Integration, Expression, and The Dance

In all Duncan classes, dancers move through and integrate gaze, form, and feeling to express their dance. Each technique class will study the mythologies, inspirations, and improvisations around the Duncan steps and dances to build a life-long relationship with natural movement exploration. Classes will engage students’ minds, bodies, and spirits each week to build a personal connection to the technique’s movements and repertory throughout each session.

See below for session descriptions, individual class descriptions, and required class attire.

Sessions

Winter/Spring & Fall Technique Classes

Seasonally-themed youth dance classes that explore the human experience within the natural world. Students explore how the motions of water, wind, and trees inspire the natural movements of the human body while they learn to honor the dance within themselves and each other. All sessions dance the rejuvenating and flowing cycles of mother earth and patterns in nature. Themes of the winter include the Titans, Eros, fire, and the greeting of spring; themes of spring include Aphrodite, fairies, butterflies, and May Day; themes of the autumn include the changing of leaves, Persephone and Demeter, Apollo and Artemis, and the patience of acorns.

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Learning Skills In Each Technique Class

Students explore emotional intention as it is manifested through music and physical movement. Themes include: Leadership and Following, Join and Retreat, Transition, Alone and Together, Nature as Teacher, Myth Based Dances and Improvisation. All dancers are welcome; individual needs will be accommodated and we invite questions and conversation.

Technique Class: Ages 13+

Taught by Cynthia Word

Classes are designed to find or re-gain the joy of movement and to deepen in our movement practice. The Duncan technique is accessible and very effective in helping us to integrate life into our dance and dance into our life. It is an excellent dance foundation that will complement all dance styles. Students learn the use of breath as the initiation of movement, expression of emotion through movement, and choreographic studies derived from the authentic dances of Isadora Duncan. We build cardiovascular strength and increase flexibility through our floor work, barre, and locomotor motifs.

Composition Class: Ages 13+

The Art of Performance
Taught by Cynthia Word

In this class we explore how dances are created.  We do this via discussion, experimentation, improvisation, viewing existing choreography, and our own creative voices in choreography.  We use our self-crafted dances as structures for our expressiveness and dance excellence.  Choreographic studies are shared informally at the end of each semester. 

For more information regarding this curriculum and other trainings in the pedagogy, please contact Cynthia Word at cynthia@worddance.org.