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.
Ballet Levels - Basics (learning the basic moves), Beginners (has some experience and knows the basic moves), Elementary (can complete more complex moves), Intermediate (considerable experience), Advanced (many years experience).

Teachers: Toni Allen, Celeste Flannery, Elisabeth Fellow, 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

Risque and contentious, Burlesque has experienced a new wave of popularity and the Arts of Tease is back! Burlesque had its hey day in the 1930’s, and is traditionally a combination of all or one of the following: singing, dancing, comedy, striptease and mime. Today it is possibly the definition of kitsch, but sexy, sometimes rude and always with a sense of humor. Come along to learn the art of line, and engaging an audience with sultry sensuousness. Bring heels, boas, fans and fabulousness.

Teachers: 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. Fun for all generations!

Registration: just turn up and sign up before the class. No need to book in advance. Each class is only $10 per family. If you decide to keep coming you will need to pay your CDT membership for a year ($30). Bring something comfortable to move in. Enjoy!

CDTeens: aged 13 - 18 years
Jumping Moves: aged 5 - 12 years
Teachers: Mica Lynnah, Claire Chevrier

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, Kylie Murray

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: Kelsey Josling

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

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, Min Mae