MAD Weekend hosts a variety of events, such as movement masterclasses, workshops, and panels.
Classes are $3 each for students with a Naz ID and $5 for the public, CASH ONLY. Admission is paid at the door. Classes are FIRST COME FIRST SERVE and spots are limited.
Nazareth University is featuring Kyle Abraham's Company A.I.M in a performance on Friday, January 24, at 7:30PM in Callahan Theatre. Go to the box office page to order tickets to the show now.
A.I.M company members will also be holding a workshop/movement class during MAD Weekend open to students and community members. Look at the schedule below to see the when and where this takes place.
Schedule:
10:30 am - 11:45 am
Ballet For Musical Theater Performers: Full Body Dynamics - Felipe Panama, Location: George 102 - Sponsored by Theatre League
In this course, dancers will be guided through an intermediate ballet technique class. The structure and focus of the class is to create full body engagement through mindful use of the arms, legs and eyes, as well as finding dynamics that are musical and impactful. The concepts of classical dance are presented as movement mechanics that help all performers discover how their own bodies, with unique proportions, react to momentum when turning, jumping and transferring their weight across the space.
Movement and musical concepts are presented together for the student to explore
dynamics and artistry. The class combines each element of mechanics and their
relationship to time signatures and tempi, as well as momentum and muscular efforts.
Pilates - DoubleTake Dance, Location: George 154
Class will start warming up the body, working on balance and gentle stretches, followed by a series of mat exercises based on the method - Open to all levels and ages.
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Intermediate/Advanced Theater Dance - Felipe Panama, Location: George 102 - Sponsored by Theatre League
In this course, students can expect a warmup in center that utilizes concepts from jazz codifications such as Luigi, Matt Mattox and Jack Cole, as well as modern dance and ballet technique through a jazz filter. Though exercises are broken down before hand, themes with variations create long sequences: it is aerobic and focuses on solidifying a proper foundation as they move through many classic jazz exercises to strengthen, lengthen and prepare the body for dancing. Full body movement and isolations give the dancer a broad approach to movement in search of dynamics and a wide range of muscular effort.
The choreography staged during the second half of the class will challenge students to think carefully about musicality while they develop skills to shift their weight and hit unexpected accents. The work from class reflects in the combination as we search to preserve distinct musical qualities. All of this, through a storytelling lens. The dancers are exposed to situations that require exploration of theatricality, drama, and style through movement and body language.
Contemporary Partnering - Catherine Messina, Location: George 154
Contemporary partnering has become a focal point in many companies in recent years. This class looks at the grips and weight shares of partner to partner with the understanding that everyone can lift, everyone can base. To find this, we use techniques obtained from contact improvisation and other physicalities. Ledging and lofting techniques will be employed to have students focus on discovering momentum and circularity within the larger context of the body, and how to connect that body with another in the room. We discuss consent and the safety and deep listening required. Finally, dancers will tune into an inner awareness of their body moving through space in order to achieve expansive, explosive movements.
1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
The Whole Dancer: Intermediate/Adv Contemporary - 32nd Pack Dance, Location: George 102
This class will explore intermediate/advanced contemporary floorwork and phrases pulled from company repertoire. “The Whole Dancer” is a series of classes created to assist dancers in developing their artistry while nurturing their voice and emotional health. Dancers will be guided through somatic exercises throughout class in order to focus on their mind-body connection and connect to their inner artistic voice. Dancers will also work on using their full kinesphere while
smoothly transitioning in and out of the floor throughout warm up, improvisation, and company repertoire.
Company Repertory - DoubleTake Dance, Location: George 154
Class starts with a full 40-45 min warmup that focuses on technique, strength and flexibility. We will then teach some of our NYC based company, DoubleTake Dance repertory and if time allows work on staging it. Intermediate-Advanced Levels
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Breath and Momentum in Contemporary Dance - Felipe Panama, Location: George 102
This class presents the students with an amalgamation of concepts from modern and contemporary dance techniques. The focus of the course is to reconnect the dancer with their body and its unique proportions and how to use them to create impulse and use momentum organically through breathwork. The dancers will then be able to play with their axis and center, create impactful movement on and off balance, while applying a ‘playful’ use of suspension.
The class is structured to present movement in a somewhat chronological order, using the historical timeline of the creation of these dance techniques.
4:30 pm
MAD Artists Showcase and Post-Show Talk-Back - Location: Callahan Theater
A curated showing of choreographic pieces from guest artists and a chance to discuss their work after the show.
