Each Thursday from 6:15 - 7:30pm Dance Initiative hosts a community dance class, taught by a rotating roster of local and guest dance artists and teachers. All levels welcome. We touch on contemporary modern, ballet technique, improvisation, afro-cuban, and typically learn a choreographed phrase. The focus is on fun, accessible dance that inspires creativity and works towards a choreographed sequence.

Want to support local dance by donating to Happy Hour Dance Class? Your donation goes directly to paying teachers.

OCTOBER 20
Sammy Altenau’s class guides you through a series of exercises that engage with articulation, balance, weight shifting, changes of direction, and transitions to and from the floor. You will play with musicality and breath through movement utilizing release and suspension. You are free to explore your own movement dynamics and direction changes as you travel through space. Barefeet or socks are recommended, and you are welcome to modify any movement to your body’s needs. The class flow is a guide to cultivate a curiosity about movement textures in response to the environment around you.

Sammy was guided by Katherine Wolanske in modern and contemporary before attending the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program in New York. She has performed works by William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Carolyn Dorfman, Robert Moses, Stefanie Batten-Bland, Claudia Schreier, etc. She has trained at Alonzo King Lines Ballet, The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Carolina Ballet, Arts Umbrella, and the Graham School. She danced with Graham II, Miriam Barbosa Dance, has performed as a guest artist for Adria Ferrali, director of the Danza in Arte a Pietrasanta, and performed as a semi finalist on ‘America’s Got Talent’ at Radio City Music Hall. Sammy now dances professionally with DanceAspen.

6:15 - 7:30pm

The Launchpad, Carbondale, Main Studio

$15 drop in, $130 10-class card