CriticalDance Forum

I don't have any lofty aspirations to be a professional dancer, but I do love to dance and have some basic ballet experience (my background is a gymnast - now I mainly do yoga but would really love to get back into dance again). I've noticed that there seem to be a lack of basic/beginner modern classes...all of them seem to start at the intermediate level. Does this mean that I'll have to progress first in ballet in order to take them? To be quite honest, ballet is not my "thing" and I would really like to get into some modern techniques, but I just don't know where to take classes. Any ideas? (I live in NYC by the way.)

Thanks!

I believe the Limon Institute at Peridance has some beginner classes in the middle of the day. But only Intermediate in the evenings.

You should talk to the teacher beforehand and take a trial class, then see if it's something you can work on productively in the Intermediate class.

Also try Dancespace. I know they have beginning Simonson technique there- Simonson is a modern/jazz, very lyrical and really 'dancey'- quite beautiful and I find it really enjoyable to do. Also, check out Ballet Arts at City Center. They have a few beginning modern classes I believe, or at least they did in the winter. Hope that helps.

hey there -
thanks for your reply on the other thread.

if you want to go take class sometime, i will be in nyc and wanting to tear up the town -- starting with beginner classes because i am scared of DANCING IN NEW YORK CITY, capital letters, when i am from fat far away. i am staying with friends, but not dance friends, and always like taking class with someone else i know there.

email me if you want: mizfederow at veryspeedy dot net.

-ariel

Ari,

Enjoy your time in NYC. There are many interesting opportunities here. But you don't need to be intimidated. If you have quality professional training in Seattle, then you will find that you can keep up in New York. And there is much mediocre dancing in NYC, just like everywhere else.

I just took a beginning modern class tonight at the Mark Morris Dance Center here in Brooklyn. It's every Wed. from 7p-8:15p.

Was it any good? How "beginner" was it? Did they ask for prior ballet experience or anything like that?

Ari, the dancers you'll meet in class here are just like the dancers you'll meet elsewhere.

...Only more so.