SODA 2004 Summer Dance Workshop

Sherri’s Dance Center, 2112 SW ‘E’ Ave

July 26-30

Beginning Graham-Style Modern 1:00-2:15 pm daily

Intermediate Graham Style Modern 2:30-4:00 pm daily

Improvisation/Choreography Class 4:30-6:30 pm daily

SODA membership party at Sherri’s after final class Friday

Cost is $60.00 per each 5-day class

Lisa Marie DeVilbiss

Graduated cum laude from the University of Oklahoma (OU) with a BFA in Modern Dance Pedagogy, minor in Psychology. Currently pursuing MA in Psychology at Pace University in New York City. Performed many solo and group pieces with the Modern Repertory Dance Theatre at OU under such choreographers as Earl Mosley, Denise Vale, Derek Minter, Andrea Salisbury, Gretchen McLaine, Ko Yukihiro, and George White. Dance captain for and core dancer in A Chorus Line on the OU stage. Performed Dun-dun Ba (West African style) under Sherone Price and Chuck Davis at the American Dance Festival (ADF). Danced in Overexposed, a comedic film for the Sundance Film Festival. Performed as a back-up dancer/singer for Shayan at the Latin Festival, NYC and performed a hip-hop piece under the direction of Angel Feliciano for a showcase at Peridance, NYC. Choreographer for many events, including The Unicorn: An Opera, architectural collaboration with students and dancers entitled Urban Jungle, musical collaboration with musician and dancers entitled Addiction, and two pieces performed for the University of Oklahoma’s Young Choreographer’s Showcase – a Latin piece entitled Dance With Me and a hip-hop/modern piece entitled Rageful Love. Awarded a scholarship to dance at OU, the ADF, and received the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Grant for Rageful Love. Research project titled Psychological Effects of Dance; the only student paper accepted to the National Dance Education Conference (NDE) in 2000. Private dance instructor of Merengue and Salsa and currently choreographing a collaborative work with an actress and a painter in NYC.

Beginning and Intermediate Graham-style Modern

Graham is based on the execution of the contraction and release of the torso while dancing. The dancer should be able to learn how to fully contract and fully release without losing the alignment of the body in motion. The beginning class will focus on specific Graham combinations meant to warm up the body and build strength in the core of the body, while the intermediate class will use this knowledge to move through space while adding pieces to the combinations. Both classes will combine the beautiful aesthetic of the Graham-style combinations while warming up on the floor, but also while standing and moving across the floor.

Beginning Level : less than 3 years of ballet, none to little modern dance experience. (age is not important, but must stress that with no modern experience, and little ballet, the dancer should be careful not to overexert her/himself by taking a higher level class)

Intermediate Level : 3 or more years of ballet, some modern experience, no younger than 12 years of age.

Dress : Dancers should wear leotards and tights or fitted pants or a unitard so that the instructor can CLEARLY see the alignment of the body and the contraction of the torso while dancing. Warm-up clothing and socks are permitted at the beginning of class, but only as long as they are still tightly fitted. Color is of the dancer option…the more color the better…!

Improvisation/Choreography Class

Students should have a clear understanding of alignment and aesthetic concepts, but should also attain growth in emoting and fulfilling movement on a personal level. The dancer in this class will learn to trust his or her other dancers, his or her own style, and will also learn what style of critique toward others works is best for him or her. Every dancer has a unique style, and this class is meant to help the dancer find that style. The class will begin with a center floor modern-style/ballet-barre warm-up, direction changes in employing combinations, and large movements across the floor. The improvisation portion of class will include dancing to musical dynamics, contact improvisation where dancers move with one another and not against one another, and inspirational movements of the dancers own accord. The choreography section of the class will include solo and group work to combine ideas and promote personal choreographic style based on many given ideas by the instructor during class. I am open to student ideas of choreographic projects for this section of class as well…as it is meant to open the minds of every dancer!

Dancer Level : any dancer who wishes to find his or her voice in movement will be allowed to dance, however the dancer should consider his or her dance level to be intermediate to advanced. Should have at least 3 years of ballet experience to execute the instructed part of class, preferably more. Will adjust class accordingly.

Dress : be comfortable! I should be able to see your alignment for the instructed part of class, but anything flowy, baggy, or downright comfortable for the improvisation/choreography sections of class is fine!