Advanced Nia

 

~ conditioning, creativity, community, performance ~ 

Thursdays 7-8:30 pm

(classes will run throughout the spring/summer sessions, but will not include choreography)

 

Joy of Dance

95 Danforth Rd (at Broadview)

This Nia class is an athletic Nia class, focusing on conditioning and technique. In addition, participants in this class will create a short performance to share with the Joy of Dance community at the end of term showcase (December/April). 

 

In this class, you will experience:

1. An athletic Nia class – one that allows us to find our own individual dynamic and engaged practice, which will be unique to each one of us. Emphasis on attitude/approach, technique (to really allow us to move in ways our body is designed to move) and commitment to the process will be important components of this part of our practice*.

2. Performance choreography – we will create a 2 minute piece of choreography which we will perform at the Joy of Dance showcase in December, 2011.  You will have input into the choreography and costumes so that we develop and play with this piece as a group! Fun!

Staying true to your bodies’ sense of comfort, pleasure and joy, you will enjoy the following benefits by participating in this class:

* Improved flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability

* Improved ability to extend higher and sink lower

* Enhanced creativity and personal expressiveness

* Move up and down from the floor with greater ease

While allowing our bodies to experience the joy of movement, together we will:

* experiment with a variety of unique choreography

* experiment with quicker choreography changes

* challenge ourselves to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to do our best.

 

If you are thinking “no way, I could never get on a stage and perform“, that’s ok. You can still be part of this class and experience the challenge without stepping on stage!

Eloise Goodwin and I did a performance piece last May for the end of term showcase. Take a look here to get an idea of what we put together.  And before you think “I could never do that!”, consider that that was my first performance on stage. Ever. There were no dance classes or dance recitals in my past. None! Nada. Zip.

I did it and SO CAN YOU!

 

Hear what the students in the Fall, 2011 class

had to say about their experience:

Advanced Nia Class Fall 2011 – What’s it all about? from jennifer hicks on Vimeo.

Have a look at our Fall 2011 performance:

And here’s the Winter 2011 performance:

THIS is what we created together!!!

Contact me with questions.

NB: The Advanced Classes will be running during the Spring (May 6-June 30) and Summer (July 2 – Aug 22) terms, however we will take a break from creating choreography. Instead we’ll play with other movement challenges (in addition to having an athletic Nia class). We’ll come back to creating choreography in the Fall (Sept-Dec 2012) and Winter (Jan-Apr 2013) Terms.

*I am encouraging you to pre-register as a sign of your commitment, but if you prefer to do drop ins, that’s fine too.