Winter '26 Dance Classes and Workshops

Afro Grooves with Amansu Eason
Mondays, 5:00-6:30, BARS
Sign-up Form

Open to dancers of all levels, this class explores the Afro-dance umbrella including a mixture of traditional and secular African diasporic movements, hip-hop, and dancehall styles. Students learn popular Afro moves from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, South Africa, Jamaica and North America. Over the quarter, participants will be challenged to learn multiple
techniques, movements and perform choreography. Wear comfortable clothing for full range of
motion.

Amansu Eason is a dancer, choreographer and teacher of African/Diaspora dance. He is a certified instructor in the Katherine Dunham Technique and offers classes in West African, Afro Caribbean as well as his exploration of “Afro Grooves." Eason serves on the technique committee for the Institute for Dunham Certification. He was the guest instructor for Edna Manley School of Dance summer intensive in Kingston, Jamaica and was invited to give a dance workshop series at the direct request of the Ga’ aton Kibbutz dance commune in Israel. Eason began training at an early age in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and musical theater. He also received extensive training in West African folklore and after high school began touring with Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, the oldest traditional African Dance Company in the US. In the 18 years he performed with Muntu, Eason was lead dancer, rehearsal director, assistant artistic director and choreographer. His tribute to Michael Jackson won two Black Excellence Awards for Best Choreography in Chicago. Amansu has performed with and opened for pop artists Ben Harper, Omarion and Mary Mary, and has been a soloist for Chris Walker and a guest artist with Kashe Dance Company.

Beginning Ballet with Eric Skinner
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:30p, Ida Noyes
Sign-up Form

This class will cover the fundamentals of ballet technique and is geared towards a beginning level of experience. Progressing from barre combinations to center phrase work, students will be guided through a mindful approach to the structure and flow of classical ballet. Emphasis will be placed on functional technique, musicality, and artistic expression of the individual dancer. 

Originally from Muncie, Indiana, Eric Skinner has had a hand in some of the most important dance developments in Portland, Oregon during his three + decades living there as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. He was a founding member of Oregon Ballet Theatre. He performed with modern choreographers Gregg Bielemeier and Mary Oslund. Was a founder of aero/betty aerial dance theatre as well as a founder of BodyVox Dance Company (with artistic directors Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland), At BodyVox he danced, choreographed and acted as Artistic Associate for 20 years. In 2002 Skinner with his then partner Daniel Kirk, formed their own company the skinner/kirk Dance Ensemble and was presented as part of the 2008 White Bird Dance Series. He taught dance for over two decades in Portland, including classes at the BodyVox Dance Center and Reed College. He has also taught master classes throughout the United States, including Butler University, where he received his BA in Dance.

Modern Release w/ a Twist with Kevin Shannon
Wednesdays, 5-6:30pm, BARS
Sign-up Form

This modern release technique class is based on Limon Technique, while expanding the core
principles to consider how we can use them in contemporary practices today. Kevin’s class
begins with a focus on the fundamentals of weight, gravity, and momentum, and many other
skills used in this classic modern dance form. He then expands upon these skills and ideas to
develop phrase work that moves into more contemporary concert dance aesthetics. This class
will be geared towards an Intermediate+ level, but will support a wide range of movers. Long
pants are recommended.

Kevin J. Shannon was born in Baltimore, Maryland and is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts. He received additional training from the School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Paul Taylor, and Springboard Danse Montréal. After receiving his BFA from The Juilliard School, Kevin was invited to join Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. While a company dancer with Hubbard Street from 2007 to 2022, he had the privilege to perform works by Kyle Abraham, Aszure Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Peter Chu, Sharon Eyal, William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, Twyla Tharp, Robyn Mineko Williams, among many others. As an educator, he has led and programmed the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Intensive and is currently a guest teacher for Hubbard Street’s main company, José Limón Dance Company and Gibney Company. He has been a visiting artist for the School of The Art Institute of Chicago and has served as faculty for The Joffrey Ballet School, Gibney Dance NYC, Chicago Movement Collective, Youth American Grand Prix, and Peridance Center. Kevin is a certified IMAGE TECH for dancers™ teacher. He is on faculty for the Gibney Pro professional certificate program under the direction of Alexandra Wells. Currently he is a freelance artist dancing with Flockworks Dance, Brian Brooks/Moving Company, KNONAME and Danielle Russo. 
Instagram: @thedancingpotter

Intermediate-Adv Ballet with Erica L. Edwards
Thursdays, 5:00-6:30p, Ida Noyes
Sign-up Form

This class is geared towards an intermediate-advanced level of ballet practice. Progressing from barre combinations to center phrase work, students will be guided through a mindful approach to the structure and flow of classical ballet. Emphasis will be placed on functional technique, musicality, and artistic expression of the individual dancer.

Erica Lynette Edwards (she/her) has over 20 years of professional experience in the dance industry as a ballerina, teacher, consultant, and administrative leader. As a ballerina with The Joffrey Ballet, she performed lead roles throughout a rewarding 15-year career, dancing in hundreds of performances in the United States and abroad. During that time Ebony Magazine declared her a “Young Leader in the Future of the Arts” and the Chicago Tribune gave her the title "Black History Maker." When Edwards retired from the stage, she became an artistic and administrative senior leader as Joffrey's Director of Community Engagement. Under her visionary leadership, the department grew to support the city of Chicago through a focus on community partnerships rooted in DEI. Edwards independently expanded her DEI services to engage a wide variety of clients with authentic and innovative consultation. Her many honors include multiple features in Dance Magazine, a TEDx talk, speaking on international panels, and being selected as a member of Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40." She currently serves as the Executive Director of Giordano Dance Chicago.

Viewpoints with Johnathan Berry
Saturday, January 17, 1-3pm
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form

Viewpoints is a movement-based approach to ensemble, relationship-building, and emotional connection. Beginning with physicality, the work provides 9 different viewpoints with which to approach your relationship to others and the space you are working in. This workshop will introduce–and put into practice–the 9 Viewpoints, exploring both thematic and character based approaches. The work is physical, but it's open to anyone of any ability who would like to explore different approaches to connection and ensemble building.

Jonathan Berry is back in Chicago after serving for 3 years as the Artistic Director of Penobscot Theatre Company in Bangor, Maine. A director and teacher, he is also a proud ensemble member of both Steep Theatre and Griffin Theatre and a former Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Jonathan has also directed productions at the Gift Theatre, Goodman Theatre, American Theatre Company, Redtwist, Chicago Dramatists, Jackalope Theatre, Strawdog, Remy Bumpo, Theatre Mir, and Lifeline Theater. He was the Assistant Director for Anna D Shapiro’s Broadway productions of Of Mice and Men and This is our Youth. Jonathan pursued his MFA in directing from Northwestern University, and he has taught acting, directing, and viewpoints at University of Michigan, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Act One Studios, and Columbia College. He is incredibly proud to have served as the director for the ensemble training program The School at Steppenwolf.

Martha Graham Technique with William Crowley
Saturday, January 24, 1-3pm
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form

This special workshop is being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Graham Technique! Developed by renowned dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, the Graham Technique has been called the "cornerstone" of American modern dance. This workshop will focus on its basic principle of “contraction and release”, and the beneficial knowledge that comes from the awareness of one’s own center and core strength. Previous experience in modern/ballet technique is highly recommended. 
*If you are interested to see the Graham Company perform at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago following the workshop, student tickets will be arranged!

William Crowley received his MFA in Dance from the University of Michigan and additional training while on scholarship at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. He has danced with Aerial Dance Theater, Ann Arbor Dance Works, Dansplateau (Belgium), David Taylor Dance Theatre, and Dance Gallery/Peter Sparling & Co. William has taught at the New World School of the Arts, Miami-Dade College, Barry University, and University of Miami. ​WIlliam has served as a choreographer for the AVEDA corporation and is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Next Step Dance, now Still Point Productions. 

Krump with Dion “iCrisis” Randle  
Saturday, January 31, 1-3pm
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form

Open to all levels and experiences. Students will learn movement vocabulary, techniques and concepts associated with Krump, and be guided to develop their own creativity within and through these skills.  iCrisis infuses the movement training with his deep knowledge about the history and culture of Krump, and he builds a positive environment where students are able to build a sense of power, freedom, and release through the languages and philosophy of Krump.  

Dion “iCrisis” Randle is a performer, dance instructor & choreographer based in Chicago. He has traveled throughout the US as a judge and teacher at many dance based events. Over the past fifteen years, iCrisis has dedicated much of his time to researching the origins and mastering the foundations of Krump, in addition to spreading knowledge, culture and providing safe spaces to host sessions in Chicago for the community as well as for visitors outside Chicago. iCrisis helped to build Chicago’s current Krump Community as one of the leaders of Chibuck movement. He is also an active member of Demolition Crew(DCX), a Krump Crew Founded in California, and now serves as a DCX Captain for the Midwest Region. Last but not least, he is a member of The Kastle, a collective of street dancers from Chicago and across the U.S. focused on intention, skill and heart in the art of battling.

Pilates Mat with Karen Camelet
Saturday, February 7, 1-3pm
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form

This mat-based Pilates class will support you to develop core strength as you focus on flexibility, posture, balance, and the joy of movement. Class will build on the basic principles and exercises of Pilates, supporting you to lengthen and strengthen your muscles and create overall body awareness. Modifications will be given and all levels are welcome.

Karen Camelet is a former contemporary ballet dancer who began studying Pilates after sustaining an injury. Amazed by the strength gained once she returned to dance, Karen turned her love of movement and her passion for helping others into her next career. Karen is certified through the PhysicalMind Institute in Pilates mat and all equipment. She also uses her years of dance, Pilates, and exercise in her work as a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant.

Contemporary Forms for the Dimensional Dancer with Christine Cali
Saturday, February 14, 1-3pm
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form 

Inviting your authenticity and agency, this contemporary class will center accessibility and creative expression through movement explorations and adaptable choreography. Release-dance techniques and somatic practices will be explored through floorwork, improvisation, yoga, pilates, and groove, leading to intentional, joyful, whole-bodied dancing in community! We will apply approaches to deepen our sensory-awareness, invite our identities forward, and explore new possibilities! This class is rooted in intersectional, anti-oppressive community practices, engaging reflection, dialogue, lineage---and invites all participants' embodied wisdom and lived experiences to help shape the dance container. Will be fun, multidimensional, sweaty, and transformative!

Christine Cali is a dance and arts educator, leader, artist, activist, and performer. She currently teaches at the Branson School in Marin, CA after a 15-year tenure including promotion to full professor and department chair of Theatre Arts and Dance at Sonoma State University. She holds an MFA in Dance with a technology and choreography focus from Hollins University/American Dance Festival, and a BFA in Dance from Ohio University. Christine directs the Contemporary Dance-Theatre & Live Music company, CALI & CO dance in San Francisco (since 2001), with creative project focused on the power of the arts to solve problems, liberate bodies, activate social-change, and create new and sustainable futures. In 2024 she received the Outstanding Leadership in Higher Education Award from the National Dance Educator Organization (NDEO). Christine tours regularly as an artist-in-residence with teaching/speaking engagements nationally and internationally, including a two-year Visiting Professor position at Sung Kyun Kwan University in Seoul, South Korea. She has performed professionally with a diverse range of dance companies in the SF Bay Area and NYC including her recent collaboration with Urban Bush Women in their nationally touring work, Hair & Other Stories.  www.calidances.com

Jazz Through Broadway Icons with Keesha Beckford
Saturday, February 21, 1-3pm
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form

In this classic jazz workshop students will explore musical theater jazz vocabulary and learn original choreography by the iconic choreographer Bob Fosse, as well as Michael Bennett’s opener to A Chorus Line. Step kick, kick, leap, kick, touch, again! Prior dance training is recommended, though all are welcome. Beginners will have the space to learn the basic steps, while more experienced dancers can push their attention to detail, athleticism, and artistry.

Keesha Beckford began her dance studies in Queens, New York, before graduating cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. in American history and a minor in dance. She has performed the choreography of Milton Myers, Teri Lee and Oliver Steele, Danny Herman, Paige Cunningham-Caldarella, Amy Marshall, Michael Foley, and Lorn MacDougal, among others in the U.S. and abroad. Her teaching credits include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, Dance Center Evanston, Charlotte Ballet, the UNC Charlotte dance department, and as a guest teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago. Beckford has served as Youth Programs Manager at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and is currently the Dance Lab Liaison at the Joffrey Academy, Official School of the Joffrey Ballet.

Beg-Int Silks with Kat Geber
Saturday, February 28, 1-3pm
Logan Center, Rm 701
Sign-up Form

Come learn the fundamentals of aerial silks! We’ll go through techniques for climbing, foot locks, inversions, and the basics of vertical theory. Students should wear form fitting clothing that protects backs of knees, waist, and armpits. While there are no specific pre-requisites, this workshop is geared towards students with previous experience/training in gymnastics, circus, aerial work, or dance practice.  No active shoulder injuries.

Kat Geber is a multidisciplinary circus artist specializing in dance trapeze and aerial silks. Fascinated by the versatility of circus arts, Kat loves collaborating with others in a variety of disciplines including movement-based technology, dance, and musical composition. She is currently based in Chicago, and when she is not circusing you can find her climbing mountains, making baked goods, taking pictures of her cats, or consuming inappropriate amounts of tea.

Intro to Swing Dance with Sharon Hoyer + Max Barry
Saturday, March 7, 1-3pm 
Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Studio (BARS)
Sign-up Form

In this workshop, we'll cover the basics of swing dancing, including six-count Lindy Hop, fundamental solo jazz steps, and a brief overview of the history of swing dancing and its foundations in jazz music. We'll also provide information on places in Chicago to learn more and go out social dancing!

Sharon Hoyer is a lifelong dance enthusiast and longtime social dancer. She loves to share her interest in partner dancing, especially Lindy Hop and swing styles, which are her current dance home. Sharon's passion for dance crosses genres; she is a supporter of Chicago's performance community and writes about dance for Newcity Magazine.

Max Barry is a Chicago-based dancer who mostly Lindy hops.  He also practices Balboa, solo jazz, and is a regular Honky Tonk Happy Hour two-stepper. He enjoys exploring different movement styles, with recent dives into hip hop and waacking. Max teaches Intro to Swing at Fizz and is a member of the Traffic Jam! Swing performance team.

Vogue Open Session
Sunday, January 25, 6:30-8:30p
Host: Legendary Fabulous Freddie
DJ: Three
Logan Center Penthouse (901)
RSVP Here

Come out and Kiki, Vogue, be F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S., and do YOU in the context of good vibes and community!

Synergy Cypher: House & Hip Hop Session
Sunday, February 22, 6:30-8:30p
Host: Jeremiah “Jay-J” Green and Taraja Mumbeja
DJs: Kin Solo & Salem
Logan Center Penthouse (901)
RSVP Here 

Enjoy guided experiences alongside open space for free exploration, connection, and presence with the music and each other.