Tag: Summer adult dance classes Grand Rapids

DITA, INT/ADV Contemporary Tech w/ guest artist Joy Voelker

August 1, 2016

Join Dance In The Annex in welcoming Joy Voelker!

Alex Braverman / Lois Greenfield Workshop, 2008 Credits: Joy Voelker, Natasha Cziarniewy, David Gonsier.
Wednesday & Thursday August 24 & 25
7:30 – 9:15 pm
Wealthy Theatre Annex
1130 Wealthy St Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
$15/$12 Students w/ID
For more information email [email protected]

Joy Voelker’s approach to movement has a deep relationship with the anatomy and physiology of the dancer’s instrument. Being in touch with the instrument and using energy in opposing direction gives way to more efficient movement and frees the body to express and enjoy dancing.This approach has formed over connecting aspects from movement techniques such as Gyrotonics, Alexander Technique, and Yoga as well as dance techniques such as Classical Ballet, Countertechnique, Limon, and other contemporary dance styles.

Joy is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and holds a BFA from the Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. Her pre-professional training also includes The Juilliard School, The Paul Taylor School, Joffrey Ballet, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Amsterdam, and Anouk van Dijk Dance Company. Her performing career includes CorbinDances, 360º Dance Company, Lane & Co, Headless Horse, Artichoke Dance Company, children’s’ programs at the Metropolitan Playhouse and Guest Artist as the Sugar Plum Fairy for Iowa State Center’s The Nutcracker. Joy has also participated in outreach programs. Her most significant trip was with the Beech Foundation working with choirs of all ages and dance with children while breaking ground for Tumaini Children’s Home.

Joy was a faculty member at the Mark Morris Dance Center for 6 years in New York teaching all ages in Ballet, Modern, Creative Movement and more. Some of the institutions she has taught master classes or intensive workshops for include Dance Society of Colorado Springs, Lawrence Arts Center, Robert Thomas Dancenter, Park Hill Dance Academy, and Landing Dance Academy.
While living in New York Joy trained extensively at the Shen Tao Studio. The Sen Tao approach combines aspects of Gyrotonics, Pilates, Yoga, Sports Psychology, Vipassana Meditation, Anatomy, and Self Massage with Classical Ballet and Modern/Contemporary Dance technique. Joy is passionate about teaching this work as cross training while also integrating it in to the dance classes. Joy’s classes work to develop the dancer as a whole by incorporating these different teachings to form a healthy and efficient physical approach with a fulfilling spirited artistic approach.

Int/Adv Contemporary Technique w/guest artist Hannah Sullivan

July 28, 2015

sullyscreengrabJoin us in welcoming Hannah Sullivan to Dance In The Annex!

Thursday July 30th & Thursday August 6th
Wealthy Theatre Annex
7-8:45pm
1110 Wealthy St SE
Grand Rapids, MI
$15/$12 (students w/ID)
For Int/Adv dancers ages 16+
Contact [email protected] for more information

Class Description:
Int/Adv Contemporary
Hannah’s teaching focus fuses ballet, yoga, Horton and release techniques. Her classes are known for encouraging students to connect intentional emotion to movement. Come experience a challenge for your body coupled with empowering emotional work. Intermediate and advanced dancers 16+ welcome!

Bio:
Hannah Sullivan is a West Michigan-based instructor and choreographer. She is the Co-Artistic Director of the HIS Dance Ensemble with Tassia Hooks Johnson, writing & choreographing original contemporary ballets every year since the partnership formed in 2011. She is current faculty for the School of Grand Rapids Ballet, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, LOCALZ iNTENSiVEs, Hearts In Step Dance Academy and the Dance Coalition. Hannah’s original works have been performed by both professional and student companies including Grand Rapids Ballet, Dance In The Annex (DITA), Macomb Ballet Company, Blue Lake International Ensemble, Young People’s Ballet Theatre and Muskegon Dance Company. Under the direction of Amy & Erin Wilson, Hannah was a collaborator with DITA’s ArtPrize 2014 Juror’s Time-Based Award winning work “respirador (breather)” and ArtPrize 2013 juror-nominated “Angle of Repose”. Hannah is also a featured performer with DITA, dance-on-camera films, and various West Michigan productions including the 2014 Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp opera “Hansel & Gretel”. Hannah is a master’s social worker and marriage & family therapist in West Michigan.

DITA, Int/Adv Contemporary w/guest artist Thom Dancy

July 5, 2015

Join us in welcoming Thom Dancy to Dance In The Annex!11282019_583740528797_1592672896_n

Monday July 6th & 13th
Wealthy Theatre Annex
7-8:45pm
1110 Wealthy St SE
Grand Rapids, MI
All Levels
$15/$12 (students w/ID)
For dancers ages 16+
Contact [email protected] for more information

Using improvisational technique and a ballet base, class works from the ground up. Focus is turned to allowing specific points in the body to be the causality of movement as we progress through increasingly complex combinations. Class finishes with center-work designed to propel the body off its natural axis, using concepts worked on in class to test the body’s potential and create expansiveness. Be prepared to sweat.

Thom Dancy studied ballet at the University of Oklahoma and has danced with Milwaukee Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, and The Big Muddy Dance Company (currently under the direction of Brian Enos). Thom is also a member of Actors’ Equity and has performed at The MUNY in Hello, Dolly! and My Fair Lady (2015), as well as in State Fair with the Ohio Outdoor Historical Drama Society. He has originated principal roles in works by Kate Skarpetowska, Victor Alexander, Brian Enos, and Harrison McEldowney.

As a choreographer, Thom has created work on The Big Muddy, Milwaukee Ballet II, Grand Rapids Ballet, COCA, and Danceworks Chicago. His work has been presented at Spring To Dance and the Palm Desert Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival, and he has won “outstanding choreographer” at YAGP and the World Ballet Competition. Thom is one of The Big Muddy’s in-house choreographers.