Empowered Artistry is a virtual dance intensive where students will study dance technique and composition in genres such as Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, African, and Latin dance! Students will also study the art of storytelling through dance.

The program will conclude with an in-person video production, where students will be challenged to bring their at-home artistry to life! Under the direction of their instructor, students will collaborate with their peers to create choreography for the culminating video performance. Students will have a choice to participate in the piece virtually or in person. 

Class Descriptions

Ballet - Ballet is the foundation of all technical dance and is highly recommended as a fundamental study and compliment for all styles of dance. This class will focus on ballet terminology and technique through the execution of barre work, center, and across the floor exercises. Students will have a clear understanding of body alignment, movement quality, carriage of upper body, and flexibility. 

Modern - Modern is the polar opposite of ballet. While ballet focuses on symmetry, poise and lift form the core; modern works on asymmetry, a connection to the ground and body contractions. Modern class will incorporate many of the foundations of modern dance technique, including suspension and release, fall and recovery, the use of momentum and connecting breath with movement. Dancers will explore new ways of moving in combinations, floor work and also in various methods of improvisation.

Stretch - Stretching is crucial not only for flexibility but also to improve range of motion, reduce and/or treat injury, and relieve soreness. This stretch class will be low impact, open to all levels of flexibility, centered on core strength and connecting the breath. This class will also serve as a cool down before our lunch break. It is always important to bring your heart rate down properly after any type of physical activity.

Dance Composition - Dance composition is learning how to make a dance. During the dance composition process you explore a movement idea by creating dance movement or selecting steps in some dance genres, then you manipulate these elements and materials of dance into movement modules of various lengths to compose a dance. Students will use this time to create/discuss brainstorming activities for their final piece. Instructor may give students a prompt or creative activity for inspiration.

Afro-Latin Fusion - The most populated countries in the African diaspora include Brazil, Colombia, America, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. In this class we will be studying various dance styles within the diaspora whose influences combine both African and Latino cultures. Students will study the history and context of each dance style and discover how these dances were created by the fusion of these different cultures. Styles will include various Afro Caribbean dances such as Rumba/Guaguanco (Cuba), Bomba (Puerto Rico), Palos (Dominican Republic) as well as Salsa, Cha Cha, Pachanga, and Afrobeats.

Hip Hop - Hip-hop is a dance style that evolved from the hip-hop culture of New York City in the 1970’s. Hip hop dance is one of the pillars of hip hop culture. The first dance associated with hip-hop was break dancing, however as the music and culture has evolved, so has the dance. Students will study the history and elements of hip hop culture as well as Hip Hop dance technique and vocabulary. This class will consist of various drills, combinations and floorwork.