
Ballet with Helen Hatch – 10:00- 11:30am
Accompanied by Pay Lyles

Monday, November 7
Ballet with Kerry Parker – 10:00–11:30am
Accompanied by Sara Duran

Tuesday, November 8
Contemporary Movement Practice with Elena Hollenhorst  – 10:00-11:30am

Come join us!

$15/class. $130 for a 10-class card. $10 for barre.

Pre-registration is required and appreciated at least 12 hours before class start. Classes do fill up to a week in advance, sign up early! Virtual option offered upon request.