TU Dance Center: Contemporary Experiment Classes with Leslie Parker

Please join us at TU Dance Center for two open classes with Leslie Parker! The classes are focused towards intermediate to advanced experiences, although all bodies and dance experiences are welcomed.

Contemporary Experiment is a class session in improvisation. The focus of the class is primarily the individual body as a site/map for exploration. It is an embodied practice that expands capacity for a more nuanced, rigorous, and sensory approach to space, time, and energy to integrate the thinking-body with real-time presence; and to play with physical range while increasing flexibility of the spine for a deepening in awareness of strength and endurance. In this class, empathetic exchanges using collaboration in movement studies are significant to amplify grounded power, intuitive connection to the body and place, navigating dissent, and honing clarity in timing and rhythm.

Wednesday, March 13
Monday, March 18

9:30-11:00am
$16/class or $140/10-class card.
Online registration required.
More details and registration.

Leslie Parker is a dance artist, director, choreographer, improviser, and performer born in the traditional homeland of Indigenous people, mostly the Dakhóta and Ojibwe people, also known as the Twin Cities, Minnesota. She has home art bases in both Brooklyn, NY (traditional homeland of Lenapehoking people) and in St. Paul, MN. Her deep roots in the territory also known as the St. Paul, Rondo community led her to a dance practice that emphasizes an organic aesthetic in experimental movement derived from the Black and African diaspora. Growing up in the Rondo community inspired her towards socially engaged art. Read more.

TU Dance Center: Dancing Together Workshop

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.

Tapestries 8.0 Master Classes

Threads Dance Project presents Tapestries 8.0 Master Classes.

As part Tapestries, 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 18-26
Mondays, 9:00-10:30am – Contemporary
Tuesdays, 9:00-10:30am – Ballet

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

The Move: Experiments from Inside the Groove with Nia-Amina Minor

Minnesota Dance Theatre is thrilled to present Nia-Amina Minor on Tuesdays, March 19 and 26, 9:30-11:00am.

Dive into contemporary approaches to movement through groove and musicality, technical exploration, and choreography. Class is informed by historic and current movement practices including Black social dance, improvisation, floor work, and modern technique. Bring all of yourself, that means any foundational movement practices or dance styles/genres of movement, party dances, and social dances; bring all the ways your body moves.

Nia-Amina Minor is a movement artist, choreographer, curator, and educator originally from Los Angeles. As a performer Nia-Amina has worked with Spectrum Dance Theater, Zoe Juniper, Will Rawls, Alice Gosti, dani tirrell and Amy O’Neal. In 2021 she was recognized as Dance Magazine’s 25 Artists to Watch. Nia-Amina has her MFA in Dance from UC Irvine and a BA from Stanford University and is based in Seattle.

Cowles Center Studio 6A. No prior registration required. Price: $16

Dance with Roxane Wallace at Studio K

Dance 101 with Roxane Wallace
Fridays, 10:00-11:00am
March 22-April 19

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.

Studio K Musical Theater Tap Class

Join Cathy Wind in a Musical Theater Tap class!

We will explore story telling while dancing in a fun, safe environment. Do you have an inner clown waiting to flip a hat or twirl a cane?

This intermediate class begins March 22 and runs for nine weeks.
Fridays, 11:15am-12:15pm

Free Classes at Zenon Dance School’s Spring Open House

Join us for a day of free classes at Zenon’s Spring Open House! This is a great chance to get a sneak peek at some of the classes to come in the Spring Session, running March 25 – June 2, at no cost to you. Class card discounts will also be available the week of the Open House. Let’s dance!

Saturday, March 23, 9:00am-1:00pm
9:30-10:00am – Youth Class TBD
10:00-10:45am – Beginning Jazz with Allison Rubin Forester
10:30-11:15am – Beginning Ballet with Lisa Erickson
11:00am-11:45am – Intermediate Modern with Dustin Haug
11:30am-12:15pm – Choreography Lab with Kendall Kramer
12:00-12:45pm – Beginning Ballet with Benjamin Johnson

Pre-registration encouraged but not required. All classes will take place in person only. All levels welcome!

Open House Week Discounts – March 18-25 only
20% off single class spring enrollment code: OHENROLL
$10 off one 10 class card code: OH10OFF

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.

Injury Prevention for Dancers: Intrinsic Foot Strengthening

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.

Monday, April 8
5:30-6:30pm
Cost: $25

Minimum of 5 registered clients to run the class.
Register through our website, or call or email the studio for more information.

Threads Youth Dance Sampler

Calling young movers and families!

Join us for a Movement and Mindfulness Dance Sampler at Threads Dance Nexus! 

Youth ages 8-12 can try out abbreviated Ballet, Modern, and Nutrition classes and enjoy an hour of mindfulness in a Gratitude and Resilience workshop. Families are encouraged to stay, join the workshop with their kids, and learn more about the NexGen/YDP program and our Summer Dance Camps. Summer Dance takes place July 8-19, 2024. All Dance Sampler attendees will receive a 10% discount on summer camps.

Register for the Dance Sampler
Saturday, April 13, 10:30am-12:30pm
For youth ages 8-12 and families, no dance experience required!
$15 per dancer. Need-based scholarships are available. Email Angela at aericson@threadsdance.org to learn more.

We can’t wait to see you at Threads Dance Nexus! Click here to learn more or call us at 612-354-3978.

Threads Dance Project is a BIPOC-run organization that aims to make dance more accessible for diverse youth.