Continuing with our exploration of PERGSET, the 7 qualities of movement in ballet, this month we’re reflecting on elancer [to dart].
A great dart requires several elements we’ve discussed in previous newsletters: a strong plier, good alignment, and stretched bodies and limbs. We use elancer to piqué (either piqué to a place of balance like piqué arabesque or to begin a turn like piqué turns) Check out these examples. When we elancé correctly, we arrive to our position and find ourselves suspended — feeling like we could stay in that shape forever without effort, simply by using that darting quality to balance our bodies in gravity.
We might also use an elancé quality to move from place to place. Perhaps you saw dancers darting around the studio during Visiting Week, changing formation, quickly moving into new positions, or shifting the dynamic quality of their movement.
As we reflected on elancer, we noticed connections with our busy lives outside of Danspace. How often do we find ourselves darting from activity to activity, shifting our mental focus quickly, and changing gears? During all that darting, do we find ourselves in a place of dynamic balance in our lives? Or are we too busy to find that place of suspension, of ease?
As we dart toward springs, we invite you to take time during all your darting to notice where you also have suspension, balance, and ease. Perhaps, as we do in ballet class, you’ll find those moments of ease enhance and strengthen you as you go back to darting.
Reflections
We have had a busy and fun start to 2020:
- We started our new semester in February and began thinking about Dance Party choreography.
- We’re half way through our first Adult Division series of the year (ends Feb 29).
- Beth Hoge, Danspace’s founder, taught several adult classes this year.
Children’s Division
Important Dates
Children’s Division is closed for Spring Break Monday, March 30 – Saturday, April 4.
Summer 2020: Deadline to enroll is March 14!
Summer workshops are a great way to try different dance styles and make new friends!
Workshops with low enrollment will be cancelled.
Click on the links below to view your summer dance options.
Workshop for ages 7-10 (click here to download the flyer)
Workshop for ages 10-15 (click here to download the flyer)
Hoge Ballet Intensive for ages 13 and up (click here to download the flyer)
Corvino Ballet & Baroque Intensive for ages 13 and up (click here to download the flyer)
CODA Performance Opportunity for ages 13 and up (click here to download the flyer)
Adult Division
Adult Division Series 4 begins Sunday, March 1
Sign up for your classes now to save your spot!
Sundays: Adult Beginning Ballet, with Mary Armentrout/Katie Taylor, 10:30am-12pm
Sundays: Adult Ballet Fundamentals, with Mary Armentrout/Katie Taylor, 12-1:30pm
Mondays: Adult Cardio Hip Hop, with Janey Madamba, 7:30-8:30pm
Wednesdays: Adult Adv Beginning/Intermediate Ballet, with Mary Armentrout/Katie Taylor, 7:30-9pm
Thursdays: Adult Beginning/Intermediate Ballet, with Katie Taylor, 7:30-9pm
Intermediate/Advanced Teen/Adult Classes:
Mondays: Intermediate/Advanced Teen Adult Ballet with Kimberly Valmore, 6-7:30pm
Tuesdays: Intermediate/Advanced Teen Adult Modern Jazz with Kimberly Valmore, 6:15-7:45pm
Fridays: Intermediate/Advanced Teen Adult Ballet with Claudine Naganuma, 6-7:30pm
Saturdays: Intermediate/
Pop-up Series for Adult Division Intermediate Ballet
Friday Intermediate Adult Ballet with Claudine Naganuma 6-7:30pm
March 13, 20, 27
Tuition: $48
Drop-in classes are okay ($18 each)
Saturday Intermediate Adult Ballet with Claudine Naganuma 6-7:30pm
March 7, 14, 21, 28
Tuition: $64
Claudine teaches March 14 and 28
Beth teaches March 7 and 21
Drop-in classes are okay ($18 each)
Beth Hoge is the Founder and Matriarch of our community at Danspace. She founded Danspace in 1976 after a long dance career in Los Angeles and New York. It is a real treat to experience Ballet with Beth!
- Saturday, March 7 from 11-12:30pm (Intermediate/Advanced)
- Saturday, March 21 from 11am-12:30pm (Intermediate/Advanced)
$18 per class or sign up for the Saturday March pop-up series and these classes are included in that series.
Beth will teach on select Saturdays in March, April and May. Wednesday Ballet with Beth classes will not be held in March, April or May.
In the Community
AXIS Dance Company Family Matinee
Family Matinee is a performance designed for all young audiences and their families in a relaxed environment that showcases the beauty of dance and disability.
This interactive show will engage the full family with short performances of AXIS’ latest works including Jennifer Archibald’s Petrichor – the smell of earth after rain, Robert Dekkers’ Flutter, and AXIS Artistic Director Marc Brew’s Radical Impact.
Sunday, April 19 from 2-3pm at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts (1428 Alice Street, Oakland, CA 94612).
Click here to purchase tickets.
Please email us to share resources or to request information for future newsletters!
Looking Forward
Important Dates
- Save the Date: Bay Area Dance Week 2020 (April 24-May 3) – Danspace will host a free community performance, Matinee Munch, on Sunday, April 26 at 2pm. All are welcome!
- Reserve your space in our summer programs by March 14!
Summer 2020
Registration is open- Enroll today!
Beth Hoge Ballet Intensive
Teen and Adult Division
June 15 – June 19, 2020
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Ballet from 10:30am-12:30pm
Thursday from 12:00-2:00pm
Corvino Ballet Intensive
Teen and Adult Division
June 22 – June 28, 2020
Monday-Sunday
Schedule varies, evening classes and weekend morning classes offered
CODA Performance Intensive
Students in Ballet 3/4/5
July 6 – August 1, 2020
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
3:00-8:00pm
Culminating performances at Holy Names University on August 1
Dance Workshop for ages 7-10
July 13 – July 17, 2020
Monday-Friday
9:00am-3:30pm
Dance Workshop for ages 10-15
July 27 – July 31, 2020
Monday-Friday
9:00am-3:30pm
We look forward to darting through March with you,
The Danspace team
