Wednesday, September 29, 2010

October Newsletter

Please click on images to view full size.

Friday, September 24, 2010

David Dorfman- Modern Field Trip

Modern Field Trip #1 2010
David Dorfman Dance
September 14th 2010
Vanderbilt Langford Theater


Modern students have a rare but wonderful opportunity this week to see the world premiere of David Dorfman's work entitled Prophets of Funk. The performance was upbeat, full of energy, and the sixty minutes of none stop amazing dancing flew by in a second.
After the performance David held a q&a with the cast members and any audience members interested in sticking around. The best part of the night was when cast members pulled audience members up onto stage to end the evenings performance with a group dance. Madison Hopkins had the courage to get on up and get funky.


The night before we went to a master class. What a great opportunity to see how a master choreographer works. David is the most down to earth teacher I have ever had. His light hearted energy and determination to learn everyones name was so welcoming. His movement combines a lot of action/reaction sort of moves. It's almost a choreographed improvisation at times. I really enjoyed getting my feet blistered up after being out of dance the past year with baby.

Article in the Informer 9/2010

Thank you Dr. collins for taking the time to write an article about our school. We truly appreciate it.

(click on article to view full size)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Pioneers of Modern Dance

The modern program is expected to not only learn who the pioneers of modern dance were but who studied with who and where modern dance technique came from. At Tennessee Dance Arts we strive to teach modern dance as it was taught by the creators themselves. Megan generally teaches in the style of Mary Wigman, using influences from Laban. However, there is a heavy amount of Graham, Cunningham, and Horton technique fused in there. What we teach as modern dance today, while staying true to our roots is still a melting pot of techniques. You may ask what is the difference? Some studios teach contemporary ballet or lyrical jazz as modern dance. These new fusion genres do not equal true modern dance. There is also the new wave of post modern dance that doesn't stick true to the same beliefs of Wigman and Graham.

Students in the program learn about different dancers and choreographers each year. Last year they learned about Horton/Ailey, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham,Mary Wigman, Nikolais, Isadora Duncan, with a few new ones that went with our field trips, such as Trey McIntyre. (He calls himself contemporary, but his work is great).

This year students will research and discuss Doris Humphrey, Hayna Holm, Laban/Bartineff Analysis. After seeing the following fields trips they will review the work of David Dorfman, Doug Varone, Trisha Brown, and Momix. They also have two outside studies that include Dance Photography and Lois Greenfield. During this project students will get the opportunity to use a professional camera, lights, and backdrop to learn how to capture the art of dance. Dancers will also learn more on the subject of Dance or Movement Therapy.

Our modern classes are pure technique. An elective in our program is Choreography and Improvisation.
Students will have the opportunity to work on their own choreography that they can present in our Modern Showcase at TDAC's new black box theater.

Modern dance isn't just for the free spirits!
We encourage all our dancers to give it a try and require our ballet program to take at least 1 modern class once they hit a certain level. Modern dance allows the student to find their own movement, feel comfortable in their skin, and really become more body aware. Also, in the way the modern classes focus on technique and anatomy, the mechanics of the body students learn a set of skills that can virtually take them into any other classroom.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Nothing like Live Music

Tennessee Dance Arts now offers live piano accompaniment in their Ballet Program classes. We welcome Mrs. Whelchel to our TDAC Family. Mrs. Howell says, "She was AMAZING!!!!! I loved my classes and loved the feeling of being in a old classical pure technique class. Pure is pure. Classic is classic."


Read more about Mrs. Whelchel;

Christine Whelchel has been playing piano since age 4. She studied piano at The University of Memphis*, where she accompanied many instrumental soloists for recitals and auditions. In Memphis, Christine was the accompanist for the choir at First Assembly of God church and the Toscanini Chamber Ensemble. She has taught piano for 15 years and studied at the Suzuki Piano Institute at The University of Louisville and is currently the music director and organist/pianist for Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nashville.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

September Newsletter

September News

NO CLASSES: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 6th for Labor Day


New Classes Starting the Week after Labor Day
Creative Movement, Friday 4:45-5:30
Combo 1, Friday 5:30-6:30
Kids Hip Hop, Friday 5:30-6:30
Hip Hop 1 (8-12 yrs) Friday 6:30-7:30


Keeping Our Bodies Strong
We are so glad that many of our students are taking multiple classes and more intensive schedules. We want to stress the importance of fuel for our bodies. Please make sure your child eats before coming to class and brings water with them. Students who take multiple classes in a row should bring a snack for in between (apple, granola, etc). Students who will be at the studio from 3:00-9:00 should bring a meal with them (sandwich, salad, etc. ). Dancers are athletes and must have fuel to burn. We want to promote healthy bodies and not have students fall any sort of "not eating" pattern due to body issues or forgetting to bring food. All the teachers at TDAC feel strongly on this issue and will be encouraging any student that is spending multiple hours at the studio to bring snacks with them.


Program News
Modern Program: Field Trip
David Dorfman @ Vanderbilt Langford Theater
Friday September 24th 8:00. (Meet at studio 6:45)
Permission slips available at front desk)