Archive: Ongoing Classes

At the Ragamala Training Center, students receive classical training in the style of Bharatanatyam carefully created by the internationally renowned Padma Bhushan Alarmel Valli, considered to be one of India’s greatest living masters. This style is distinguished by its technical perfection and grace, and Artistic Directors Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy are dedicated to preserving and carrying on their guru’s tradition and passing it on to the next generation of dancers.

Ragamala classes provide students with rigorous training while giving them an opportunity to learn about, preserve, and immerse themselves in the arts and culture of India. Ragamala Training Center’s unique program stresses artistic excellence and a professional level of training while fostering cultural awareness.

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

Introductory Class
Saturdays, 3:15-4:00pm
Online via Zoom
Classes run October 2021-May 2022
You can view the full calendar here: https://www.ragamaladance.org/school-calendar

Registration
Please use this link to submit your registration: https://forms.gle/oXRMupDLPcUnFmqC8

New Student Introductory Tuition
Full year tuition = $800
Paid in installments = $450 Fall Semester and $450 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.

Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) has been teaching and performing Kathak, the North Indian classical dance form, for over three decades. Kathak is an elegant dance form characterized by rhythmic footwork, graceful hand gestures, pirouettes, lyrical movements, and storytelling.

KDT’s winter class session began on December 4, 2021. We currently offer hybrid education options for all classes, and students are welcome to choose their learning preference depending on their comfort level. All in-person students are required to follow KDT’s health and safety policies detailed here, which includes wearing a mask in the studio at all times and providing proof of vaccination (if eligible).

There will be a class for new beginners of all ages six and older on Saturdays from 4:00-5:00 pm CT. The first New Beginner class will be on Saturday, December 11.

KDT is happy to offer need-based scholarships at the discretion of its teaching staff, and it welcomes dancers of all backgrounds and skill levels in the classroom! Email info@kathadance.org with any questions, and learn how to enroll here.

Friday Morning Jazz class welcomes our special guest artist Jolene Konkel who will teach on December 10 and 17. FMJ is an open-level, drop-in friendly, hybrid jazz dance class through Zenon Dance School. Dancers may attend in-person (masked and socially-distanced) or Zoom in for a high-quality Zoom experience.

Regular co-teachers Erinn Liebhard and Karla Grotting are thrilled to be hosting several guest teaching artists this year to highlight and explore the many varied approaches and insights of jazz dance teachers in our local dance community. Come out and support your local jazz class! Jolene is the founder and Artistic Director of the newest jazz dance company in the Twin Cities, Concerto Dance. Come celebrate her fresh take on classic jazz styles!

About Jolene Konkel:

Jolene Konkel began her dance training in Milwaukee under William Reilly, a descendent of Jerome Robbins’ Ballets USA. While in Milwaukee she performed with the Milwaukee Opera Company and Danceworks before relocating to Chicago to study jazz dance at Gus Giordano’s and the Lou Conte Dance Studio. She then migrated to Minneapolis where she completed her BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota and later received her MFA in Performance and Choreography from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her choreography spans from the music theatre stage to concert dance and has been presented both locally and abroad. Currently Ms. Konkel oversees the dance program at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, and is the Artistic Director of Concerto Dance by Jolene Konkel.

Come join us at The Arena for youth, adult, and professional dance offerings.

Winter Session: January 3-April 9; thirteen weeks.
No classes February 28-March 6.

Specials for the holiday season, good through December 22:

Adult Classes

Wednesdays
6:30-7:30pm – Capoeira
This class is for ages sixteen and older. Enrollment is encouraged, as skills develop throughout the session.
$195 pre-enrollment encouraged for full session – a $26 savings!

10-class Flex-Card holiday special: $150 – a 10% savings for all drop-in class options, normally $17/class.

Tuesdays
9:15-10:00am – Pilates Mat
10:00-11:30am – Moving Practice: investigations within contemporary forms
4:00-5:00pm – Gyrokinesis Method

Fridays
10:00-11:30am – Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary Technique

Youth Classes on Saturdays
9:00-9:45am – Creative Movement: 4-8 years of age
10:00-10:45am – Dancing Together: 2-5 years of age
Pre-enrollment necessary. $156 for the full session – a $26 savings! Enrollment closes December 22.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art that combines martial arts, dance, and culture, and provides an environment for people to develop themselves physically as well as mentally and emotionally.

Jim Bozic has been training capoeira for approximately seven years, and teaching for five – “I find the personal challenges of testing my abilities to be quite the humbling experience, but my main enjoyment from capoeira comes from the teaching aspect. Helping guide and shape my fellow students into achieving their potential comes as its own reward.”

Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm

Drop-in $17. Flexible pricing and free parking!

Pre-register at https://www.arena-dances.org/class-payment/

Javan’s class will focus largely on floorwork and pathways of level changes. Students can expect to build and maintain a strong working connection to the ground and simultaneously take up space! Kneepads/long pants/long sleeves moderately recommended.

Javan Mngrezzo is a recent Minneapolis mover, relocating here from Portland the summer of 2021. While in Portland Javan danced primarily with BodyVox and Heidi Duckler Northwest, and was involved in dozens of other guest artist appearances and teaching positions in town. Since moving to the Twin Cities, Javan danced in Threads Dance Project’s recent Cowles show, was a guest dancer with Nijad Dance Collective, and will be dancing for Black Label Movement.

Fridays, December 10 and 17
9:30-11:00am
Drop-in $17. Flexible pricing and free parking!

Young Dance is excited for the 2021-22 academic year. Register for your favorite dance classes and instructors, or try some new moves with fresh faces! We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back into our space after a long time away.

Young Dance is committed to offering a fun and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Our exceptional Teaching Artists bring an unparalleled level of excellence, where young artists can experience a myriad of styles and techniques. We provide a breadth of opportunities for youth to engage with dance in the way that feels best for them and that supports them in finding and lifting their voices.

Classes include Dance Together, Creative Movement, Hip Hop, All Abilities Dancing, Modern, Ballet, Choreography, Performing Company, and more

MotionArt focuses on nurturing children’s individual creativity while facilitating their understanding of the dance elements of space, time, and energy. Ages 3-6 explore these elements through playful, structured activities allowing them to expand their movement vocabulary, develop body awareness, and gain self-confidence. Ages 7-9 explore the dance elements while being introduced to new movement skills and the creation of their own dances. Ages 9-12 expand their creative and kinesthetic awareness while learning basic movement skills of modern dance.

We offer ways for children to dance through outdoor classes, weather permitting, and at the Center for Performing Arts. Contact Pam Gleason for information.

Please go to motionartmn.org to sign up for classes. There are various options for payment/donations, and no one will be turned away for inability to pay.

Starting December 4
Ages 7-9: Saturday, 3:00-3:45pm – Center for Performing Arts, Sunroom

Join our dance-learning community of all ages, sizes, and levels of experience to participate in the creative expression and health and fitness benefits of Middle Eastern dance. The beauty of this dance form is that it makes you feel wonderful in your own body.

We now have in-studio options for beginners and all students! Or, you may choose to take these same classes online through Zoom.

Go to cassandraschool.com to choose from our ongoing classes, register, and pay in advance using PayPal. Purchase 4 or more classes and receive a $2 discount per class! All class registrations close at 8:00pm CT the night before each class.