Class Descriptions
CONTEMPORARY
MASTER WORKSHOPS
BALLET BALLET
HIP HOP
BALLROOM
FITNESS
MIND/BODY
CONTEMPORARY
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN URBANITY? (Beginner Contemporary Dance)
SESSION ENROLL REQUIRED: Register Now!
This class is for adult beginners or for those who have not danced in years. Moving through a syllabus with a consistent teacher and class, students build a solid foundation of contemporary dance, which is a blend of ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop. Learn the creative and eclectic styles of contemporary dance in an engaging atmosphere that will encourage you to move, take risks and be expressive. Every class will have an element of improvisation, encouraging dancers to explore inside-out movement. This class aims to challenge students to release the inner-voice of perfection, discovering “inside-out” movement, and redirecting effort so that dancers realize how to accomplish more, by doing less.
INTER/ADV CONTEMPO: Contemporary classes are inspired by an endless array of movement, often combining elements of ballet, modern, jazz & hip-hop with other elements, ranging from capoeira, circus, step & butoh... Gestural vocabulary meets daring athleticism meets lyrical fluidity. Every class has an element of improvisation, encouraging dancers to explore inside-out movement... It’s about working smarter, rather than working harder.
Benefits: Extension/Turns/Leaps, Performance Expression, Contempo Style
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ/BALLET FUSION: This one-of-a-kind Urbanity class fuses contemporary dance styles with strong classic ballet/jazz technique. Class begins with stretching and warm-up designed to work on strength and alignment. Across the floor exercises refine skills including battements, pirouettes, and jetes. Combinations often have fun pop elements. Intermediate level.
Benefits: Extension, Turns, Leaps, Placement, Lines, Contempo Style
THE URBANITY AESTHETIC: Urbanity dancers are known for their adaptability: the ability to lyrically release through the torso yet also execute quirky, minimalist styles. The Urbanity Aesthetic is an experiment in pushing the limits of contemporary dance technique, striving to inspire audiences with its edgy artistry and startling unpredictability of movement. Building on a rich foundation of classical ballet and modern dance, the Aesthetic seeks to combine lyrical fluidity with a jazzy economy of expression. Advocating a fresh and imaginative approach to dance, the Urbanity Aesthetic is an exciting experiment in elevating physical intelligence. The majority of this advanced class is learning choreography, often from the company repertory.
Benefits: Overall technique, flexibility and strength. Learn Urbanity Dance repertory and style, highly recommended for dancers interested in auditioning for the Company.
MASTER WORKSHOPS
FIRST SATURDAYS WILDCARD CLASS: Catapult yourself into the next dimension of movement! The hope is that by learning from an endless array of influences and cultures, students gain exposure and draw inspiration from diverse styles of movement. Unique classes each month include: Tango, Pop/Lock, Butoh, Capoeira, Salsa, Hip-hop ballet, Irish Step, Indian, African, Groove and Contact Improvisation.
Have a style you would like to share with the Company? Email us at studio@urbanitydance.org
Benefits: Knowledge of diverse movement styles
CONTEMPORARY MASTERS: Urbanity Dance collaborates with some of the most well-respected leaders in the industry. Master workshops usually take place for 2 hours on Saturday afternoons. Stay tuned for more info!
DANCING INSIDE/OUT:
A monthly workshop on the last Saturday of every month, 3-4:30pm, led by Urbanity choreographer KK Apple to focus on how YOU move. This workshop takes a hands on/minds open approach to developing yourself as a dancer and performer, as we bring our attention back to your own body.
Benefits: Get comfortable with improvisation, musicality, and partner work, making strong choices for your body and your movement. Practice how to get out of your head, while still being a smart dancer--all to the tune of beats that make your insides move and your outsides grin! Come ready to move! And with open hearts!
BALLET BALLET
We’re not going to pretend that we can teach ballet like our community partner and neighbor, Boston Ballet. For your dose of classical ballet, go to Boston Ballet. They offer a huge selection of classes, Beginner through Adult. They also offer some incredible modern classes! Check out their schedule.
HIP HOP
This energetic class uses an eclectic mix of music, from R&B to house, and pop and teaches dancers hip-hop movements, musicality and technique while also working on rhythm, precision, and muscle memory.
Benefits: Coordination, Memory, Problem Solving, Ability to Make Friends
BALLROOM
SESSION ENROLL REQUIRED: Register Now!
Urbanity Dance is bringing “Dancing With the Stars” to your neighborhood! With this dance class, enrolled dancers will learn a variety of social dance styles consisting of the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Swing, Lindy Hop, Paso Doble, Mambo and the Jive.
FITNESS
ZUMBA: Working out doesn’t have to feel like a chore... make it fun, exhilarating and effective with Zumba! Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez in Colombia during the 1990s that incorporates a variety of dance styles: hip hop, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo and martial arts as well as some Bollywood and belly dance moves. Zumba’s easy-to-follow moves are paired with international upbeat music to create a dynamic fitness program.
Benefits: Tone and sculpt your whole body while sneaking in a healthy dose of cardio.
MIND/BODY DONATION BASED PROGRAMMING
YOGA FOR A CAUSE: Yoga is an amazing form of exercise that not only strengthens but also stretches and de-stresses the body and focuses the mind. “Yoga For a Cause” is Boston’s first regularly-scheduled donation-based yoga class that aims to make yoga affordable for everyone who wants it. Classes are a melting pot of Vinyasa, Hatha & Iyengar yoga. Minimal props are used in most classes. $5-15 donations are encouraged in order to keep class rolling, but students are only asked to pay what they can. Beginners and experienced students welcome, regardless of level of flexibility or fitness. Bring a yoga mat or rent one for $3.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Urbanity Dance is a nonprofit dance organization that believes in the creative interplay between dance and community. It Takes a Village is a monthly movement class held on the last Tuesday of every month at 9pm, open to all levels of movers, beginners through advanced. Each month, 100% of proceeds from this donation-based class are donated to a fellow nonprofit in our community doing important work. Artistic Director Betsi Graves leads fellow movers on a one-hour “moving meditation”. Using dance and movement as a medium, students are guided through techniques of improvisation and guided dance meditation. Listening to our physical voice, we dance individually and with each other for the greater good, recognizing that as we dance we increase our sense of inner-peace, increase our potential to help others, and quite literally help an organization in need of support. Have an idea for an organization? Email us at studio@urbanitydance.org.
