Summer 2013 Class Changes

Peridance dance classes span Beginner through Advanced Levels! Check out the latest in class changes underlined below or see the Online Class Schedule. Updates effective Summer-Fall 2013.

Ballet

Advanced Intermediate with Stuart Loungway

Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:30-4pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:30am-1pm
Stuart's last T/Th class will be Thursday, July 25th. Sundays, 10-11:30am Starting July 21st!

Advanced Intermediate Level with Peter Brandenhoff

Mondays & Fridays, 11:30am-1pm

Peter will add Tuesdays/Thursdays, 11:30am-1pm, starting Tuesday, July 30th!

Contemporary

Advanced Intermediate Level with Kristin Sudeikis

Mondays & Wednesdays, 1pm - 2:30pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9pm - 10:30pm
Starting Tuesday, September 3rd, Kristin's T/Th classes will shift to 8:30-10pm. Her M/W classes will continue as usual.


Advanced Intermediate Level with Adam Barruch

Mondays, 10-11:30am
Adam's last class will be Monday, September 16th.

Advanced Intermediate Level with Greg Dolbashian

Fridays, 10-11:30am
Starting Tuesday, September 3rd, Greg's class schedule will shift to Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:30am-1pm!

Beginner Level with Shelly Hutchinson
Fridays 9-10:30am
This new class starts September 6th.

Advanced Intermediate Level with Shannon Gillen
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10-11:30am
Intermediate Level Mondays, 1-2:30pm
Shannon Gillen is moving to Germany, her last class will be Thursday, August 8th.


Hip Hop
Advanced Beginner Level Stiletto Heels with Jessica Castro
Fridays 2:30-4pm
Beginning September 13th!

Jazz
Advanced Intermediate Level with Ashley Carter
Wednesdays 11:30am - 1pm
New class starting September 4th!

Advanced Intermediate Level Contemporary Jazz with Marlena Wolfe
Sundays, 11:30-1:00AM
Starting September 8th!

Modern
Advanced Intermediate Level with Marlena Wolfe
Tuesday and Thursdays, 10:00-11:30AM
Starting September 3rd!

Zumba
Open Level with Sifa
Fridays 6:30-3pm and Sundays 4-5:30pm
Starting today, August 7th, Sifa's classes change to Wednesdays and Sundays from noon-1pm. Friday class is canceled for the week.

Open Level with Leonides Arpon
Wednesdays 6-7pm
Class will soon be canceled, his las class is September 4th!

Ballet: Good for the Mind, Good for the Body - Instructor Kathy Sullivan

"Rely on what you know already--music, yoga, Hip Hop… Ballet is just a different language of moving to music." -- Kathy Sullivan

Peridance Capezio Center has a world-renowned faculty of nearly 100 instructors. We sat down with ballet instructor Kathy Sullivan, leading one of our popular Adult Beginner classes, now on promotion with NYC Dance Week.

Photos by Judi Huck, PR + Design at Peridance Capezio Center

For students who come to my class after years of being away from dance or ballet, they usually find themselves pleasantly surprised as to how quickly it comes back to them!  Muscle memory is amazing! One student, for instance, had not taken ballet in quite a while, but once in the class, their reaction was "Omg, there it is!"

For others who are just beginning, I notice a lot of folks who have been curious about taking ballet or dance for some time. They just never had to the opportunity to take a class. This applies to guys, especially! I have a great deal of respect for absolute beginner students, for trying something new and stepping outside of their comfort zone. That takes a lot of guts!!

Regardless of whether a student is getting back in the swing of things or trying ballet for the first time, I always put myself in their shoes and am as patient and understanding as I can be. Honestly, I really like teaching the “foundation” level classes, where you truly have to *teach* and break down the technique. I find that aspect immensely rewarding.

 

Kathy helping a beginning ballet student with a "retire"

No one should feel awkward from any lack of experience. All of us have to start somewhere. You can't give birth to a perfect pirouette, it takes time to develop and requires practice and persistence. The adult students I work with are always hardworking and intelligent; they also learn very quickly.

We address beginner anxiety and shyness by keeping the class atmosphere fun and light-hearted. To help students feel comfortable with their body image, I say that the mirror is a visual tool to help see the ballet form and line, not for criticizing ourselves.

Ballet Attire for Newbies

In terms of what to wear, ballet slippers are ideal but socks are OK to start. In general, it's best to dress in comfortable exercise clothing (but no exposed midriffs) to allow the teacher to see your alignment and posture.

I find with adults dancers, it becomes more than a classroom experience. Like yoga, ballet has a calming, centering effect, and provides a very satisfying feeling after you finish class. It is a great way to start the day and carries over to your entire life!

NYC Dance Week students in "cambre de cote"

Kathy currently teaches: 

Ballet
 Beginner Level

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:45-10:00am

In addition to teaching at Peridance and other studios, she is the creator of The Ballet Glider: www.balletglider.com.

Have a question for Kathy? Tell us in the comments!

Hip Hop/House Basics Workshop with Brian Green

Brian Green teaches the fundamentals of Hip Hop and House!

Feb 15, 2010 - Feb 19, 2010; Mon - Fri
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Feb 15,16,17 - Basic Hip Hop - Free Style Class
Feb 18 - Hip Hop Choreography
Feb 19 - Basic House Class

Classes focus on the the foundations of Hip Hop and House dance styles. Students will be introduced to basic techniques, isolations, and rhythm patterns, thus allowing the student to develop their own individual freestyle (improvisation), as well as, the ability to understand and to express artistry in hip hop or house routines and choreography.

These classes will give students the opportunity to learn the basics of hip hop and house in a fun and relaxed environment. Accessible to both beginners and experienced dancers alike!

Absolute Beginner Jazz Workshop

Beginner Jazz Workshop with Grant Chang and Courtney Wissinger
Aug 31, 2009 - Sep 4, 2009; Mon - Fri
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

In this workshop, you will be introduced to the basics of jazz dance. Starting from scratch, you will learn (or brush -up on) the fundamentals you need to move on to higher levels of class and performance. We will break down the jazz basics for the first time (or returning) dancer . Working through a traditional warm up routine, we will concentrate on plies, tendus, footwork, proper stretching and strengthening techniques and an in-depth explanation about how turns and leaps "work". Everything will be explained and questions are strongly encouraged! Across the floor (traveling steps) and center combination work will be broken down in detail and used in a short, fun, multi-level choreographed piece to be performed at the end of our two weeks! Even if you have never danced before, are a dancer looking to return to your training, or just want to brush upon your basics and techniques- this is the workshop for you !!