•••DANCE LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING•••
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DANCE JAM
Think of DANCE JAM as a dance club but without the smoke and alcohol and with a very warm and welcoming environment. You can do whatever you want without getting unwanted attention. You can be as open and playful and engaging with others or as private as you like. At DANCE JAM you will find a wide variety of people from all walks of life, of all ages, fitness levels and all with one common desire - to express themselves through movement, dance and play.
DANCE JAM often turns ecstatic and wild for some people and this can co-exist perfectly side by side with people who are on a slower pace, perhaps a more inward state. Due to the non-judgemental environment and since there is no etiquette or expected behaviour (other than being sensitive and respectful) DANCE JAM makes it possible for people to feel truly free.
It is perfectly alright to come to The Dance without any agenda or expectations. Some people come simply to dance, some don’t dance at all and lay on the floor and relax to free themselves from daily routines, some come to watch because they have never seen anything similar. Others come to be sociable or to exercise and some come for cathartic expression, or for fun and laughter.
There are several DJs who will be playing a unique variety of eclectic music spanning the full spectrum of good taste. The music usually starts very slowly for the first 30-40min during which time most visitors strech or relax. Then the music steadily increases in beat to becomes very loud and crazy and eventually the pattern reverses to end very, very slowly. For this reason we recommend that you stay for the whole duration. If you don’t like the music - just wait; it might be very different a few songs later. DANCE JAM is truly about being more Human and to become the playful dancer we all once were. Often dancers try out whatever outrageous they might find in our costume collection. Live music, drumming and Didgeridoo playing happen every so often.
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DANCE JAM : Every Friday 8pm -midnight, $12/$10 . $11/$9 before 8:30pm.
THE DANCE
THE DANCE is in many ways very similar to DANCE JAM but due to the different timing THE DANCE finds dancers to be a bit more focused on an inner journey and it has become a spiritual pactice - a church if you will, to some. Still, play and interaction can happily coexist with some very serious dancing. THE DANCE often turns ecstatic and wild for some people and tears flow frequently. It encourages women (and men) to explore their sensuality in a safe environment without judgment. There are several facilitators and sometimes THE DANCE is minimally guided. The music playlist follows a “wave” and is consciously structured to take you on a dynamic journey, matching the cyclical rhythms of nature ebbing and flowing inherently within us all, if you choose to follow. For this reason we recommend that you stay for the whole duration. THE DANCE is truly about being more Human and it has been a catalyst for personal growth for a large number of people. It has literally changed some people’s life by providing a forum for connecting with the innate wisdom of the body.
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THE DANCE : Every Sunday morning from 10:30am - 12:45pm, $12/$10
BRING YOUR CHILDREN EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. MUCH FUN, WORKOUT AND PLAY FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN. $2 per child.
Please refrain from wearing scented product as some people are allergic to them or experience discomfort. More info HERE.
A beginner's & intermediate class followed by a jam.
In contact dance the connection between the dancers is made by direct body contact, instead of a more open frame made with the arms. Body contact may be achieved with the thighs, hips, chest, cheek and/or forehead, back, depending on the style of dance, the connection needed for a particular move, or to fit the mood of the music. It is often considered a moving meditation where the point of focus is the point of contact between dancers' bodies or between a dancer and an object (the floor, the wall, a tree!). Contact dance requires extreme sensitivity in order to sense the other person's intentions. It can serve as a great tool to show one's own limitations in being open and free flowing and comfortable with one's body. In contact dance the degree to which one trusts one's own body will determine how much a dancer will trust their partner or partner's. It can serve as a great tool to show one's limitations in being open and free flowing and comfortable with body contact. The more trust, the more letting go, surrendering, which is essential for this type of dance. Contact dance can be three dimensional, from rolling on the floor to riding high up on someone's shoulder. Good contact dance can give a strong sense of flow to the degree that seemingly the laws of gravity have been transgressed. It can be quite exhilarating.
The Class:
We will start with the basics of feeling your body, and interacting with others. The class will also address issues of trust and personal boundaries. Special emphasis will be placed on learning to stay safe and to protect your body from injury.
The Teachers:
Pamela has been a member of the performance and theater and dance group Profiscimur in Europe in the late nineties. She has trained contact dance at the University of Vienna (yes, in Austria they have contact dance at a university). Her experience in contact dance with her agility and sensitive grace has colored other areas of her life like choreographing her own fashion shows and dance performances.
Kurt: I started dancing about 17 years ago. Not knowing what contact dance was, people frequently came up and told me that I was doing contact dance. I got more interested and started taking classes. I was intrigued about it was the juxtaposition of having to be so sensitive, vulnerable and trusting and at the same time use strength and acrobatic movement. When I dance I really do not differentiate between contact and not. I just dance, and yet contact dance has given me tools and strength to move freely.
International and guest teachers: From time to time we will invite guest and international teachers to teach this class. Contact dance veteran Martin Hughes is also seen frequently teaching at the PlaySpace.
Each of the teachers has unique qualities to contribute to teaching this class and to handle the variety of subject matters and experiences that will need to be addressed in a contact class perhaps more so than in other movement classes.
CONTACT IMPROVISATION: Every Wednesday 6pm-7:20pm, $ 15/13
Creative Dance-Play for children 3-6
This class fosters increased body awareness and a sense of wonder by engaging the imagination and expression of the spirit. Simple dance and yoga exercises, games and movement exploration will develop listening skills, motor skills and spatial awareness and some of the exercises are designed to calm the children physically and emotionally. A range of music, props and the elements of dance are used to play with individual expression and group dancing. This class also aims to strengthen the bond between children in a non-competitive way.
The instructor:
Karen L Ermacora, mother of two children herself, has developed her passion for teaching children of all ages over many years when she taught in a range of institutions (including schools, TAFE, CAE and Universities). She has been a passionate dancer herself from early on. Karen is committed to maintaining the children’s safety and emotional and spiritual well-being while sharing the joy of dance with them.
Fridays 10.30-11.30am, Drop-in $ 14 ($13 concession) or 10 classes for $ 130 (120 concession),
Also for children: Bring your children to THE DANCE every first Sunday of the month
Barefoot ballroom – The fundamentals of ballroom with a contemporary twist!
The atmosphere does not have to be formal and stiff and you don’t have to wear uncomfortable clothing and shoes to dive into the world of traditional dancing. This training will promptly skill you in the classic dance styles but without the rigidity of the conventional teaching methods. Enjoy the comfort of barefoot dancing, lead roles will be reversed back and forth and the setting will be relaxed and casual, set to an eclectic mix of fun, exotic and deep tunes for your dancing pleasure. Experience the joy of moving with someone while improving your skills and fitness. No experience or partner required.
Jive - Buoyant carefree movement,
Cha Cha -energetic rhythm, cut loose and let your personality show
Mambo- Samba - wild and exciting rhythmical body movements,
Tango- let your passion go wild, dramatic and earthy
Rumba - sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing and muscular control.
Waltz – elegant, sweeping movements, balance and move lightly and with ease.
Basic program: 10 week course: Covers the three most important elements of dancing: dynamic foot positions, rhythm and timing and leading or following. Learn about body posture and “dance floor attitude”.
Intermediate program: 10 week course: Examines free movement around the floor, more variety, technique, footwork and an introduction to styling and bringing out your own characteristic.
The instructor:
Melissa Oakley's professional experience as a dance instructor includes venues like, Chunky Moves Studio, The Tiny Ball Room, National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), Arthur Murray School of Dance, Let’s Go Dance and others. Her range of professional work also includes choreography and teaching aerobics. She is also a gifted dance performer most recently appearing at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona.
Mondays, 6:30pm-7:30pm, Basic program start: Feb 25, $15 drop-in, Intermediate program start: May 12.