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

5 Mondays in August with Sarah Baumert!

Mondays, 6:00-7:15pm
August 1-29

This Monday night class will infuse a more traditional yoga asana practice with the Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement method. I like to keep the theme for these Monday night series open, as I follow the lead of the seasons and needs of the students who attend.

Each of Sarah’s sessions is an interdisciplinary excursion of yoga, Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement, self-massage, breathing exercises, movement puzzles, and a compassionate mindset to help you feel a greater sense of ease and comfort in yourself. Increase your ease and efficiency in movement, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your natural capacity for graceful and organized movement through these classes.

This will be a nonjudgemental, un-intimidating space to create friends with your body (yourself!), and will specifically focus on helping settle the nervous system during these challenging times. You will train your sensitivity in such a way that you find yourself feeling more alive and vibrant.

Scholarships are available for this series. Please contact Sarah directly at sarah@body-matter.com for scholarship inquiries.

If you cannot attend all of the live classes, each class will be recorded and the videos will be available for those attending the series. Space will be limited so that I can manage watching everyone, sign up early to hold your spot! There will be time for questions and community discussion after the livestream class, as well as an option to engage with Sarah and the other students in the class through the online comments following each lesson.

Live classes and recordings will be accessed via the BODY MATTER studio platform using Marvelous software. Once you have purchased the series, you will have access to the livestream classes and recordings.

Threads Dance Project will hold its first-ever Advanced/Professional Summer Intensive and Audition Workshop this August 1 to August 5 at the Threads Dance Nexus. Registration is now open! 

The program provides participants with a rigorous exploration of techniques as well as the opportunity to explore and enhance the performative elements of dance via repertory class. Classes for the advanced/professional intensive include ballet, modern, improvisation/jazz, and repertory class. These classes are aimed at professional artists and those just entering the professional dance world after collegiate or other training. The intensive closes with an informal showing on the last day, August 5 at the Threads Dance Nexus.

Repertory learned during the week will also be taught at Threads Dance Project Auditions to be held on August 6.

Please email Production Manager, Karen Christ Aalgaard at kchrist@threadsdance.org or visit https://bit.ly/tdpAuditions22 for additional audition details.

August 1-5, 2022
10:00am–3:30pm
Ages 18+
Tuition: $225

Unique in Minnesota, this is a focused ballet and variations workshop specializing in preparing dancers for performing or competing in national ballet competitions. Following daily ballet technique class, dancers learn classic ballet variations and receive professional coaching. This workshop benefits all dancers, whether preparing for a competition, an upcoming performance, or simply wanting to polish and improve their artistry, technique, and quality.

Class sizes are limited. Pre-competitive, Junior, and Senior Divisions. Ages 9 and older.

August 8-19

Audition required – as all group audition dates have passed, please contact the studio to schedule a private audition.

The lessons in this two-hour workshop will help improve a wide variety of functional movements, focusing on easier balance, effortless standing, and ease-filled graceful walking. We will explore in various positions including lying on the back, side, belly, and in standing.

Humans are designed to be upright in gravity. This is the human brain’s primary job – to balance and organize the body to be upright in gravity during all functional activities. This vital process of balancing keeps your brain very occupied! We will finesse our relationship to gravity, becoming more sensitive, responsive, and supple in our upright position.

We are all quite different. Our attention spans and nervous systems have changed. But all of our brains have plasticity and we can form new habits yet again. We will lay on the floor together. We will orient ourselves to what it’s like to learn with others in the same room. We will get to know our feet in a novel way and experience how to find ease being upright in gravity.

Tuesday, August 9, 4:00-6:00pm
Space is limited. Pre-register to reserve your space.
There will be time for discussion and questions following the movement portion of the class.
Bring your own props – after registration, you will receive an email from Sarah with the props that will be needed for this class.

This workshop will only be offered in person. Proof of vaccination status or negative test requested. Minimum 6 participants and maximum 25 participants for live workshop. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to Sarah directly for pay-what-you-can options. This workshop is appropriate for all levels. Beginners to Feldenkrais are welcome!

James Sewell Ballet is offering a summer intensive training program August 15-20.

Offering classes in ballet, JSB repertoire, improvisation techniques, conditioning and more.

Includes personalized instruction geared toward dancers with intermediate/advanced technique between the ages 15-22. Train with dancers, choreographers and movement experts who value personal growth and agency. We combine rigor with playfulness to foster each student’s best potential!

Participation is capped at 15 dancers, so secure your spot now! Register online at jsballet.org/intensive-2

Early Bird rate is $385 until July 29, 2022.
Rate will increase to $415 following July 29.

Register by August 7!

Join ARENA DANCES for one week of movement classes taught by guest artist Shane Larson, member of the renowned Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Participants will practice contemporary dance technique and learn a new original work as a part of this intensive. Targeted for the high-intermediate to advanced level dancer.

August 15-20, 2022
Monday–Saturday, 10:00am-3:00pm
Class: 10:00-11:30am
Rehearsal of new work: 12:00-3:00pm

Culminating in an informal showing of the work on Saturday, August 20, with the possibility of a performance showing aligned with the Happy Hour Artists in the 7th Annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival in April 2023 at The Southern Theater!

ARENA DANCES’ Artistic Director, Mathew Janczewski will be present for pre-professional dancers to have career chats and be considered for ARENA apprenticeships during the creation of a new work by ARENA, Erased Steps, rehearsing March 2023-August with performances at Union Depot and Rochester Civic Center in August 2023.

General: $550.
Registration must be completed by August 7.

Ages 16+.
Intensive capped at 15 participants.

Learn more about Shane.

Concerto Dance is hosting our second annual Summer Dance Intensive.
Open to professional, pre-professional and advanced dancers ages 16 and older.

Monday through Thursday, August 15-18 from 1:30-4:00pm

Technique classes will alternate between modern (Monday/Wednesday) and jazz dance (Tuesday/Thursday) along with choreography and company repertory taught by Artistic Director Jolene Konkel and company members.

Cost: $150 or $45/day.

For registration and more info go to: www.concertodance.com/classes

Been curious about what classes are like at the Threads Dance Nexus? Come join us this summer for our Summer Sampler Series! The summer sampler will offer participants a chance to try out fall classes before registration begins in September. 

Building on the success of our first Summer Sampler, we’d like to invite you to join us for of taste of Beginning/Intermediate Adult Ballet. The class will be an hour long, taught by Threads Artistic/Executive Director, Karen L. Charles.

Wednesday, August 17
6:30-7:30pm
Ages 18+
Pay what you can, $10.00-$40.00
Click here to register, or learn more.

A dedicated performer, teacher and creator, Karen Long Charles received a BFA Ballet/BS Computer Science from Texas Christian University and M.Ed. in Administration from Georgia State University.  Charles has performed with numerous dance companies including Room to Move Dance Company (Atlanta, GA), Susan Warden Dance Company (Kansas City, MO) and was awarded a fellowship to study at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Charles served as Director at Perpich Arts High School and was the founding Principal/Executive Director at Main Street School of Performing Arts. Charles has created/presented works for James Sewell Ballet, Carleton College, Macalester College, University of Georgia, University of Iowa, Main Street School of Performing Arts and Perpich Arts High School. Charles founded Threads Dance Project(Threads) in 2011 where she is presently Artistic/Executive Director. Threads has been nominated for a MN SAGE Dance Award (2015), co-hosted McKnight International Choreographic Fellow Salia Sanou(2017), and toured nationally to Atlanta and Philadelphia. Threads now teaches and works in their new Minneapolis home -Threads Dance Nexus to further expand their mission to examine, expose and celebrate the Threads that connect us through dance.

Visit www.threadsdance.org for additional information about Karen Charles and Threads Dance Project.

Join Ballet Royale for our Frozen II-themed Creative Story Ballet Workshop! Give your young dancer the joy of dance and performance! The workshop includes a short performance at the end.

Frozen II Inspired Workshop
Saturday, August 20
10:00am-12:00pm

Recommended for ages 4–9.

Concerto Dance is excited to offer an open jazz dance master class with visiting guest artist Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner!

Sunday, August 28 from 12:00-1:30pm
Cost: $20

Class is open to professional, pre-professional/college students and advanced dancers ages 16 and older.
Space is limited.
Please pre-register by visiting www.concertodance.com/classes

Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner is a choreographer and dance educator committed to inclusion, representation and social consciousness in both pedagogy and creative practice. She received her B.F.A. at the University of Minnesota, and her M.F.A. as an Advanced Opportunity Fellow at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts. She has served as the Choreographer in Residence for the Minnesota Dance Theater and is a four- time winner of the Arizona Choreography Competition’s Professional Division. Original works by Gutierrez-Garner have been commissioned by numerous colleges and universities across the U.S. Additionally, she has enjoyed commissions by professional companies including the Minnesota Dance Theater, Dulce Dance Company, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Zenon Dance Company and Los Angeles-based Jazz Antiqua. Gutierrez-Garner’s work has seen support from organizations such as the Jerome Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Walker Art Center, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Lane Arts Council. She is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Western Oregon University and is the Artistic Director of Company Movimiento, based in Eugene, OR. Cynthia will be creating a new jazz premiere for Concerto Dance this upcoming season.