Summer Dance Program for Adults
May 6, 2012 12:33 PM Subscribe
Summer Dance Program for Adults
I'd like to enrol in a summer intensive dance program (contemporary) for Adults. College Credits not required. This is for the love of movement, dance and conditioning - also towards healing after a challenging life transition. Am flexible regarding location but am thinking towards the US West Coast. Appreciate any leads! Thank you.
I'd like to enrol in a summer intensive dance program (contemporary) for Adults. College Credits not required. This is for the love of movement, dance and conditioning - also towards healing after a challenging life transition. Am flexible regarding location but am thinking towards the US West Coast. Appreciate any leads! Thank you.
Response by poster: Thanks Dorinda,
I dance Argentine Tango and am experienced "movement practitioner". I'm pretty much in shape but want to immerse in some deep practice. I've never received formal contemporary dance training but grew up doing competitive acrobatics and have spent my adult life studying and practicing yoga. I trained pretty intensively for a period of 4 years in Argentine Tango and still dance it occasionally (socially). Professionally, I'm a body worker ( Thai massage) and Yoga teacher.
posted by LivinginYes at 1:58 PM on May 6, 2012
I dance Argentine Tango and am experienced "movement practitioner". I'm pretty much in shape but want to immerse in some deep practice. I've never received formal contemporary dance training but grew up doing competitive acrobatics and have spent my adult life studying and practicing yoga. I trained pretty intensively for a period of 4 years in Argentine Tango and still dance it occasionally (socially). Professionally, I'm a body worker ( Thai massage) and Yoga teacher.
posted by LivinginYes at 1:58 PM on May 6, 2012
Response by poster: I've often been told that I'm physically gifted and I've always quietly wondered why I "missed" the world of dance. I've longed to explore the realm of dance more deeply but the opportunity never presented. This summer way is open...
posted by LivinginYes at 2:02 PM on May 6, 2012
posted by LivinginYes at 2:02 PM on May 6, 2012
What I'm going to say is mostly based on my knowledge of London, but would probably apply equally in (say) New York.
If by intensive you mean full-time (as opposed to evenings only) I've heard this called a "summer school". Where I am, full time summer schools for adult beginners are rare on account of so many adults working and beginners usually not doing well with more than two ninety-minute classes a day. Full time summer schools for advanced adults are often technically demanding, and aimed at vocational dancers.
On the other hand, you could probably find three or more 60- to 90-minute beginners' dance classes a day if you don't mind running around the city a bit.
I used Google to look for adult contemporary summer schools in New York, and found this, this and this big list. I don't know if any of those would suit you?
posted by Mike1024 at 2:08 PM on May 6, 2012
If by intensive you mean full-time (as opposed to evenings only) I've heard this called a "summer school". Where I am, full time summer schools for adult beginners are rare on account of so many adults working and beginners usually not doing well with more than two ninety-minute classes a day. Full time summer schools for advanced adults are often technically demanding, and aimed at vocational dancers.
On the other hand, you could probably find three or more 60- to 90-minute beginners' dance classes a day if you don't mind running around the city a bit.
I used Google to look for adult contemporary summer schools in New York, and found this, this and this big list. I don't know if any of those would suit you?
posted by Mike1024 at 2:08 PM on May 6, 2012
In my experience, "Summer Intensives" in any dance genre are generally aimed at pre-professional and professional level students (i.e. those with a huge amount of knowledge and training under their belt), and the reputable ones are almost exclusively by audition only.
It sounds like you're looking for Recreational classes for adult beginners. Many excellent teachers and studios/companies offer these classes, but, as Mike1024 suggests, they are rarely offered in an intensive program. I appreciate your desire to dive right into the deep end, but I would suggest that your best bet is to take the slower route and begin at the Beginning (which is not a Summer Intensive, but regular old classes....welcome to the "glamorous" life of the dancer!). While your previous movement and dance experience will give you a leg up on "true" beginners, modern/contemporary dance has its own unique vocabulary, conceptual principals, and technical fundamentals which are vastly different from social dance, Yoga, and other movement practices. (For example, I'm a professional contemporary dancer/choreographer, but would never step into anything other than an absolute beginner Argentine Tango class). Your physical abilities might allow you to catch on quickly, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you bypass the basics in favour of flashier-sounding "intensives" and "summer schools". Save those for a few years down the road, when you have the technical knowledge and ability to match your obvious enthusiasm and natural proclivity for movement.
My suggestion to you would be as follows: Sign up for an Adult Beginner Class at a studio. If you're in a major centre, there will be several to choose from and if money is not an obstacle, you could likely find yourself with at least one class to take every day/evening. This has the added benefit of opening you up to a variety of teachers, techniques, and approaches. Complement this technical training by doing your own movement research. Rent some studio space (a few hours every day, or every few days). Use your time alone in the studio to not only practice and strengthen your technique, but also, more importantly, to really play and experiment with the concepts, steps, and principles you are learning in your classes. If you're comfortable, invite some of your classmates to join you in your movement research. Guided improvisation (in which you give yourself some very specific physical guidelines to play within) is an incredibly effective complement to technical training, and the discipline you will develop by demanding work from yourself in the studio will be invaluable to any further dance training you pursue. Mess around with choreography. Challenge yourself to create long sequences of movement which are repeatable and expandable. Play with gestural and idiosyncratic movement vocabularies, as well as big move-y sequences. Dance dance dance dance dance! In short, shape your own summer school! Build it to suit YOUR needs and interests.
That all being said, Mascall Dance in Vancouver, BC offers a program that might interest you, and which is open to all ages and experience levels. This is definitely NOT a program that will give you rigorous technical training, but if you're more interested in a more experiential and free-form movement practice, though one that is still rooted in modern dance, it might be perfect for you!
Good luck!
posted by Dorinda at 7:16 PM on May 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
It sounds like you're looking for Recreational classes for adult beginners. Many excellent teachers and studios/companies offer these classes, but, as Mike1024 suggests, they are rarely offered in an intensive program. I appreciate your desire to dive right into the deep end, but I would suggest that your best bet is to take the slower route and begin at the Beginning (which is not a Summer Intensive, but regular old classes....welcome to the "glamorous" life of the dancer!). While your previous movement and dance experience will give you a leg up on "true" beginners, modern/contemporary dance has its own unique vocabulary, conceptual principals, and technical fundamentals which are vastly different from social dance, Yoga, and other movement practices. (For example, I'm a professional contemporary dancer/choreographer, but would never step into anything other than an absolute beginner Argentine Tango class). Your physical abilities might allow you to catch on quickly, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you bypass the basics in favour of flashier-sounding "intensives" and "summer schools". Save those for a few years down the road, when you have the technical knowledge and ability to match your obvious enthusiasm and natural proclivity for movement.
My suggestion to you would be as follows: Sign up for an Adult Beginner Class at a studio. If you're in a major centre, there will be several to choose from and if money is not an obstacle, you could likely find yourself with at least one class to take every day/evening. This has the added benefit of opening you up to a variety of teachers, techniques, and approaches. Complement this technical training by doing your own movement research. Rent some studio space (a few hours every day, or every few days). Use your time alone in the studio to not only practice and strengthen your technique, but also, more importantly, to really play and experiment with the concepts, steps, and principles you are learning in your classes. If you're comfortable, invite some of your classmates to join you in your movement research. Guided improvisation (in which you give yourself some very specific physical guidelines to play within) is an incredibly effective complement to technical training, and the discipline you will develop by demanding work from yourself in the studio will be invaluable to any further dance training you pursue. Mess around with choreography. Challenge yourself to create long sequences of movement which are repeatable and expandable. Play with gestural and idiosyncratic movement vocabularies, as well as big move-y sequences. Dance dance dance dance dance! In short, shape your own summer school! Build it to suit YOUR needs and interests.
That all being said, Mascall Dance in Vancouver, BC offers a program that might interest you, and which is open to all ages and experience levels. This is definitely NOT a program that will give you rigorous technical training, but if you're more interested in a more experiential and free-form movement practice, though one that is still rooted in modern dance, it might be perfect for you!
Good luck!
posted by Dorinda at 7:16 PM on May 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Actually, despite what Mike1024 says, there are two great contemporary dance schools in London that do summer schools with options for adult beginners. You need to register early at both places - the beginner classes tend to be oversubscribed. Both places have accommodation recommendations for overseas students, but the Olympics may be an issue if you aren't accommodated near the school - transport is likely to be a doozy this summer!
The Place runs its summer classes from 13-24 August - here's the basic info and here's their guide to class levels - you may need to ask them whether someone in your situation is Introductory or Level 1. Note that the big-named choreographers mentioned may only be teaching the per-professional students.
Laban runs its summer courses from 16-27 july , with a wealth of beginner classes on offer.
posted by Wylla at 10:01 PM on May 6, 2012
The Place runs its summer classes from 13-24 August - here's the basic info and here's their guide to class levels - you may need to ask them whether someone in your situation is Introductory or Level 1. Note that the big-named choreographers mentioned may only be teaching the per-professional students.
Laban runs its summer courses from 16-27 july , with a wealth of beginner classes on offer.
posted by Wylla at 10:01 PM on May 6, 2012
Forgot to add - no question about levels at Laban - it's a dance conservatory and there's no level like the Place's Level 1 - so you'd be a beginner, for sure.
posted by Wylla at 10:04 PM on May 6, 2012
posted by Wylla at 10:04 PM on May 6, 2012
Response by poster: Thank you all for your suggestions. Dorinda, thank you in particular for your thorough, complete and well informed perspectives. The generosity of spirit displayed on this forum is a beautiful thing!Namaste
posted by LivinginYes at 12:49 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by LivinginYes at 12:49 AM on May 7, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Any/all of this info would be helpful in defining a good fit for your needs/desires.
posted by Dorinda at 1:16 PM on May 6, 2012