Class with Sean Curran

Sean Curran used to have to remind himself that dancing was meant to be a joyful experience. "I used to tell the dancers to point their toes!" Curran said in the middle of his weeklong workshop at Peridance Capezio Center yesterday. Now, he says, "I just tell them to smile." With this said, Curran beams with the giddy grin of the Cheshire Cat. The class responds with wide smiles of their own. In four days, Curran has obviously built a rapport and healthily silly relationship with his students. The class is eager to approach dance according to his requests, which include smiling, yawning like you just woke up, and laughing on command. This last task revealed the trust that Curran fosters in his classes. I was taking the workshop for the first time yesterday, and found that laughter was stuck somewhere inside my chest when he asked us to laugh. It wasn't going to happen. I was so caught up in my own judgements of myself that this simple task- one that probably is enjoyable to the participants- would not come naturally to me. I write this not to chastise myself, but rather to explain the true enjoyment that the students seemed to experience at Peridance this week. They were smiling and laughing heartily. And, possibly because their contentment spread all the way to the last tips of the hands and feet, they were pointing their toes, too.

Hello from the new Peridance Blogger

Well, 2 weeks in to working at Peridance Capezio Center, I think that now might be the appropriate time to introduce myself. My name is Sofia Strempek and I am new on staff at Peridance. I'm going to be taking over the blog, updating it as much as possible with anything and everything exciting happening at Peridance!

I've written for my college newspaper's Arts Section, am published in Salt Lake City's dance journal loveDANCEmore and kind of love everything about dance (Saba's intro Modern class outside the office is making me smile so much right now! Those students are so amazing to watch move so bravely and with such emotion, when they have hardly ever danced before!). I majored in Modern Dance at the University of Utah, moved to New York the day after, and 2 months later I'm here. And I'm sooo excited to be working at Peridance.

I want this blog to be as interactive as possible. I want you to let me know what you want to know about. I want you to tell me what's working, what's not working. This blog is for YOU! You want me to interview someone? Research something for you? I'm in. Let me know. You can always email me at peridanceny@gmail.com

Let's make this fun. First up- taking Sean Curran's amazing workshop. Look for some words on that experience later this week.

Last Week of Summer Workshops Don't Miss Out!

Forsythe Technique with Helen Pickett

Aug 30, 2010 - Sep 3, 2010; Mon - Fri 11:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Lean the basic foundations of the Forsythe technique and its improvisational nature will help you lean to move rather than pose.

MBDance Tech & Rep with Maria Bauman












Aug 30, 2010 - Sep 3, 2010; Mon - Fri 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Take with Urban Bush Women member Maria Bauman and get the exciting opportunity to lean repertory from her latest work "50 Ways to Say..."

Modern Tech & Rep with Seán Curran











Aug 30, 2010 - Sep 10, 2010; Mon - Fri
Technique: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Repertory: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Seán will teach a dynamic workshop that explores gravitational pull in movement and spatial relation. The workshop will enrich your understanding of action, phrasing, and timing.

Sean Curran Spring Workshop

Choreographer Sean Curran returns to Peridance to teach 2 weeks of master classes!

Apr 19, 2010 - Apr 30, 2010;
Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

An Irish step dancer as a young boy from Boston, Massachusetts, Séan Curran was a lead dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and an original member of the off-Broadway hit Stomp.

Mr. Curran explores aspects of movement that use gravitational pulls to expand dynamic ranges and awaken spatial relations between inner and outer focus. He brings these skills into his workshop to enrich the students' understanding of action, phrasing, and timing.

PeriChild Ensemble Performs Sean Curran's Choreography

The PeriChild Ensemble has had the honor of working with renowned choreographer Sean Curran this 2009/2010 season. Sean has worked in collaboration with the dancers to re-create (Another) Metal Garden, a fan favorite from Sean Curran Company. Here's what Sean had to say about his experience while working with the dancers:

"As a choreographer with a company of professional dancers who also makes many dances for college students, I must say that working with the young dancers of PeriChild Ensemble has been quite refreshing. Their unbridled enthusiasm, abundant teenage energy and genuine sense of humor has been a welcome reminder of why we do what we do as teachers and artists. They had many lessons and gifts for me and I have so enjoyed our time in the rehearsal hall together. I cannot wait to see them on stage in our dance that we have made together."

Sean Curran, Artistic Director of Sean Curran Company

Come see the PeriChild Ensemble perform (Another) Metal Garden, choreographed by Sean Curran in this year's Kids Cafe Festival.
Sunday, February 7th, 2pm at the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts / Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

Sean Curran Master Classes

Choreographer Sean Curran returns to Peridance to teach 2 weeks of master classes!

Jan 4, 2010 - Jan 29, 2010; Mon - Fri
Week 1: Jan. 4 - 8: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Week 2: Jan. 25 - 29: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

An Irish step dancer as a young boy from Boston, Massachusetts, Séan Curran was a lead dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and an original member of the off-Broadway hit Stomp.

Mr. Curran explores aspects of movement that use gravitational pulls to expand dynamic ranges and awaken spatial relations between inner and outer focus. He brings these skills into his workshop to enrich the students' understanding of action, phrasing, and timing.

Seán Curran Fall Workshop

Nov. 16-20, 2009; Mon - Fri
Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
(PLEASE NOTE DATES HAVE CHANGED.)

An Irish step dancer as a young boy from Boston, Massachusetts Séan Curran was a lead dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and an original member of the off-Broadway hit Stomp.

A riveting performer, Mr. Curran explores aspects of movement that use gravitational pulls to expand dynamic ranges and awaken spatial relations between inner and outer focus.

Seán Curran Summer Workshop

Jun 22, 2009 - Jul 3, 2009; Mon - Fri
Monday thru Friday: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Séan Curran will be teaching a 2-week long workshop at Peridance Center. An Irish step dancer as a young boy from Boston, Massachusetts, Séan Curran was a lead dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and an original member of the off-Broadway hit Stomp. As a graduate and guest faculty of NYU, his dances have been seen at the New York City Opera, Broadway’s Playwright Horizons, Utah’s Ririe Woodbury Dance Theater, Sweden Skanes Dance Theater, Pittsburg Dance Alloy and several College/University’s pre-professional programs. From America to Europe Mr. Curran spans innumerable venues of dance art. A riveting performer, Mr. Curran explores aspects of movement that use gravitational pulls to expand dynamic ranges and awaken spatial relations between inner and outer focus. He brings these skills into his workshop to enrich the students' understanding of action, phrasing and timing.

Check out Sean Curran Company's Website at www.seancurrancompany.com