Archive: Workshops, Intensives, Master Classes, and Open Houses

Start this spring off on the right foot! This fun three-week workshop series is taught by Jawaahir Dance Company members—offering a variety of topics and a range of levels!
Sundays, 12:15-2:15pm
March 3, 10, 17
$10 per two-hour workshop – pay at the door.

Sunday, March 3

Back to Basics with Louise
Back to Basics are the foundation in any dance form. After some stretches, balancing, toning, and a review of good posture, we will start our isolations from top to toe. There will be easy movements across the floor without and with our isolations building into our dance. We finish with a flourish of colorful veils.

Intro to Finger Cymbals and Arabic Rhythms with Renee
First, we will learn foundational finger cymbal patterns and, gradually, learn how to dance while playing them! We will listen to a few common Arab rhythms popular in Egyptian dance music, practicing dance steps to each of the rhythms. This workshop is geared toward dancers who are new to finger cymbals and Arab rhythm identification. Bring finger cymbals if you have them – extra finger cymbals will be available.

Sunday, March 10

Ballet for Bellydancers with Tanya
Have you been curious about the benefits of ballet, but find a full-on ballet class intimidating? In this short ballet for bellydancers class we will work on a few ballet basics that will help us in our bellydance. We’ll focus on strengthening and lengthening our muscles through an abbreviated barre work, then explore some footwork, turns, balances, and graceful arm pathways, looking at how these techniques can benefit us as bellydancers. The intention of this class is to add some items to your dance toolbox that will strengthen your foundation no matter your dance style! All levels welcome, however beginners might find it a bit challenging.

Fabulous Floorwork with Erin
Learn to create drama and mystery in your piece with fabulous floorwork. An exciting way to display strength and skill. Erin will teach dancers how to create smooth transitions to get up and down from the floor, floorwork combos, and shape making movements.   Suitable for beginner and intermediate level. Please bring knee pads/thick sweatpants to protect your knees and socks/dance shoes to protect the tops of your feet.

Sunday, March 17

Golden Era Belly Dance Class with Laila
A dance style that dominated Egyptian movies during the Golden Era (1930’s-1960’s). This vintage style is full of expression and elegance. In this class we will work on arms patterns, technique, travel steps and a vibrant combo inspired by the iconic dancer and actress Naima Akef.

Beledi Styling and Combos with Megan C.
Covering topics of beledi style and meaning in Egyptian music and dance culture. Explore beledi progression musical format through improvisation, and beledi styling in movement combos and music. All levels welcome; best suited for intermediate and up.

Please join us at TU Dance Center for a six-week GYROKINESIS® workshop for adults with Wendy Anderson. No experience is necessary.

Class Description
Starting with breathing patterns and progressing into motions that mobilize the spine through arching, curling, bending, spiraling, and waving. Connecting with the breath, the movement starts to feel like a dance. Oxygenating the circulatory system, stimulating the nervous system, and opening the body. Exercises are done on chairs/stools, in standing and lying positions.

Six Weeks, March 6-April 10
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:45pm
$85
Online registration required.

Wendy Anderson has trained as a dancer, fitness professional, Pilates trainer, and presently Gyrotonic Trainer. She is an authorized teacher and teacher trainer (Pre-Trainer) of both Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic. Having the good fortune of working with some of the most renowned Master Trainers, including Juergen Bamberger, Juliu Horvath (creator of Gyrotonic), and Paul Horvath (physiotherapist), Wendy has also trained on all pieces of Gyrotonic equipment! She trains all levels of students from highly accomplished athletes to the very beginner who has started their adventure with Gyrokinesis or Gyrotonics later in life: “Always amazed by the beauty, depth, and sophistication of this movement modality, and how people can benefit from gyro on all levels of their being.”

March 6-April 24, 2024
Wednesdays, 8:00-9:30am

Price: $160
Pre-registration required – no drop-ins.
Registration closes: February 25
Register here.

Contemporary Forms
The core themes of this practice will include sensory exploration, movement as meditation, and engaging with the body’s intuition. In each class, we will move through improvisation and phrase work to engage the senses and awaken the body. Movement material will have an expansive, animal-like virtuosity. Over the course of the series, we will extend phrase work, using imagery and prompts from our research to explore individual choice-making. This series is designed for intermediate/advanced movers who are interested in researching their unique movement modalities in a space based in curiosity and joy.

Sarah McCullough (she/her) is a Minneapolis-based movement artist and educator. Originally from Virginia, she attended James Madison University and earned her BA in Dance and Mathematics. Since joining Minneapolis’ dance community in 2018, she has performed the works of Carl Flink, Mathew Janczewski, Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Berit Ahlgren, Helen Hatch, Marisol Herling, and more. Alongside her performance work, Sarah is an educator in contemporary forms. While at JMU, she served as Co-Director of JMU’s Associate Dance Ensemble where she led a weekly company class and mentored 20 first-year dance majors in the early stages of their collegiate dance journey. She has led classes at the Limón Twin Cities Intensive, ARENA DANCES’ Instinct Summer Intensive, The University of Winchester (UK), North Carolina State University, as well as several high school dance programs and studios across Minnesota and Virginia.

A unique exploration into the vast realms of horizontal and vertical movement/stillness. The workshop aims to cultivate a deep sense of awareness through mindfulness practices rooted in Buddhism, providing participants with the opportunity to come back home to the joy of dance. This workshop is designed for individuals who currently dance, used to dance, or aspire to explore movement/stillness as an art form. It is also open to anyone seeking to enhance their artistic expression through embodied practices. Everyone is encouraged to use a gentle and exploratory approach to movement, valuing quality over quantity, and promoting a sense of connection with one’s body through movement, dialogue, and writing.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
March 8, 9, and 10
10:00-11:30am
$10 per class, $30 for the entire series.
Attendance on all three days is recommended.
We offer a sliding scale to accommodate diverse financial situations.
Register here.

Kei Tsuruharatani (she/they) is a transgender dance artist and educator from Osaka, Japan. She has performed on Broadway in Jagged Little Pill, The King and I, and Miss Saigon, and has appeared on TV shows such as Good Morning America, Harlem, and the Tonight Show. She danced at the Metropolitan Opera for 6 seasons and performed with Eastman Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui in Belgium. With a B.A. in Dance and Theater, Kei has dedicated herself to the art of mindfulness education. Holding a qualification as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction facilitator, she has diligently crafted and delivered programs that weave mindfulness practices into both everyday life and the performing arts. Her personal practice is deeply rooted in the Buddhist tradition of Burma.

“One of my primary intentions is to provide a workshop environment that is not only welcoming but actively celebrates diversity. As a transgender woman myself, I understand the importance of creating queer-safe spaces where everyone feels seen, respected, and embraced.”

Threads Dance Project presents Tapestries 8.0 Master Classes, running until March 26.

What is Tapestries 8.0?
Threads Dance Project commissions 3 emerging choreographers selected by an expert panel of dance/community leaders to create new works for the company under the guidance of Artistic/Executive Director Karen L. Charles. Tapestries provides a much-needed avenue for underrepresented women and artists of color to take center stage in the world of professional choreography.

What are the Tapestries 8.0 Master Classes?
The Tapestries 8.0 Master Classes are intimate and engaging opportunities for you to learn from the masters themselves. Each of our choreographers will guide you through learning the fundamentals and will hone your skills from their wealth of knowledge. They will show you why they were chosen to be a part of Tapestries!

Da’Rius Malone: Contemporary and Ballet
March 11-26
Mondays: 9:00-10:30am – Contemporary
Tuesdays: 9:00-10:30am – Ballet

Pay as you come. No prior registration needed.
Price: $12

Fall Prevention Workshop
Tuesday, March 12, 2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $50

Learn more about what you can do to prevent future falls by working on core strength, stability, and balance in this 90 minute workshop. The workshop will include a lecture, a balance class with exercises to take home, and a Q&A session.

Instructor: Rose McKernon, PTA, NSCA-PT. Rose is a physical therapist assistant, Pilates teacher, and nationally certified personal trainer.

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

Balanced Body® Reformer 2 Instructor Training
March 15-17, 2024

Friday: 4:00-8:00pm
Saturday: 11:30am-6:00pm
Sunday: 9:30am-4:30pm

Fee through February 22: $449 + $60 materials.
$499 after February 23.

Reformer 2 expands the potential of the Reformer with intermediate and advanced exercises and includes associated safety protocols and modifications. Reformer 2 also explores programs designed for specific populations including pre and post–natal clients, clients with osteoporosis, and clients with lower back issues. Class design, dynamic assessment and correcting common dysfunctional movement patterns are also included.
Prerequisite: Reformer 1

Instructor: Matthew Hodge-Rice

A child and parent/caregiver Creative Movement class, this 8-week workshop is designed for children ages 2-4 and their parent/caregiver who are interested in a shared movement experience that engages the senses of curiosity and play.

Both child and caregiver will participate in developmentally appropriate movement exercises that incorporate elements such as effort, shape, and tempo. Music will play an essential role in the class as students will be asked to respond to sounds as well as make sounds themselves. Participants will be encouraged to join at their own comfort level with the understanding that observation is often the best form of learning with younger children. This class will give children and caregivers the opportunity to learn more about themselves and one another through the art form of dance.

March 16-May 4
Saturdays, 9:00-9:45am
No class on April 6 and April 13.
At TU Dance Center.
Register here.

March 22-April 19
Fridays, 10:00-11:00am

Dance 101 with Roxane Wallace
In this class for adults 55+, we will explore elements of dance (body, action, space, time and energy) using low-impact, fun, modern dance-based sequences in these drop-in sessions with dance artist and instructor Roxane Wallace. Participation will result in increases in kinesthetic awareness, flexibility, balance, ease of movement and general health.

Please bring a small blanket, towel or yoga mat for floor work that will include stretching and strengthening at the beginning and cooling down at the end of each session.

Roxane Wallace has been active in the arts as a performer, instructor, choreographer and teaching artist since graduating from UC Berkeley in 1993 with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She was seen nationally and internationally as a principal artist with Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater Company for 15 years and has been working with Paula Mann/Time Track Productions for over 10 years.  Mrs. Wallace  was voted “Best Dancer” in the City Pages “Best of the Twin Cities”, awarded a Minnesota Sage Award for Outstanding Performer, and honored to be named as a 2008 McKnight Artist Fellow in Dance.  Currently, she provides inspiration and dance instruction through Zenon Dance School and Lundstrum Performing Arts, and as a teaching artist for the VocalEssence WITNESS Program and the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts.