Seattle Theatre Group offers
DANCE This SUMMER DANCE TRAINING INTENSIVE
MONDAY JUNE 21 - FRIDAY JULY 2, 2010
The DANCE This Summer Dance Training Intensive provides an opportunity for young dancers at all levels to immerse themselves in dance over the course of 2 weeks. Students will be exposed to a wide range of dance styles and techniques in a supportive, yet challenging atmosphere. Instruction includes Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, Choreography, Ballroom/Salsa, African, Conditioning & special workshops.
WHEN: Monday June 21 - Friday July 2, 2010
10:00am - 4:45pm
Each day includes four 75-90 minute classes with the area’s leading dance teachers (bios below) and a one hour break for lunch (students must provide own lunch/snacks).
(please note - early release on Saturday June 26th and no classes Sunday June 27th)
WHERE: All classes will be held at Pacific Northwest Ballet - The Phelps Center
301 Mercer Ave, Seattle WA 98109 (located on the Seattle Center campus)
WHO: The Intensive is open to young aspiring dancers ages 13-22 ANY LEVEL of experience. Three class levels offered in most disciplines.
COST: $275 per participant* for the entire Intensive program if registration is postmarked by May 21st; $300 after May 21.
*A limited number of scholarships are available to students based on financial need. Please indicate in your registration form if you would like scholarship information sent to you.
Check back for details regarding the 2011 program!
Instructors include:
Etienne Cakpo (African Dance)
Etienne Cakpo is a professional dancer, choreographer and musician from Benin, West Africa. He teaches and performs traditional African dance from Benin as well as contemporary African dance styles, and has been building his dance repertoire for over twenty years. Currently the director and lead choreographer of Gansango Music and Dance based in Seattle, Etienne contributes regularly to the cultural arts community in Western Washington, and performs in solo events and group shows. Gansango works closely with public libraries, schools and independent arts agencies locally and nationally to make performance of dance and music from Africa available to a wide range of audiences, including young children. Etienne lives to dance. He particularly enjoys collaborating with multi-cultural dance groups and educating people of all ages and backgrounds about African culture through the arts. Etienne returns for his 6th year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Kirsten Cooper (Jazz)
Kirsten Cooper studied dance and performed professionally in Los Angeles where she received experience in film, music videos and stage productions. Kirsten was an assistant teacher on the LA Dance Force convention tour and was a featured dancer on Costa Cruise Lines. Kirsten is the director of Westlake Dance Center's competition and performing group and teaches lyrical and jazz. Her company was invited to perform at Tanzsommer dance festival in Austria the summer of 2006. Kirsten's former students have gone on to dance on cruise ships, many Vegas industrials, in the Wicked national tour, with the L.A. based dance company Hysterica, with the Backstreet Boys, Fiona Apple and Celine Dion and most recently on “Dancing With the Stars” and the movie “Fame.” Kirsten returns for her 4th year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Sonia Dawkins (Modern)
Sonia Dawkins is the founder and Artistic Director of SD Prism Dance Theater. She holds a BFA from the University of the Arts in Pennsylvania, and an MA from SUNY College at Brockport. Sonia has studied at the Edna Manley Performing Arts and Visual Arts College, and Jamaica School of Dance, developing her expertise in folk dances. Presently on the faculty of Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Sonia is the founder and director of SD/Prism Dance Theatre Extension Program and Company which offers training and mentorship to young artists. Sonia returns for her 7th year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Rex Kinney (Hip Hop)
Rex Kinney grew up in Seattle and was introduced to hip hop at the age of 14. He has had the pleasure of performing and choreographing for venues such as Seahawks and Seattle Sonics/Storm Half-Time shows, Poncho's Auction Gala, Village Theater's “The King and I,” Experience Music Project, Seattle Academy, Kube 93.3 FM's Summer Jam Concert on the main stage, opening for Cypress Hill, the music video “Do You Want Me” by Mion Lee Drew and its west coast tours, the Children's Hospital Benefit Showcase, and the UW Conference for former Governor Gary Locke. He is currently the Director and Choreographer for the Shorecrest High School Dance Team, where he has led them to 5 District Titles and 2 WIAA State Dance/Drill Championships in 2006 and 2009, with a 3rd place ranking at Nationals in 2007. In addition, he is an instructor through Cornish College of Arts, UW Experimental College, Westlake Dance Center and has taught with Pacific Northwest Ballet's Dance Chance and Outreach Programs. Rex returns for his 3rd year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Timothy Lynch (Ballet)
Timothy Lynch danced for Pacific Northwest Ballet from 1993 to 2003. He trained at the School of American Ballet on full scholarship for ten years. Tim has been a faculty member of Pacific Northwest Ballet School since 2003, and also teaches for their Outreach and Dance Chance
Programs. In 2005, Tim received a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts where he is currently a faculty member. He most recently founded his own contemporary dance company in 2007 called Seattle Dance Project. Tim returns for his 7th year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Amy O’Neal (Choreography)
Amy O'Neal is a performer, choreographer, dance educator, and the co-director of locust (music/dance/video) with musician/composer Zeke Keeble, based in Seattle WA USA and touring nationally. Amy teaches contemporary dance technique, funk, and choreography regularly at Velocity Dance Center and has taught and/or conducted residencies at the University of Washington, University of Idaho, Idaho State University, University of Montana, Texas Woman's University, University of Oregon, Cornish College of the Arts, and Dance New Amsterdam (NYC). Her work has been commissioned by Spectrum Dance Theater, Cornish Dance Theater, Moving Current (Tampa, FL), and Seattle Theatre Group. Amy has been awarded creative residencies at Bates Dance Festival, Headlands Center for the Arts, and the US/Japan Choreographers Exchange through Dance Theater Workshop and the Japan Society in NYC. Amy holds a BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts. In 2009, Amy started producing work under the name AmyO/tinyrage and premiered her first project under this name at the TBA Festival in Portland and the Northwest Film Forum in Spring 2010. Amy returns for her 5th year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Ellie Sandstrom (Modern)
Ellie Sandstrom is originally from Minneapolis, where she began her movement training in the early 80's with Minnesota Dance Theater and later BalletArts Minnesota. She has studied various forms of dance technique, body conditioning, composition, improvisation and performance techniques throughout her life at many celebrated dance festivals and schools across the country including Cornish College of the Arts, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. She is based in Seattle and has worked consistently with dance companies locust and Scott/Powell Performance since 2000, and has been touring with both groups since 2004. She is known to bring many other projects into the mix. She has been commissioned to create new dance locally and nationally and uses the name SANDSTROMMOVEMENT for her choreographic work. She has taught at schools and universities in Seattle and across the country. She currently teaches Ballet and Modern technique to young adults and beyond at Velocity Dance Center and Hip Hop styles to high school students at the Northwest School. This is her 2nd year teaching for the DANCE This Intensive program.
Suzanne Singla (Ballet, Pilates)
Suzanne Singla (formerly Osterberg) trained with Columbia Dance Ensemble in Vancouver, Oregon Ballet Theatre School and Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, where she received a Certificate of Dance. She performed with dance ensembles in Oregon, New York and South Africa. Her teaching credits include faculty positions at Connecticut Dance Theatre, School at Steps and Ballet Hispanico. Suzanne joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet School faculty in 2004 and was the Children’s Division Coordinator until 2009. Suzanne returns for her 3rd year as a DANCE This Instructor.
Vanessa Villalobos (Ballroom/Salsa)
Vanessa Villalobos is a Peruvian born dancer, actor, choreographer and educator with a degree in Theater and Dance from the University of Washington. She has worked and performed in all categories of dance such as concert dance, competitive dance, theater and film. Her influential professional trainers include: Pierre Dulaine, Yvonne Marceau, Rufus Dustin, Taliat Tarsinov, Tony Meredith, Melanie LaPatin, Hustle legend Miguel Marrero and cajon master Juanchi Vasquez in the categories of American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Latin, Theater Arts and Afroperuvian dance. She is an experienced teaching artist with film credits in “Mad Hot Ballroom” and Walt Disney’s “Enchanted.” Currently, Vanessa directs BALORICO LLC, an arts & entertainment company with the vision of presenting work that includes community partnerships, philanthropic giving and performance opportunities to pre-professional and professional entertainers. This is Vanessa’s 1st year as a DANCE This Intensive instructor.
Schedule and Instructors subject to change.
