Afro Dance Xplosion (London) brings together some of the hottest African Diaspora dance practitioners to deliver a dynamite weekend of dance classes and workshops on 18th and 19th September 2010.
Biographies and Class Descriptions:
FIRE WARRIOR:
Trained with a number of leading dance choreographers including Oke Wambu, Christopher Huggins (ex-Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), Bryant Baldwin and Duncan MacFarland, Fire has performed in a wide range of commercial videos and music tours. Fire has also has toured extensively in stage productions including Bizet’s Carmen, throughout Europe and at the start of May, performed at the International Dance Festival Birmingham in Utopia directed by Arthur Pita. Currently the Rehearsal Director for VOCAB Dance Fire also delivers dance workshops to schools around the south east of England.
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Fire will teach a dynamic Jazz Contemporary style technique class. Participants will sweat as Fire aims to bring a little sunshine and plenty of heat to this workshop!
ALESANDRA SEUTIN:
Alesandra Seutin is a dance artist who draws on African, contemporary, hip hop dance and non-stylized movement to perform or create her unique style she names Afro-Eclectic dance.
Alesandra Seutin trained at Laban and graduated with a BA (HONS) in Dance Studies from Middlesex University.
Alesandra Seutin is a freelance choreographer and dance teacher working with a wide range of groups from professionals, adults, to the youth. Alesandra was commissioned to created ‘1976’ a duet for the renowned Phoenix Dance Theatre’s and Ashmeed Sohoye’s ‘Rigged’ for Theatre Centre’s 2009-10 season tour.
As a performer Alesandra Seutin has worked with various choreographers nationally and internationally.
Upon been awarded the Trailblazers Fellowship 2009-2010 by ADAD and supported by the LUTSF, Alesandra Seutin has recently returned from a training/exchange for professional dancers and choreographers at the renowned Germaine Acogny’s Ecole des Sables centre for African Traditional and Contemporary Dance in Senegal, Africa.
Alesandra Seutin is the artistic director of Vocab Dance Company which was formed in 2007; the company has toured nationally and internationally and is progressively establishing itself as a rapidly emerging dance company in the United Kingdom.
Vocab Dance is an associate company with East London Dance.
Phoenix Dance Company '1976'
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Afro Eclectic Dance takes its roots in traditional African dance, combined to a contemporary flow and the dynamic of urban dance. Alesandra Seutin will lead you in a high energy class were you will explore the aesthetics of African dance, the undulation of the full body whilst your feet remain deeply rooted; to take off in a fluid motion that will allow you to explore the space in rhythms, that will be as eclectic as the motion triggered within your body.
Afro Eclectic Dance will encourage participants to dance fully and explore a unique use of the body, time, breath and rhythm.
MICHAEL BURGESS:
He has harvested an impressive portfolio of accolades as an academic, international performer and entrepreneur. Besides being a dazzling dancer-singer, performing in West End shows such as the Lion King and producing West End cabarets such as West End Live. Michael is also a fervent educator in linking the importance of fitness, health and lifestyle. He is an acclaimed personal trainer of Pilates specialising in mat work, presenting at fitness conventions, and group instructing for several of London’s high end health clubs. It is not uncommon to see Michael spear heading LA Fitness Health Clubs dance and Pilates related campaigns.
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
ChuItal Pilates is the latest fitness program created by Michael under his company CHUfit. The premise is that one not only understands the functionality of Pilates but also that Pilates employs the engagement and improvements of different contents and skills (i.e. cognitive and muscular cohesion). The fluid, controlled exercises are self-expressive and responsive to a tempo that is harnessed through serene, hypnotising rhythms. The health and physical benefits are enormous including total body strengthening and elongation, physical rehabilitation (e.g. back and knee ailments); enhanced flexibility, improved coordination, and heightened circulation and breathing that would thus improve lung capacity and sustain a healthy heart rate. Please bring a mat to work on for the class.
DAVID BLAKE:
David Blake is an international performer, instructor and choreographer with over 15 years of experience and has appeared in commercials, TV shows, film and print. After studying Horton technique at the Alvin Ailey School and completing a BA from California State University, he has toured extensively throughout the Caribbean, United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. David has taught and choreographed for colleges, universities and professional schools in Jazz, Modern and Afro-Caribbean. Currently, he is an instructor at one of Central London's premier dance studios Danceworks and can now be seen in Disney's award winning musical 'The Lion King'.
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Participants will receive instruction in an advanced-beginners level class in the Lester Horton Technique which is designed to provide the fundamental tools needed in dance training ranging from the barest essentials of coordinated movement to more advanced movement studies for every body type. This technique is used in various institutions such as the Alvin Ailey School and Jacobs Pillow and has influenced many dance companies including Garth Fagan Dance Company, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica.
WEEKEND TIMETABLE
Saturday 18th September 2010:
• 10:00am – 10:30am Registration
• 10.30am – 12pm Contemporary Jazz with Fire Warrior
• 12.15pm – 1.45pm Afro-Eclectic Dance with Alesandra Seutin of Vocab Dance
• 2:00pm – 3:00pm Chu Ital Pilates with Michael Burgess
• 3.30pm – 5.30pm Traditional Congolese Dance Masterclass with Lolita Babindamana
Sunday 19th September 2010:
• 11:00am – 11:15am Registration
• 11.15am – 12.45pm Horton with David Blake from The Lion King
• 1:00pm – 2.30pm Afro-Contemporary with Alison Ray
• 3.15pm – 5.15pm Traditional Congolese Dance Masterclass with Lolita Babindamana
COST:
Two days: £70 adv / £80 door
Sat only: £40 adv / £45 door
Sun only: £30 adv / £35 door
Masterclass only: £15 adv / £18 door
Single class: £10 adv / £12 door
Mix and match (one class on Sat, one class on Sun + masterclass on either day): £30 adv / £35 door
VENUE:
Islington Arts Factory
2 Parkhurst Road
London N7 0SF
Nearest tubes: Holloway Road, Caledonian Road
Buses: 4, 17, 29, 43, 91, 153, 253, 259, 271, 359
No longer taking advanced bookings however for further information visit facebook.com/ Feel the Rhythm Productions,
email:
feeltherhythmprod@googlemail.com;
or call: Carolyn (m:) 07979 464047, or Paula (m) 0779 2236583
