Int/adv contemporary dance class

Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm $12.00 cash or ck only (will have cash on hand for change) ongoing from Jan 13-May 18. Please share.

The techniques that I work with in class are a hybridization of contemporary forms that range from the early techniques of fall/recovery and upper-body arcs from the Humphrey/Limon tradition, to the pedestrian and flowing gestures of Trisha Brown, the modern jazzy ways of Twyla Tharp, the inhibitions of Release, to Bartenieff floorwork, and finally, the ongoing-ness and full range of motion I look for in my own movement.

Whether the class is a beginner or advanced/professional level we work in the following ways: warm-up- stretching and upper body movement combinations, floorwork- developing new neuromuscular pathways, and building strength and memorization skills in a low impact way, center technique-usually traditional exercises that include feet, legs, and hips for the development of strength and flexibility, cardiovascular- exercises that will engage the full body, increase endurance and memorization, and build the corporal relationships to space and to the others in the space; this may take the form of open movement, different sequences across the floor, or in a final dance combination.

Ellen Bartel Dance Collective, formed in 2014, is a project-based contemporary dance performance group. In two decades of dancing in Austin, Ellen has managed a small dance studio (‘97-‘06), directed a slow-motion improvisation group (’95-’01), directed non-profit Spank Dance (’00-’13), created 47+ new dance works, directed 55+ butoh improvisations, spearheaded community dance events such as the annual Dance Carousel (’04-’12), Big Range Austin Dance Festival (’08-’12), Hot September Flurries (05-07), and co- founded the Austin Independent Choreographers. She has choreographed for T. V. commercials, theater, fashion shows, as well as Performance Art events, and has collaborated with local composers: Graham Reynolds, Andy Hadaway (now NYC), Adam Sultan and Peter Stopschinski among others. Ellen has danced in 20 original new works from local choreographers including Ariel Dance Theater who she performed extensively with until 2001. Ellen’s choreography has been shown in many venues in Austin, and also Houston, Dallas, Waco, San Antonio, Edinburgh, Scotland, and in Brooklyn, NY.

recently been accepted into the City of Austin’s Creative Ambassador program, and been called a Dance Mobilizer, Dance Phenomenon, chosen for Austin’s Fortunate 500 for several years, nominated for Best Dance Concert and Best Choreography for numerous Critics Table Awards, Best of the Fest in HPT’s Frontera Festival, and a chosen for many Top Ten Dance Events. Ellen has been awarded scholarships for education, funding to create new work, generous contributions both monetarily and time from members of the Austin community, and, Ellen also gets invited to fancy art parties now and again.