Professional Classes

Join Paola Quintana, Waacker and artistic mover to dance, move and express yourself!

Develop your Waacking style and technique along with expressing yourself through freestyle development and choreography. Waacking is a vintage disco dance style created in the gay clubs of Los Angeles in the 1970s and is now an established movement in the UK.

About

Paola is a Professional Dancer graduated in Contemporary Dance, Stunt Performer and Fitness Coach passionate about nutrition, wellness and Women's Health. Her dance journey comes from different backgrounds but a key focus is developing her career within the Waacking scene in London. Paola is not only a Waacker, but an artistic mover.

This high energy class is a mixture of structured improvisations and set choreography. We will be going in and out of the floor with full-bodied, athletic movement in a fast-paced environment. Bring a long sleeve shirt, trousers and knee pads if you have them. Come ready to move!

About

Maya Orchin is a choreographer and movement director based between London and New York. She has had her work presented internationally in Canada, Poland, Italy, The U.K., Germany, Russia, England, Israel, France and throughout the United States. As a performer she has worked with artists such as Luis Lara Malvacias, Okwui Okpokwasili, Bill T Jones, Christine Bonansea, Davis Freeman, Zoe Scofield, Madeline Hollander, Reut Shemesh, and more. She was a solo performer on a European tour with musicians Jarvis Cocker and Chilly Gonzales and she has assisted on projects with MOMAPS1, NIKE, and for Bad Binch TONGTONGs New York Fashion Week.

Ekleido’s class draws from our backgrounds combining contemporary dance with underground club dance styles. The class involves a mixture of guided improvisation, and short travelling phrases both standing and floorwork, finishing the class with a phrase that combines the movement elements we have explored.

The aim of the class in to work on strength, coordination, dynamics and creativity whilst getting a taste for our choreographic language.

About

EKLEIDO is a choreographic duo made up of Hannah Ekholm and Faye Stoeser choreographing for live performance and film. They have both individually had extensive dance careers within the contemporary dance world, commercial industry and underground club/street dance scenes, often crossing paths with each other on projects including Rambert, Years & Years, and within The Ballroom Scene.

Ekleido’s work has toured to venues and festivals including: Glastonbury, Sadler’s Wells, Latitude, Lilian Baylis, The Place, DanceEast. With commercial choreographic credits including: Maison Margiela, NIKE, Joy Crookes, RAYE, Floating Points, Daniel Avery, Grey Goose, La Roux.

Adrian's class focuses on the unique aesthetic and the authentic improvisation approach of Tanztheater. Throughout the week we will dive into the technique (Jooss-Leeder) including some barre and centre work delivered through exercises and shorter choreographies aiming to enhance body awareness and understanding the inner relationships of the body, mind and heart.
The second aspect of this class is the questioning and answering approach developed by Pina. This wonderfully rich way of improvising will give you amazing insight into your inner world and how you can use all aspects of your being to express yourself with meaning and intention.

About

Adrian Look is a freelance dance artist and lecturer for Tanztheater. He studied dance and choreograph at the Folkwang University in Essen.
From 2009 to 2012, Adrian was a soloist of Tanztheater Bielefeld, Germany, dancing in works by Guilherme Bothelho (Alias Company), Simone Sandroni (Deja donné), Giovanni Netzer (Origen Festival), Gregor Zöllig, Urs Dietrich, Stephan Brinkmann, and Rainer Behr (Pina Bausch).
He moved to London in 2014 and has since taught regular classes and workshops in Tanztheater, ballet, and improvisation for various institutions (Rambert, The Place, Trinity Laban i.a) in addition to his independent Tanztheater intensives, lectures and classes.

This is a free-flowing high-energy contemporary ballet class. With a variety of exercises at the barre leading to movement sequences in the center, Fukiko encourages expression and release within the ballet technique.

About

Fukiko was born in New York and raised in Japan, trained by her mother Takako Takase and Katsuko Orita, She received the Cultural Affairs Fellowship from the Japanese government, study at Codarts Rotterdam Dance Academy and London Contemporary Dance School. She worked with Henri Oguike Dance Company, Company Wayne McGregor, and Akram Khan Company.

Fukiko’s work include, ‘1001’ in collaboration with Dustin O’halloran premiered in Minneapolis USA, ‘ Don Juan Techno Club’ in collaboration with Daniel Brandt and Frieder Nagel, premiered in Nuremberg Germany.

She was featured in Thom Yorke’s Atoms for Peace music video ‘Ingenue’, and TV commercial for UNIQLO, Toyota and Diner’s Club Card. She choreographed music videos for Daniel Brandt and Hikaru Utada and she toured Japan with Utada for her 20th anniversary concert, performing for an estimated 140,000 people.

She became Honourable Professor for Shikoku University in 2022, Choreographed ’UMITOKAMI’ which collaborates with Japanese traditional instruments and puppet theatre Joruri, performed in 2022 and 2023.

She works in all aspects of dance including as a performer, choreographer and teacher. She collaborates with multidisciplinary artists internationally, with a particular focus bridging scenes between the UK and Japan.

ATTACK RELEASE technique class. The centre of the body as the origin of dynamics.

Jose's technique class is fast paced and aims to improve stamina through precise and simple movement patterns. The principles of the class are influenced by a diversity of traditional forms such as Kathak, Flamenco and martial arts, which are brought into a contemporary dance context.

The initial warm-up is followed by more complex movement material with a dynamic focus on the concept of “attack and release”. The technique allows joints to relax and energy to flow with maximum efficiency. Jose often uses counts to influence the dynamic of the movement and spinning to engage the core.

All of this work prepares the body to travel, exploring the broadest movement in space, whilst making fast, clean transitions from large to detailed movement. This is an energetic class, focusing on intention, clarity and extreme physicality.

About

Jose started his career in Andalusia where he began performing as a Flamenco dancer. Slowly the world of contemporary dance became more visible as he worked throughout Europe performing with Metros, Charleroi/Danses, Ballet de Marseille, T.R.A.S.H, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance and Akram Khan Company.
As a rehearsal director and assistant choreographer Jose has worked on several creations for Akram Khan Company from 2010 to 2017.

In 2010, Jose started to study Kathak under Akram’s guidance. Finding many parallels between this training and his early studies of Flamenco, Jose reconnected with his roots and began to explore traditional forms in a contemporary context. As a result, he created Agudo Dance Company in 2017. Creating Silk Road, which has toured in 6 countries to date, Carmen that tour in UK and France and HERO that it’s touring world wise.
Jose’s independent choreographic commissions include Phoenix Dance Theatre, NORRDANS, ZfinMalta National Dance Company, Cape Dance Company, ACE Dance and Music, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, English National Ballet School, BODHI Project SEAD, The Place, London Studio Centre, Area Jeune Ballet, Festival International de Musica y Danza de Granada, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, MAP University of Chichester and collaborations with London Mozart Players and Subrang Arts.
Since 2019 Jose has embarked in a new adventure diving into the world of the musical theatre, publicity and commercial.
His last collaboration in 2024 was as Assistance Director and Movement Director is the immersive physical theatre experience ‘Journey of a Refugee’. Directed by Sue Buckmaster and produce by Theatre Rites and Agudo Dance Company.
Agudo is collaborating with many different institution world wise. Specifically, in the area of Indian and flamenco art in a contemporary context. He is a guest teacher in many of the leading dance institutions in the international scene.
Jose is a Yoga Teacher by Yoga Alliances and he hold a Distinction postgraduate diploma in Contemporary Dance by Kent University.
He is listed in the new edition of 50 Contemporary Choreographers, an international publication by Routledge.

I call my classes Earthflow. My intention in my physical practice is to feel connected to the ground whilst seeking to find flow and expansion in my movement. Expect some set material and improvisation stimuli to investigate and interrogate.

Together we seek liberation and flow, strengthening our connection to the earth both physically and energetically, seeking to find elasticity in our movement. We'll creatively explore cyclical movement patterns and rhythms, travelling through the space, inviting curiosity, accuracy, breath and clarity. In an energetic and playful environment, we'll revitalise our senses, build strength, stamina and open our awareness as we move together as a community.

Class will be accompanied by live music (beatbox, vocal improv loop station).

About

Akeim Toussaint Buck is a multifaceted performer and maker, born in Jamaica and raised in England. Graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2014, Toussaint Buck has been involved in many cross disciplinary projects working with a range of artists and communities from around the world. His focus as a maker is to combine expressive skills such as: dance, poetry, beat-box, singing and acting to deliver experiences that move people. The work aims to challenge, enlighten and entertain the spectator and participant. Audiences are not just observers; they are implicit in the experience. The work aims to reflect on reality, looking at ongoing socio-political situations with a humanitarian intention.

Can we go faster?

Biomechanics and creativity in relationship with space, partner and weight. Spiraling in and out of the floor builds up speed, group dynamics, providing an environment for the individual to be surprised and move in other ways. Improvisation and dance sequences informed by Julia Testas' movement journey from Laban, Capoeira, Afro-Brazilian, Flying Low, Passing Through, Release Technique, Gymnastics

About

Julia is an artist, performer, photographer & movement teacher based in London for the last decade.

Julia's artistic practice is based on relationships and experiencing “the present” in photography, movement, installation and performance that she started exploring in her MFA Creative Practice in Trinity Laban.

Julia teaches Flying Low / Passing Through at The Place for London Contemporary Dance School and at Centre of Advanced Training (CAT) in London regularly. Besides, she teaches, also in other countries, movement such as Organic Flow and Somatic Dance Moment Practice that she elaborate in her master called 'Dissolving'.

Julia is co-founder of Passing Through London and belongs to Salvage collective. She practices Capoeira regularly, likes hot chocolate, avoid addictions such as coffee, loves red and blue (and violet and green and orange), is a curious enthusiastic, and loves to talk about love, anatomy, universe, psychology, patriarchy, neoliberalism, music and cultures.

Julia collaborates with many artists including musicians, visual artists and theatre makers. She regularly works to grant projects, for diverse roles from production, performer, dancer or choreographer.

The aim of my class is to give you a sense of moving joyfully, expansively, musically, with nuance, eloquence, power. The movement is underpinned by contemporary ballet, but not in a scary way, the point is that contemporary dancers feel good using some ballet to shift across the space. The class moves from somatic/yogic warm up, a few basic warm up exercises for the legs and feet, lots of three dimensionality, and then quickly towards moving through the space - it's good if you've warmed up a bit. The emphasis is on dancing combinations - more moving than getting ready to move - and on respect for everyone in the room.

About

Pip trained and danced with the Royal Ballet and went on to dance with Nederlands Dans Theater and Hofesh Shechter for The Place Prize in Cult. She taught at London Contemporary Dance School for several years and since becoming a mother, has freelanced as a teacher, rehearsal director, creative consultant for Lost Dog, mentor and performer. She is a qualified montessori teacher and life coach, and founded the space dancers-talking for dance artists in 2020.

The class focuses on David Zambrano's Flying-Low technique and Passing Through system. We will spiral, run, slide, and sing to pass through the floor and other bodies, playing with speed and energy. The session begins by introducing the basic principles of gathering and sending to connect with the whole room and the group. We will then practice sequences of set material with different pathways by running and passing through each other. The class also includes instant composition tasks and improvised performances. Peer work will facilitate collaboration and analysis, and the session will be much fun!

About

Luca Braccia is a London-based dance artist and academic with over ten years of international experience. He most recently performed for Blanca Li, Amina Khayyam Dance Company, LîLa Dance, Fuora Dance Project and Dora Frankel Ensemble. Since 2015, he has directed BARBERDANCE / lucabraccia&Co. choreographing and performing in China, Italy, Portugal, and the UK. He is currently teaching for the English National Ballet School, DanceEast CAT, Imperial Society of Teachers Dancing and others; he is also the Artistic Director of The Remarkable Dance Company. In 2019, with Leila McMillan and Julia Testa, he funded Passing Through London, supported by Studio Wayne McGregor. After studying at the National Dance Academy of Rome, LCDS and NSCD, he trained with David Zambrano.

The class focus on different improvisation techniques, phrase work and repetition to build technical skills while also exploring performance quality within different movement structures. Through guided improvisation and creative exploration, we will work on discovering new movement pathways, rhythms, and enhancing body awareness. The goal is to foster both technical growth and personal expression, encouraging the artists to expand their movement possibilities and deepen their understanding of performance.

About

Aishwarya Raut is a dance artist from Mumbai with an MA in professional dance performance. She is a former company dancer with Rambert in London where she worked with leading contemporary choreographers, performing and collaborating in theatre, film and site specific works both in the UK and internationally.
She has been featured in Dance magazine, Nowness and has been nominated for best female dancer at the National Dance Awards in the UK 2024. She was mentioned in Bachtrack’s 10 rising stars in dance and choreography 2024/2025. She is currently a dancer for Akram Khan Company as well as a freelance choreographer and teacher.