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Thu, Aug 22, 2024
3 PM – 4:30 PM PDT (GMT-7)
Private Location (register to display)
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Details
Part 1: Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm (PST)
Part 2: Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 am (PST)
This class is designed to explore the fusion of Contemporary dance fundamentals with a focus on Black dance practices and their impact on this genre of dance. Contemporary Dance finds its roots in (but not limited to): West African, Afro Cuban, Dunham, Jazz, House, and Hip-Hop dance. The expected learning outcomes of this course are to explore dance vocabulary through terminology and movement, promote a basic understanding of the theories, contexts and history of Contemporary dance practices, introduce fusion of Black dance practices in Contemporary dance (in addition to seeing the throughline of European technique/foundations for concert dance), develop awareness of musicality and cultural rhythms, and understand foundational elements of improvisation and a codified Contemporary dance technique at a basic level.
Day 1 will include: a course introduction video detailing black dance pioneers/cultures and their signature movements that have influenced Contemporary Dance, a cypher warm up fusing West African and Dunham technique practices with Ballet and Modern concepts, an introduction to Contemporary fusion Choreography, which will connect all movement material learned. Class will end with a Community Cypher and relaxation circle of breath and stillness.
Day 2 will consist of: Video presentations on Jazz and House dance practices that blend with Commercial Contemporary dance, movement phrase warmups including Afro Cuban undulations and footwork in conjunction with Jazz and House dance steps, and choreography sessions connecting the rhythmic phrases from House and Hip Hop into Contemporary fundamental practices. Class will conclude with a review of all Black dance practices discussed and explored in a final Cypher and group discussion exercise.
This class is open to anyone interested in moving and learning about Contemporary dance. Class will be taught at a level where novice and advanced dancers can gain experience and have an enjoyable time.
Lead By: Professor Shannon Grayson
Shannon J. Grayson is a native of Baton Rouge, LA and current Assistant Professor of Practice at the USC Glorya Kaufman of Dance. She graduated from Howard University with a BFA in Dance Arts and received summer intensive scholarships to Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She continued her training with scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow Jazz/Musical Theatre Program, Jacob’s Pillow Choreographers Lab and Nathan Trice Summer Dance Intensive. She relocated to Chicago as a Lou Conte Dance Studio (LCDS) scholarship student under the direction of Claire Bataille, and performed with Muntu Dance Theatre and Winifred Haun & Dancers and was a featured dancer in the Bollywood movie Dhoom 3 . Her Chicago training experiences furthered her development artistically as a dancer, dance educator, teacher, choreographer and eventually led to a full time teaching position for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) with the LCDS, HSDC Youth Dance Program, HSDC Education & Community Programs and HSCD Professional Pilot Program. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago and Dominican University, River Forest, IL and has taught for Joffrey Chicago Professional Summer Dance Intensive. Grayson is a certified Horton Technique instructor through the Ailey School, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach. She has choreographed for USC Dramatic School of Arts, Chicago Freelance Dance Project, Columbia College Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago DanceChance. She continues to train and teach extensively in various techniques including Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, African, Afro Cuban and Dunham Technique .
Agenda
Past Events
Fri, Aug 23, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Private Location (register to display)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Micro-Seminar: Contemporary Fusion Dance PART TWO
Micro-Seminars have two parts. Attendance to both parts is required. Registering for the PART ONE session will automatically enroll you in the PART TWO session on Friday.
Part 1: Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm (PST)
Part 2: Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 am (PST)
This class is designed to explore the fusion of Contemporary dance fundamentals with a focus on Black dance practices and their impact on this genre of dance. Contemporary Dance finds its roots in (but not limited to): West African, Afro Cuban, Dunham, Jazz, House, and Hip-Hop dance. The expected learning outcomes of this course are to explore dance vocabulary through terminology and movement, promote a basic understanding of the theories, contexts and history of Contemporary dance practices, introduce fusion of Black dance practices in Contemporary dance (in addition to seeing the throughline of European technique/foundations for concert dance), develop awareness of musicality and cultural rhythms, and understand foundational elements of improvisation and a codified Contemporary dance technique at a basic level.
Day 1 will include: a course introduction video detailing black dance pioneers/cultures and their signature movements that have influenced Contemporary Dance, a cypher warm up fusing West African and Dunham technique practices with Ballet and Modern concepts, an introduction to Contemporary fusion Choreography, which will connect all movement material learned. Class will end with a Community Cypher and relaxation circle of breath and stillness.
Day 2 will consist of: Video presentations on Jazz and House dance practices that blend with Commercial Contemporary dance, movement phrase warmups including Afro Cuban undulations and footwork in conjunction with Jazz and House dance steps, and choreography sessions connecting the rhythmic phrases from House and Hip Hop into Contemporary fundamental practices. Class will conclude with a review of all Black dance practices discussed and explored in a final Cypher and group discussion exercise.
This class is open to anyone interested in moving and learning about Contemporary dance. Class will be taught at a level where novice and advanced dancers can gain experience and have an enjoyable time.
Lead By: Professor Shannon Grayson
Shannon J. Grayson is a native of Baton Rouge, LA and current Assistant Professor of Practice at the USC Glorya Kaufman of Dance. She graduated from Howard University with a BFA in Dance Arts and received summer intensive scholarships to Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She continued her training with scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow Jazz/Musical Theatre Program, Jacob’s Pillow Choreographers Lab and Nathan Trice Summer Dance Intensive. She relocated to Chicago as a Lou Conte Dance Studio (LCDS) scholarship student under the direction of Claire Bataille, and performed with Muntu Dance Theatre and Winifred Haun & Dancers and was a featured dancer in the Bollywood movie Dhoom 3 . Her Chicago training experiences furthered her development artistically as a dancer, dance educator, teacher, choreographer and eventually led to a full time teaching position for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) with the LCDS, HSDC Youth Dance Program, HSDC Education & Community Programs and HSCD Professional Pilot Program. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago and Dominican University, River Forest, IL and has taught for Joffrey Chicago Professional Summer Dance Intensive. Grayson is a certified Horton Technique instructor through the Ailey School, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach. She has choreographed for USC Dramatic School of Arts, Chicago Freelance Dance Project, Columbia College Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago DanceChance. She continues to train and teach extensively in various techniques including Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, African, Afro Cuban and Dunham Technique .