Dance 101: Basics for Musical Theater Artists

Dear Theatre Friends,

Last fall I offered a workshop that was very well received. And many people who were not available in the fall asked if I’d run it again in the future. So here it is . . . The Return of Dance 101: Basics for Musical Theater Artists.

Tell me if any of this sounds familiar. You get into musicals, but dread the dancing. Although you have weeks or even months of rehearsal, you never feel 100% confident that you’re doing the choreography right. It’s hard to give an amazing performance because you’re concentrating too hard.

At the same time, plays you’re in have watered down choreography because the cast can’t do what the choreographer actually wants. You’ve done several musicals by now, but you don’t feel like you’re dancing better each time. Sometimes it even feels like you’re starting from scratch in each play. You still fear the dance audition. You still apologize to anyone who will listen and proclaim that you can’t dance.

I know this is familiar because I’ve witnessed it many times. As a choreographer, I’m often the one receiving your apology. I see you working your tails off to master basic mechanics of steps instead of rehearsing how to perform them like a star. I believe with a little time dedicated to those mechanics, we could solve a lot of issues and take away the worry and fear many actors have about dancing.

So why aren’t you in dance class? I know that busy adults are, well . . . busy. Actors especially! And I know many people have hang ups about dance classes. These are what I most commonly hear:

I can’t dance.

Uh . . . that’s what class is for. It’s not a dance team or club for people who already know stuff. It’s a class for those who need to learn stuff.

I danced as a kid and hated it. The teacher was mean, my parents punished me for not practicing, etc.

You’re a grown up person. Your parents aren’t forcing you to take classes. It’s your choice this time. If the teacher is mean, you can quit. And I’m not a mean drill-sergeant teacher. I grew up with some who were the kind that yelled and degraded. I will never be one those. Period.

I don’t look like a dancer.

Neither do I, but here I am paying my bills with my dancing skills. You will never be required to wear dance attire that makes you feel self-conscious. And you’ll never be criticized for your physique. All types of bodies show up in musical theater. That’s one of the things that makes it great.

I can’t commit to a bunch of classes.

I’m offering a four-week workshop, but if you can’t attend all sessions that’s okay. I’m purposely keeping it relatively short. After it ends, you’re welcome to drop-in at my jazz and ballet classes as your schedule allows to keep building and honing your skills.

I can’t afford it.

I hate when something as stupid as money prevents people from dancing. I keep rates as low as possible while still covering my overhead expenses. But rates are negotiable. If you want to dance, we can make it happen.

You don’t know anything about dance.

Yes, actually, I do.

I started dancing in 1978. I have studied ballet, tap, and jazz pretty much my whole life (and Irish since the early 90s, as well as dabbling in Belly Dance, Indian Bharatanatyam, Bollywood, and various Eastern European folk dance styles). I had my first choreography gig in 1992 when my high school director let me choreograph one of the numbers in our production of Grease. I started giving private dance lessons in 1995 while pursuing a Theater Arts degree at the U of MN-Twin Cities, and began teaching group classes in 1999 while a graduate student in the Dept. of Theatre and Drama at UW-Madison. I have specifically taught Broadway Jazz for Adults since 2009. Although I grew up dancing and am very familiar with the kid-focused studio scene, I only teach adults. Their needs and learning style is very different from kids. Not worse. Just different.

I really do believe everyone can dance. I would like to help you see that you can too!

Best regards,
Heidi

Dance 101: Basics for Musical Theater Artists
Wednesdays, July 3 and July 17-31, 2019
7:30pm-8:30pm
Kanopy Dance (341 State Street, 2nd Floor)
$40 for 4 weeks

Bring cash or check to the 1st class, or you can pay via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.