Open Adult Classes

Ongoing Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary

Hosted by The Woods Dance Project

When:

• SPRING SESSION continues through June 1st, Saturdays 10-11:30 AM. We also have an extra class on Sunday, May 26th, 10-11:30!

• SUMMER SESSION will be held June 22–August 10, Saturdays 11-12:30 PM.

Who: Jonathan Kim teaches Saturdays through June 1. Nichele Woods is on the schedule to teach Summer Session. Check the Calendar for any possible sub or class updates!

Where: Performing Dance Center: 3310 S 2700 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84109

Cost: Venmo, check, and cash are accepted.

Venmo payments can be accepted at any time and will be applied to your next class or class card. A confirmation email will be sent within 24 hours if payment isn’t used the day it is received. Venmo: @nichele-woods #4099. Payments are non-refundable, but credit is good until August 10, 2024.

• Drop-Ins: $12

• 5-class cards: $50

• Special Sliding Scale Rate: For those in financial need, a sliding scale is available of $8-12.

• Work Study: Work Study will be offered for one to two people each season. Work Study is intended for those in financial need who intend to take classes regularly. Please contact Nichele if you are interested in this opportunity.

*What to know*: Preregistration is not required. Please arrive early to complete payment and sign liability waivers. Class will start and end right on time! New-to-class dancers, please allow at least 10 minutes to complete paperwork and settle in. Returning dancers may enter class up to 10 minutes late. The hall door leading to the studio will be locked at 10:10 for security.

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Intermediate/Advanced Class Descriptions

Jonathan Kim: Int/Adv Contemporary (Spring 2024)

Class will explore sensations with the floor, space, and internal environment set to pop music. Elements of floorwork, modern, jazz, improvisation, somatic practices, and ballet will be incorporated to find ease in expansive movement, while practices involving self-talk and choice-making will be examined to encourage agency and artistry. Occasionally, class will conclude with a combination of previously touched upon elements.

Nichele Wood: Int/Adv Contemporary Release Technique (Summer 2024)

Nichele’s (she/her; MFA) classes pull from Postmodern dance aesthetics, release technique, yoga, her studies in Body-Mind Centering®, improvisational methods, and myriad teaching styles and methodologies that have resonated with her over the years. As a fusion of classical, somatic, and experimental forms, this class can be considered “Contemporary Release,” or perhaps, “Post- Post-Modern.”

Class begins with a guided, experiential warm-up often incorporating improvisation and exercises that strengthen the body and aim to expand internal awareness, connectivity, and the mover’s sense of space and gravity. Center exercises focus on safe alignment and articulation for greater expression, while getting off the central axis and drawing upon earlier concepts and explorations in a formal, organized structure. Class usually finishes with sequences of movement that move dynamically across the expanse of the room, and occasionally time will be left to dance a longer combination of learned material. In short, we will strengthen our bodies, play, build internal and external awareness, and practice self-care and full embodiment simultaneously, whatever that means to the individual.

Although the “how” behind movement material is given, this class is “advanced” in the way that it focuses less on the how of movement mechanics and more on the qualities one might play with inside of their multifaceted experience. This class is “intermediate” in the way it also aims to break down complexity through discussion and workshopping, as needed, and I hope that dancers can navigate the material and get something from it whatever their experience level. I am always happy to discuss movement mechanics in more depth if desired, although sometimes this needs to happen after class. This class also requires a certain degree of strength in the core, upper body/shoulders, and in the hips. For all dancers: please always take care of yourself—modify or step out if the material asks more of your body than you are ready to experience in the moment.