Class information

Canberra Dance Theatre's range of classes provides recreational enjoyment; training for pre-professionals; professional development for teachers and dance professionals; and opportunities for skill, strength, fitness and creative development. Classes are open to beginners through to tertiary level students and professional dancers.

Classes for adults (15 yrs+):

• Ballet
  
• Belly Dance
  
• Contact Improvisation
  
• Contemporary
  
• Creative Moves
  
• Funk and Hip Hop
  
• Gypsy
  
• Hilal
  
• Performance class
  
• Pilates
  
• Workshops (various)

Classes for kids and kids with special needs:

• CDTeens
• Tween Moves
• Jumping Juniors
• Parents, Tinies & Toddlers

You don't need to book – you just need to be on time to get a place!

To register for your class, simply turn up around 15 minutes before it commences, and see the class administrator in the office. We do not have EFTPOS facilities available so class payments can be cash, cheque or pre-paid on the internet. Please see our fees page for more information.

Class sizes

Classes are limited to a maximum of 25 students. This ensures everybody has enough room to have an enjoyable and safe dance experience.

Class level

Basic
CDT basic classes are suitable for absolute beginners through to people with one or two years dance experience. These classes are designed to impart fundamental knowledge and understanding of a particular dance style.

Intermediate
Intermediate classes require reasonable technical knowledge and ideally, at least two years of experience in the dance style. The pace of the class will be quicker than in the basic class due to the experience of the participants.

Intermediate/advanced
Participants in the intermediate/advanced classes should have strong technique and several years of training in the dance style. This class will move quickly, assuming significant dance knowledge of the participants.

Open
Open classes assume a basic knowledge of the dance style. The teacher will adapt the class to suit age and level of dance experience of people attending.

See the CDT timetable for class times and levels.

What to wear

Please wear comfortable clothing that enables you to bend and stretch easily.

Bare feet or socks are suitable for most classes. Ballet shoes and appropriate dance shoes are recommended for the Funk Hip Hop class. Please do not wear outside shoes in the studio to ensure that the dance surface stays clean and in good condition.

If you have any additional questions, check with your class teacher.

Further class information

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.

Teachers: Rebecca Olsen, Dereta Lennon, Mardi Roberts Bolton

Guest Teacher: Kylie Murray, Francisco Rojas

Belly Dance
Learn the basics of 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 who have previous experience will put moves together to make challenging combinations - both physically and mentally.

"Belly dance" can refer to the many varieties of traditional - or "folk" - dances which are found in countries around the Middle East (e.g. Jordan, Iraq, Iran), the eastern end of the Mediterranean (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon) and North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia). 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

Contact Improvisation
This is a young dance form that explores movement through
an investigation into principles of Newtonian natural philosophy and
highlighting embodied awareness.

It has been variously described as an art-sport, a social dance, hippie gymnastics and a moving meditation. It looks like a cross between ballroom dancing and wrestling and involves falling, sliding, flying, spinning, spiralling, rolling, listening, sloughing, following, leading, jumping, pivoting and disorientation (for starters).

It is a principle based form that can be practised by any body - no dance training required.

Teacher: David Corbet

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.

Teacher: Liz Lea, Philip Piggin

Guest Teachers: Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Karina Denni, Holly Diggle, Adelina Larrson, Kylie Murray

Creative Moves
Creative dance for women of any age, flexibility or fitness. The class includes a range of activities, which include warm-ups, creative tasks, improvisation, choreographic and composition activities. Enjoy the freedom to move and have fun with other women in this one hour fun daytime class.

Held at the Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen

PLEASE NOTE: This class is suspended for the rest of 2010 (from term 3)

Teacher: Jane Ingall

Funk and 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: Shannon Winsor

Hilal Dance

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.

Hilal Dance Australia Website

Teacher: Dannielle Cook

Guest Teacher: Rachael Hilton

CDTeens, Tween Moves and Jumping Juniors
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
Tween Moves: aged 8 - 12 years
Jumping Juniors: aged 5 - 7 years

Teachers: Mica Cochrane, Rebecca Olsen, Jane Ingall

PLEASE NOTE: Jumping Juniors has been suspended temporarily pending students registrations. Please contact CDT to inquire and register interest in this class.

CDT would like to thank ACT Down Syndrome Association for their continued support of these classes.

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.

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.

Teacher: Jane Ingall

Guest Teacher: Padma Menon

Performance class

Join the Performance Group for a great opportunity to explore your own creativity with other people in the CDT community. Working with a different tutor each term, the aim is to create a short dance performance together to share at the end of term Performance Parties.

Any CDT Member who is interested and available is very welcome to join.

Teachers: Jane Ingall, Liz Lea, Lailah Masiga

PLEASE NOTE: The Performance Class will commence for the FIRST TWO WEEKS of Term 2 to create the CDT Flash Mob for Dance Week. After this Performance Class will remain suspended.

CDT Flash Mob!
Calling all dance lovers and friends!! Join CDT in creating a dance flash mob in Civic. To be a participant you will need to attend two rehearsals held at the beginning of Term 2. The CDT Flash Mob will happen outdoors during Dance Week in two city locations on Friday 7th May at 5.30pm and 6pm and on Saturday 8th May at 11.30am and 12noon. No particular dance level of skill is required - rather a sense of fun in creating and performing something together to some great dance music.

Rehearsals in the studio:
Thursday 29th April 7.30 - 8.50pm
Thursday 6th May 7.30 - 8.50pm

Performances:
Friday 7th May @ 5.30 and 6pm in Civic
Saturday 8th May @ 11.30am and 12pm in Civic

Contact us to register your interest.

Workshops

Canberra Dance Theatre will be offering a variety of additional special dance workshops throughout 2009, on various Sundays throughout each term, from 3.00–5.00 pm. Instruction will be from resident Canberra dancers and also from visiting dance artists and companies. All workshops will be advertised on the website, in the studio and through the CDT members' newsletter.

For further enquiries sms or call us on 0435 025 365 or email us
Cost: CDT Members: $20 ($16 concession) or one class from Dance Card, Non CDT Members: $25

		Bharatnatyam and Bollywood fusion with Anshu Srivastava Sunday August 15, 2010 3 – 5pm Anshua will teach a class that incorporates the beautiful of the traditional classical Indian dance form, Semi Bharatnatyam from South India with a fusion of the joy and fantasy of Bollywood fusion. Come and learn how to hit every beat with a different step and combine all your dance skills. The class incorporates hand gestures, facial expressions, lots of energy and great fun! Anshu Srivastava, Artistic Director of Bollywood Dimensions Dance School came to Canberra in 1995. Anshu is a classically trained dancer and Choreographer. She started learning dance at the age of 5 at the Bharatya Kala Bhavan Dance Academy in Lucknow, India. She then trained as a Classical Bharatnatyam dancer under the Guru Ji Mr. Arya Bhatt and Mrs. Sharda Nair in Lucknow. Working as an International performer and choreographer since 1995, her experience of dance stretches from Indian Classical Dance 'Bharatnatyam' to the contemporary Bollywood Style Dance and Folk Dance. Two years training and performances with Bollywood Fusion School of performing arts, New Delhi and Miss IT paegent “ Miss Photogenic” in 1990, India. Since the inception of the School, anshu has done few Bollywood productions for the Canberra audience.In 2007 " Enter my heart" at Canberra theatre as a part of Multicultural festival. In 2008, Aaja Nachle- A celebration of human emotions at Street theatre. She was also a semi-finalist in 2007 CHANNEL 7 Reality show “Australia’s got Talent”. She is presenting another Bollywood show “Jalwa” at Royal theatre on 24th of July 2010.