At Danspace, we think of dance training as training for life (we sometimes say “we train citizens”) because we find many lessons and connections from our work in the studio to our experiences outside the studio. This month we’re reflecting on assemblé [ah-sahn-BLAY], a jumping movement that means “assembled” or “joined together”.
September seems like a month related to assemblé as we get back into the studio for the new school year. We are assembling our dance items (shoes, clothes, hair supplies, and everything else that lives in our dance bags), we are joining together our bodies, our minds, and our spirits as we dance, and we are remembering to stretch to our bodies so we’re assembled as we train in class. At the studio our staff are joining together students and their classes, joining together teachers and their new (or returning) students, and joining together our staff team so we’re able to assemble all the activities needed to make Danspace ready and welcoming to all dancers.
We are excited to join together with all of you in our 2019-2020 year. If you’re curious about assemblé, click here to see a short video demonstrating the movement.
Reflections: Good-bye Summer!
ongrats to our CODA Performance Opportunity participants! The culminating performance was on Saturday, July 27 at Holy Names University, and all the dancers lit up the stage!
Our August Workshop finished out the summer and included Musical Theater, Modern (Limon), and Ballet classes. Lunches were spent at Frog Park for some fresh air and nature.
This summer Adult Division added more ballet classes for adults during the week, and two more adult students began exploring pointe work. Mary Armentrout guided Adult Ballet students through Feldenkrais and then a ballet class, allowing the dancers to experience movement and dancing in a new way. We also had a wonderful multi-generational modern class, combining adult dancers and the CODA Performance Opportunity teens. Multi-level, multi-generational classes let us experience class differently, expanding what is possible and creating a supportive space to learn and explore together. Thanks to everyone who participated in Adult Division classes this summer!
.jpg "Danspace-DNaga March 9 2019-0310 (1)")
Children’s Division
The fall semester begins on Sunday, September 8. We will send out a class email for our Children’s Division classes the week of August 26. Please be sure to add our email to your contacts: info@danspace.com and danspace473@gmail.com.
Now is the time to send in your payment for the fall semester. Classes are filling up!
Adult Division
Series 1 for our 2019-2020 year begins on Sunday, September 8. Click here to find all the Series 1 classes on our website. (Please note: our pricing has changed slightly. Drop-in classes will now be $18 per class.)
Series 1: September 8-November 2 (8-weeks)
Email info@danspace.com to register
Sundays: Adult Beginning Ballet
Dates: 9/8-10/27 (8 weeks)
Time: 10:30am-12pm
Instructor: Mary Armentrout & Katie Taylor
Cost: $128
Mondays: Adult Cardio Hip Hop
Dates: 9/9-10/28 (7 weeks – no class on 10/14)
Time: 7:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Janey Madamba
Cost: $112
Wednesdays: Adult Beginning/Intermediate Ballet
Dates: 9/11-10/30 (8 weeks)
Time: 7:30-9pm
Instructor: Mary Armentrout & Katie Taylor
Cost: $128
Thursdays: Adult Beginning/Intermediate Ballet
Dates: 9/12-10/31 (8 weeks)
Time: 7:30-9pm
Instructor: Katie Taylor
Cost: $128
Intermediate/Advanced Teen/Adult Classes (available for drop-ins only):
Mondays: Intermediate/Advanced Teen/Adult Ballet with Kimberly Valmore, 6-7:30pm
Tuesdays: Intermediate/
Fridays: Intermediate/Advanced Teen/Adult Ballet with Claudine Naganuma, 6-7:30pm
Saturdays: Intermediate/
Renter Feature: NIA with Alexis Mulhauser
NIA classes are offered Mondays and Fridays from 9-10am with Alexis Mulhauser. Alexis has been practicing Nia for over 20 years. In addition to teaching Nia, she is a certified Breema practitioner and instructor and teaches Breema classes in the Bay Area and abroad. Learn more about Nia by visiting the Danspace calendar, and contact Alexis directly to enroll: yoginialexis@gmail.com.
From the Community
Dancers’ Group is an incredible resource for Danspace dancers and families. Part of dance education is attending dance performances, and Dancers’ Group’s Community Calendar can give you insights into dance performances happening across the Bay Area all year round. They also produce 10 issues of In Dance, the Bay Area’s publication dedicated to dance. If you’re interested in connecting with the Bay Area dance community, Dancers’ Group offers both free and paid membership levels. Visit their website to learn more.
This summer Mary Armentrout will be bringing her EMPAC-commissioned project listening creates an opening to Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater, to refashion this site-specific performance installation in and around the performing arts center on campus. This will include working with current SLC dance students, as well as giving a talk about the relationship of dance and philosophy in her work, in conjunction with the Philosophy Department. If you didn’t get to see Mary’s San Francisco installation, you can read a great piece about it by clicking here.
Image by Mic Bello, listening creates an opening
Looking Forward
Click here for information about how to enroll in Children’s Division classes. We’re available to help you by email or phone, and you can register in-person for both Children’s and Adult Division classes on Saturday, August 17 between 10am and 2pm. We will be in the studio and happy to help you!
Danspace is pleased to offer Adult Choreography and Composition with Mary Armentrout again in 2019-2020! This offering will be in two sessions, the first session beginning October 21 and concluding December 23, meeting Mondays from 7-9pm. For more information, please email info@danspace.com.
Beth Hoge, founder and matriarch of Danspace is teaching every month in 2019-2020. Click here to find her class schedule, and mark your calendars!
See you in the studio as we all assemble for classes!
– From the Danspace team
