Read what dancer Elyse Morris has to say about the DANY Master Class Series:
“I really like this new contemporary master’s series. I was blessed to take workshops from both Camille Brown and Andrea Miller – two artists I greatly admire! Camille challenged us to be clearly intentional with the energy and rhythm of our movement as if we were performing in front of a deaf audience. Andrea gave us a gaga-inspired warm up, which challenged the way in which I initiated movement. She spoke of the body, not only having one plumb line, but actually utilizing several lines of energy to support the body. Learning diverse approaches to movement expand the language of the mover, inspires creativity in future visionaries, and also further aids in the promotion of this art form we call dance.”
The series continues with classes led by choreographer Robert Battle and dancer Desmond Richardson.Last week, I caught up via cell phone with a very busy Robert Battle, who is preparing this week’s class. Battle will become the Artistic Director Designate of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on July 1, 2010. The Joyce and Robert Battle have had a longtime friendship. Battle was a veteran dancer of Parsons Dance, appearing numerous times on the Joyce stage. He was also introduced as a choreographer to New York audiences at The Joyce when he created well over six works for the Parsons company. His company, Battleworks, has also appeared at The Joyce.
Robert Battle received his training at Juilliard, and he is fluent in the classical modern dance idioms of Graham, Limón and Taylor. His choreography is inspired by that classical tradition, upon which he aspires to build. Battle’s dance class begins with a warm-up based upon classical modern dance principles and culminates with phrases from his theatrical, inventive and physically strenuous choreography. The Friday, June 1st class he conducts at DANY Studios may be among the last opportunities to study with him in an intimate laboratory setting.
Desmond Richardson’s class follows on Friday, June 18.
Thank you for offering these DANY classes. I had the pleasure of taking Kate Weare’s workshop and it was a great way to become more in tune with her intimate and simultaneously fiery movement vocabulary. These classes allow for dancers to gain closer relationships with specific companies in which they may wish to perform or at the very least enjoy. Thanks for hopefully generating a larger, more educated audience for their season.