Feldenkrais Zoom Series: (A)symmetry in Action; a Moving Balance

Feldenkrais Zoom series with lessons by Jeffrey Wells and Krista Langberg: (A)symmetry in action; a moving balance.

The idea of perfect symmetry in ourselves is a myth. While we can see a general symmetry in our structure – two arms, two legs, a midline, etc. – there are plenty of asymmetries. Our heart is situated a little left of center, nestled within a two-lobed left lung across from a three-lobed right lung. Further down we have a liver on the right and a spleen and stomach to the left; not to mention the undulating 20 feet of intestines even lower. Even our seemingly symmetrical skeletal and muscular systems offer beautiful reflections of our complex, varied, and counter-symmetrical lives. 

Our asymmetries are what make us who we are, and many of them arise and get reinforced by how we move ourselves. Rather than try to wish away or “fix” these variations, in our upcoming Feldenkrais series we will explore how increasing awareness of our biases and differences can offer us new and improved ways of acting with our uniqueness, enhancing our sense of wholeness. 

April 2-May 9, 2024
Choose your class to register:
Tuesdays, 10:00-11:15am CST
Thursdays, 7:00-8:15pm CST

$75-$150; income-based sliding scale. If cost is a barrier, let’s discuss!
Forms of payment accepted: Cash, check, Venmo, or PayPal to kristalangberg@gmail.com.

Zoom Series Includes
Six distinct ATM lessons and post-lesson discussions.
Access to lesson audio recordings.
Flexibility to mix and match recordings from Tuesdays and Thursdays to fit your schedule.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Free Workshop with Christian Warner

Tuesday, April 2
6:00-8:00pm
At Ballet Co.Laboratory Studio Theatre

Delve into Christian Warner’s contemporary interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in this free workshop.

  • Hear about Christian’s creative process
  • Get a sneak peek at the world-premiere production
  • Option to learn a piece of choreography from the show

Save your spot by submitting your RSVP to info@balletcolaboratory.org.

This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of #ArtsMidwest that is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

MotionArt First Friday Improv Gathering

Several dancers in black clothing dance and make shapes in a studio

Friday, April 5
6:30–8:00pm

Center for Performing Arts, Studio 105w – next to 38th Street entrance.

This event is open to people of all ages and abilities. Enjoy being present in the moment, responding to other dancers, finding new ways of moving, and discovering form as it emerges during this fun evening of creative movement. We’ll begin with an informal warm-up, then improvise together based on movement ideas offered by participants.

Come to move, to dance, to observe, or some of each!

Suggested donation $5-$15. No one turned away for lack of funds.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Reality and fantasy collide in a contemporary retelling of William Shakespeare’s spellbinding A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Under the moonlight in an altered reality, witness the chaos and absurdity of desire come to life as lovers are driven by mistaken identity and enchantment. Inspired by astrological and environmental themes, we invite you to linger with us in the mayhem until dawn.

Choreographed by: Christian Warner
Performed by: The Company of Ballet Co.Laboratory

Friday, April 5 at 7:00pm
Saturday, April 6 at 7:00pm
Sunday, April 7 at 2:00pm

Floorwork: Conversations and Knowledge Sharing Potluck

Saturday, April 6
12:00-2:00pm
RSVP is appreciated.

This April Floorwork will continue the March 4, 2024 Dance Town Hall conversation with emphasis on creating a specific advocacy group for the dance community! Please come prepared with topics and action steps in response to the recent survey, March 4 Dance Town Hall, and previous Floorwork discussions.

Floorwork: a communal conversation and shared meal. 
Conversation will be held over a communal meal – bring your own dish to share in our potluck! ARENA DANCES will supply beverages, plates, napkins, and utensils. Floorwork was developed to hold conversations, knowledge-sharing, and a supportive space for dance artists and people who like to move. Attendees are asked to fill out a new RSVP form for each monthly Floorwork event.

Can’t attend, but would like to join in the conversation?
Join us via Zoom Meeting.
Meeting ID: 811 5083 8698
Passcode: 738155

Spring and Community MoveTogethers with Rhythmically Speaking

Wanna get jazzy with the Rhythmically Speaking crew? Come dance with us at our:

Spring MoveTogether
Monday, April 8: 3:30-5:00pm
The Cowles Center – Studio 5B
Drop-in, $10-$15 sliding scale, paid via Venmo before or after class, or in cash after.

MoveTogethers are our version of a company class, but more collaborative. These classes offer opportunities to improvise in solo and social ways, manipulate material offered by RS Artistic and Executive Director Erinn Liebhard, and build and manipulate your own material based around jazz and American social dance-inspired prompts!

Our approach to jazz emphasizes groove, interaction and improvisation (elements we see as present in all American social dance forms), honors the African diasporic roots of these forms, and is driven by jazz music. We are excited to open our company MoveTogethers up to the public once again this spring so pre-professional and professional dancers in our community can join in the jazz.

Community MoveTogether
Sunday, April 7: 7:30-9:00pm
Young Dance

What’s this, you ask? It’s a low-to-no pressure way for us to get to know you better and for you to move with us as we look forward to upcoming projects, seeing whose out there and interested while offering the community a free class opportunity. Pre-registration is not be required: just show up with an open heart and ready to groove with other neat humans!

Hope to see you at one or both!

Injury Prevention for Dancers: Intrinsic Foot Strengthening

Injury Prevention for Dancers: Intrinsic Foot Strengthening
Monday, April 8: 5:30-6:30pm
Cost: $25

The foot plays an integral role in how our entire body functions, balances, and moves through space. Dancers need to have this system finely tuned for optimal stability and mobility. The foot strength, flexibility, and mobility affect everything from the foot, knee, hip, pelvic floor, low back and spine – even up to the shoulders, neck and head. It is important that we not neglect these tiny, yet impactful muscles.

This workshop will be part lecture and part movement. You will walk away with a better understanding of this system in order to dance in a healthier way and prevent future injury. Come prepared to learn some basic anatomy and function of the foot, as well as exercises to perform before dance class or a performance. Join us!

Taught by Dr. Annie Chesterfield PT, DPT, OCS, CPT. Annie is a women’s pelvic health physical therapist with a special interest in dance medicine and a nationally certified Pilates teacher.

Register through our website, or call or email the studio for more information.

Seeking Dancers for 2024 Fringe Festival

Vela Dance is seeking dancers for its inaugural production Amber & Gold in the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival. The Festival will run August 1-11, and there will be five performance dates within that time frame.

Rehearsal dates and times are TBD and will be based on cast availability. Dancers must be open to exploration and collaboration and must have a strong contemporary foundation.

Interested individuals should fill out the Interest Form no later than April 8.

MO-SHO

MOVO is experimenting with a biennial sharing structure! Using an open call format to all who participate and are in community at MOVO, artists are invited to share work at any creative stage.

In our inaugural offering, artists Rachel Lieberman, Anat Shinar, Marcela Michelle and Megan Mayer take focus in a shared evening of performance work at Red Eye on April 13, 2024, at 7:00pm, while Morgan Thorson extends her own choreographic inquiry with Alex Beaumont and Dienae Hunter, and offers an open rehearsal on April 10.

Tickets for April 13 are by donation, cash/Venmo at the door.

MO-SHO is supported by a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Organizations grant, made possible through appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Minnesota Dance Theatre Seeks School Director

Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) seeks a strategic and collaborative School Director, a cross-cutting leader who will work within and among a faculty of dance teachers, three direct reports, and MDT’s Board of Directors.

MDT is an acclaimed dance school based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded by Loyce Houlton in 1962, MDT ranks as one of the most enduring arts organizations and aspires to maintain the highest international artistic standards, while attracting audiences, dancers, and students from all cultural and economic backgrounds.

The School Director will play an active leadership role within the organization as an operational and artistic school leader, as well as in the community, engaging deeply with donors and the dance community. They will develop and implement a ballet curriculum and strategies that grow the power and artistry of dancers.

This opportunity is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive compensation package.
Salary Range: $70k-$80k.

More information.