AFRO-CONTEMPORARY AND JAZZ MASTER CLASSES

Black dance, diasporically, and African idioms in contemporary dance have always been a resource in mainstream contemporary dance to idiosyncronize and abstract line, space, and timing in the Eurocentric landscape. Through the life commitments of Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, Alvin Ailey, and many others, AfroContemporary intends to state plainly the contributions of the African diaspora in Modern and Contemporary dance today. As a diasporian of black dance and descendant of the Black Arts Movement, Afro Contemporary will engage weight, angularity, rhythmicity, radial balance in motion, the aesthetics of cool, individuality, and the ways we think about dance, centered in a high energy, welcoming environment. Vocabulary may include Tap, Afro-Haitian, Jazz, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Modern and Contemporary techniques, Hip Hop, Vogue, House, and Ballet.

Jazz will be a high energy, quick paced class focusing on musicality, weight shifts, performance, and technicality. Students will be encouraged to push past their perceived limits to execute skills throughout class. We will pursue asymmetry, musical clarity, jumps, pirouettes, speed, texture, and ability to pick up choreography.

This in-person workshop will adhere to all CDC and LINES Dance Center COVID safety requirements.