Archive

Lisa Erickson Teaches Ballet via Zoom

Let loose your love of ballet!

Students call Lisa’s ballet classes magical, referring to their experience of feeling both more grounded and “up on their legs” in her classes. She helps students strengthen their mindset, encourages and facilitates the expression of their own unique style, and uses her eagle eye to fine-tune students’ technique. And, most importantly of all, has fun doing so! The end result: lots of fun and the expansion of each student’s full potential! All classes are offered on a sliding scale of $5-15.

Thursdays, 5:30-6:45pm: Intermediate                           

Sundays, 1:30-3:00pm: Slow intermediate                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Mondays, 5:30-6:45: Beginning 2

Composer Dameun Strange Talks Journeys in Music and to Senegal

Ananya Dance Theatre is pleased to present Sound Designer and Composer Dameun Strange, collaborator on our Dastak production, in the second installment of our series, Documents of Our Times: Artists Talking Craft, Vision, Values, Inspiration.

Listen as Strange affectingly discusses the impact of a recent trip to Senegal and performs Senegal Rises: https://vimeo.com/527319432

Recorded March 13, 2021 at the Shawngram Institute for Performance & Social Justice, Saint Paul, Minnesota. 47:01. Closed captioning available. © 2021 Ananya Dance Theatre.

Ananya Dance Theatre, in partnership with Dameun Strange, is a fiscal year 2020 recipient of a Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

New Season of Studio Stories Coming April 15

After an exciting, thought-provoking third season, Studio Stories will return on April 15 for Season 4 of this unique podcast. We have an amazing line-up of artists on board to share their Twin Cities dance history and reminisce on the arcs of their careers. Some of these voices include Cathy Young, Darrius Strong, Sharon Picasso, Eddie Oroyan and more!

Studio Stories will continue to air weekly on Thursdays at noon, with host Mathew Janczewski. It is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, and more. You can also listen right on our website!

In this interlude, you can explore past episodes at https://www.arena-dances.org/studio-stories-archive/

Threads Dance Nexus: Rent Our Space

An image of the Nexus dance studio, with a wall of windows and black Marley floor

Our 1,480 square foot space has a professional grade speaker sound system, sprung floors, barres and mirrors, is ADA compliant, and has two gender neutral changing rooms. Its large windows and garage door allow for an abundance of natural light and fresh air.

A new ventilation system and thorough cleaning between each use are compliant with guidelines for Covid-19 preparedness plans. Face coverings are required at all times and our maximum studio capacity is ten people, to allow for adequate distancing.

Conveniently located in the Seward neighborhood, we offer free parking and free side street parking. We are a five-minute walk from the Franklin Light Rail Station, and a 2-5 minute walk from nearest bus stops (lines 2, 9, 22, 67).

A nonrefundable deposit equal to one hour at the renter’s base rate is due to secure space.
To request space, please email nexusrentals@threadsdance.org.

Ananya Dance Theatre’s Shawngram Institute Open Classes

Ananya Dance Theatre’s Shawngram Institute for Performance & Social Justice offers the following classes online:

Tuesdays: Yorchhā Strong, 9:00-9:30am, CDT
Wednesdays: Intro to Yorchhā, 6:30-7:30pm, CDT
Fridays: Intro to Yorchhā, 6:30-7:30pm, CDT
Sundays: Advanced Yorchhā, 3:00-4:00pm, CDT

Yorchhā is Ananya Dance Theatre’s trade-marked contemporary technique that intersects principles of vinyasa yoga, the classical Indian dance form Odishi (from the eastern Indian state of Odisha), and the martial art form Chhau (also from Odisha).

Classes are donation based. We suggest $10-20 per class but please donʻt let financial limitations stop you from participating. Another way to contribute is by sharing information about the classes on your social media or inviting people in your orbit to take class with you!

Open Adult Ballet Tuesdays, 9:30-11:00am

Adult Open Intermediate Ballet Class with Zachary Tuazon (MDT) takes place every Tuesday, 9:30-11:00am at Collide.
ALL WELCOME!

Limited in-person slots available. Please register ahead of time. Virtual classes available as well.

Located in the heart of the Creative Enterprise Zone in St. Paul, Collide’s new space is in the Can-Can Wonderland building on Prior Avenue just off HWY 280. Ample free parking and on a public transit line make it easily accessible.

REGISTER: https://www.collidetheatrical.org/book-online

Classes are $15 in person and $12 virtual.

Pre-Professional Jazz Dance Intensive

July 19-23 and July 26-30, 2021
Ages sixteen and older.

Train with some of the Twin Cities top talents in theatrical jazz dance while taking your dance and performing skills to the next level. Our program is tailored to meet the individual goals and needs of EACH dancer. ALL ARE WELCOME.
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Classes take place at the Collide Studio and virtually.

Monday-Friday, 9:30-3:30pm
Daily Class Sample Schedule:
9:30-11:00am: Ballet Technique
11:00-12:30pm: Jazz Technique
12:30-3:30pm: Classes in Acting, Commercial Jazz, African, Contemporary, Hip Hop and more!
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Teachers include Chelsea Rose, Alyson Richert, Katie Bradley, Emily Madigan and more! The two-week intensive culminates with an opportunity to audition for Collide’s 2021/2022 Performing Apprentice Program.

Scholarships available for BIPOC applicants and those underrepresented in dance. Email Chelsea@collidetheatrical.org for more information.

Watch Karen’s Picks for Threads Dance Project Tenth Anniversary

It is Threads’ tenth anniversary and we are spending this year celebrating!

Every month from March through December 2021, Threads Dance Project will release some of Artistic Director Karen L. Charles’ 10th Anniversary Picks. Pay-as-able in multiples of ten, from $1, $10, $100, or even $1,000 to view ten years of Karen’s selected works!

March’s works include Belonging and At First Sight (2011), and In This Skin (2012).

Each release will be 25-30 minutes in length. Once registered, you will receive a private link and password that will allow you to view these works until April 4, 2021.

Stay tuned for more tenth anniversary celebration news in the months to come!

In Search of Used Dance Flooring

Minnetonka Theatre is in search of used (or smaller trimmed sections) of Marley or similar dance flooring for an outdoor stage and narrow platform/runway for our spring production.

Looking for flooring that is appropriate and safe for tap dancing.

Please contact Matt Kudas at matthew.kudas@mtka.org or Jennifer Crist at Jennifer.crist.dance@icloud.com with details!

Erin Thompson Teaches Advanced Contemporary/Modern Class on Zoom via Zenon

Erin’s advanced level contemporary/modern Zoom 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 (virtually) soon!