African Dance

Lively up your Sunday afternoons with a colourful and energetic African dance class at CDT. This class is high energy, vibrant and earthy, and embraces both traditional and modern African dance steps from East to West Africa. From the sensual and seductive 'Chakacha' dance of the Swahili Coast, to the powerful 'Djansa' warrior dance of Mali, let us take you on an African journey of rhythm and movement. The class starts with a warm-up, then runs through individual steps, breaking them down, then working on a particular dance. Each dance has a name, and a 'story', eg. performed after a good harvest, or at a wedding or circumcision etc. Kylee aims to complete a dance every 2-3 weeks (depending on how quick dancers pick it up) so that at the end of the term dancers would know at least three African dances.

Teacher: Kylee Sharp

Ballet

Classical Ballet is an encompassing art form with movements ranging from turns, to slow dramatic and purposeful positioning, to quick and complex steps, jumps and leaps. Techniques have their histories in French, Russian, Italian and British formal performance art, significantly launched in the French court of King Louis XIV when he established the Academie Royale de la Danse. Though differing techniques have slight variations in placement and vocabulary, they all share a focus on technical placement, posture, fluidity and momentum. Ballet today continues to be an internationally cherished performance art. It has also become a training ground for athletes and other dancers who wish to challenge themselves and improve their core strength and poise. Beginners: no prior experience or for those who are learning the basic ballet positions. Elementary: for those with some ballet training but also open to beginners with movement experience. Intermediate/Advanced: some prior training required.

Teachers: Toni Allen, Rachel Lilley
Guest Teachers: Kylie Murray, Alison Plevey

Belly Dance

Learn Middle Eastern dance - so you can dance the night away wherever you are. For those with limited or no experience, we aim to cover the basic moves found throughout the entire spectrum of Middle Eastern dance; those with previous experience will put moves together to make challenging combinations - both physically and mentally. "Belly dance" can refer to many varieties of traditional (or "folk") dances found in countries around the Middle East, the eastern end of the Mediterranean and North Africa. It can also refer to the modern and fusion styles which take their influences from multiple countries and/or other dance disciplines. This class is thoroughly Cosmopolitan and predominantly draws on the earthier Egyptian cabaret style with a fair portion of Turkish cabaret. We also throw in one or two fusion aspects and a tiny bit of tradition as required! If bright colours, and jingling coin belts sound fun come and join us! It's also great exercise and works wonders for your muscle control.

Teacher: Lani Smales

Burlesque goes gaga!

In Term 1 2012, Burlesque wheeled back to the 1920's and focus on a crazy collection of Charleston and cheek to the music of Diga Doo. The choreography is drawn from archival Australian films made between 1925 - 1933, sourced from the National Film and Sound Archive.

The culmination of this fabulous foray is joining Liz Lea Dance on stage for 2 nights in May at The Street Theatre as she and her dancers present her critically acclaimed work 120 Birds. Film, fashion and fabulousness become one!

Unfortunately, Burlesque will not be offered in Term 2 but will return in Term 3!

Teacher: Liz Lea, Lani Smales

CDTeens and Jumping Moves

Age appropriate, energetic and creative dance for children and teenagers with special needs. These are fun and active classes that provides a range of movement and dance activities. They involve warm-up/fitness/co-ordination tasks, learning a variety of dances, problem solving and improvisation, and a relaxing cool down. These classes offers lots of opportunities for the students to work with each other and/or their parent/carer.

CDTeens: aged 13 - 18 years
Jumping Moves: aged 5 - 12 years
Teachers: Melissa Gryglewski, Amy Dawson

Contemporary Dance

Contemporary Dance is an active and dynamic form, involving whole body movement in space and time, and often in partnership with other artforms. eg. music, art, drama, film, photography, etc. Based on a blend of natural, stylized and gestural movements, it evolved from Modern Dance which originated in the 1800¹s in Europe and the USA, richly influenced by classical, jazz, social and ethnic dance styles. Today, as a constantly changing and evolving dance form, it has many different and idiosyncratic dimensions, reflecting the dance choreographer or performer. Highly regarded internationally, it is incorporated into the training and repertoire of many dance schools and companies throughout the world.

Teachers: Jo Bird, Liz Lea, Philip Piggin
Guest Teachers: Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Holly Diggle, Adelina Larrson, Kylie Murray

Free Range

‘Free Range’ is a new inclusive community dance class led by highly experienced community and special needs dance practitioner Min Mae, co-facilitator of the ‘Radiance’ project. This class is open and accessible to participants with and without special needs who are looking to explore their natural, creative and expressive movement in a collaborative environment. Sessions will explore themes of identity, place, and communication and participants will draw on their own movement and input, developing skills in composition, devising works and strengthening expression through movement. The program is for both genders, and does not require a year-long commitment from participants, as it is intended to lead to new, ongoing dance class opportunities. The classes will culminate in performances sharing with the community an exploration of ideas in movement. All welcome!! This project is supported by the ACT Government through ArtsACT.

Teachers: Min Mae, Fiona MacPherson

Funk / Hip Hop

Challenge your body and mind and learn to move with attitude with the many variations of hip hop and street funk. Move to different beats and music and learn new styles including lyrical hip hop with fluid R‘n’B beats, fast paced dance to energetic house tracks, and unleash your inhibitions and embrace your inner ‘ghetto’ with grungy hip hop and all the included attitude! This class is designed to challenge the way you move, so be ready to test yourself, get down and have some serious fun!

Teacher: Jo Zarb

Hilal Contemporary Egyptian

Hilal Dance is wonderful for both men and women interested in exploring physical expression through dance, music, posture, yoga, fitness and integrating the body, mind and emotion. Hilal Dance welcomes new dancers from a range of dance backgrounds. Dance experience is not necessary. European based Egyptian artist, Suraya Hilal has developed Hilal Dance drawing on her vision of a contemporary dance form inspired by the traditional dances of Egypt. This new form has developed into a powerful expression of rhythm and fluidity that captures the spontaneity of Arabic music. Visit the Hilal Dance Australia Website.

Teacher: Dannielle Cook
Guest Teacher: Rachael Hilton

Growing Old Disgracefully

Growing Old Disgracefully (GOLD) is an exciting dance class for movers and non movers over 55 years with a focus on fitness, mobility and creativity. No prior experience necessary. This class was originally part of a performance project for over 55s in early 2011, in association with the National Library of Australia and Belconnen Arts Centre, and supported by the ACT Government under the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program.

Teachers: Liz Lea, Philip Piggin

Modern Gypsy

Modern Gypsy is inspired by the Rom people and their rich dance styles. It is influenced by the passion and intensity of Flamenco, the balletic styles of Russian gypsy, the footwork and pelvic drops of Eastern Europe and Turkey, and the sensual hip-swaying of Egypt. The vocabulary of this dance is also influenced by American Tribal Style Belly Dance, and other cutting edge belly dance styles emanating from the East Coast of USA. At the heart of this dance is the experience of life. Performances are known for their showmanship and attitude, as well as beauty and precision. Visit Modern Gypsy on Face Book.

Teachers: Doriane Ranaivoharison
Guest Teacher: Rita Markwell

Parents, tinies and toddlers

Fun, creative movement and dance for parents/carers and their young children, from 0 to 4 years. The class involves a range of creative based activities and tasks providing much laughter, movement, dance, singing and learning. It provides a great opportunity for interaction between little and big dancers!

This class meets at St Margarets Uniting Church Hall, Cnr Antill St and Phillip Ave, Hackett on Tuesdays and at the the Scout Hall, Cnr of Hovea St and Boronia Dr, O'Connor on Fridays.

Teacher: Jane Ingall

Pilates

Pilates matwork exercises are designed to strengthen trunk muscles as well as improve movement and muscle control of the spine. The effects flow on through the whole body from the head to the toes. Working belly, back, buttock, and inner thigh muscles from the centre of the body can make movement more efficient and create less pressure on the joints and spine. Pilates encourages the use of the whole body by using the Pilates principles of control, concentration, centring, flowing movement, precision, breath, alignment, and commitment. Try Pilates to improve your flexibility and core strength. All fitness levels welcome.

Teacher: Erin Driscoll

Salsa

Salsa is a dance form originating from Cuba, the original American meeting point of European and African cultures. In these classes, we will be exploring salsa footwork known as shines. Other types of footwork include right and left travelling turns and spins. We will also work the contra body movements (certain sections of the body move in opposition to each other). We will also work the body rolls and how to incorporate these into our dances. Finally, we will come to appreciate what salsa music is all about. With its multi instruments and complex cross rhythms, we will learn to tune our ears and how to count and time it correctly. Dancing on the proper salsa beat is very important!

Teacher: Peter Sbriakosa