Professional Classes

Flying Low

This technique will bring tools to you go into and out of the earth rapidly and efficiently. Based on the principle of the spiral, it encourages the practice of following pathways in a curve, enabling the whole body to travel down and up (or vice versa). Each participant will learn the foundations, with an emphasis simultaneously on their individual approach and their connection with the whole group. Once connected, we practise fast and with loud music.

Flying low is a technique initiated and developed by David Zambrano. Julia practises with him regularly at his Art Centre in Brussels. Her method of teaching this technique tries to be as true as possible to Zambrano’s original teachings. Although in this pro class week, Julia will bring her experience and approach in teaching throughout the years with movements that she fancies that she didn't learn at Flying Low.

Passing Through

Passing Through is an improvisation-based group technique where participants learn how to make instantaneous performance. You will practise mastering your own presence in the space, and travelling in small, medium and large pathways. What is a pause, an arrival and a departure; an entrance and an exit? Whether in a large or small group, in a couple or even solo, the practice has clear, consistent directions and rules. Participants develop an ability to think with the mind of the whole group. Sharpening this lightening-quick response-ability allows the collective to be the star of the show. Dancers, choreographies, space, audiences, individuals’ pasts, presents and futures: all come together.

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.

Social Media

Instagram: @juliatestas
Website

Tommaso's versatility as an artist and performer is the element that makes his practice unique. Drawing on an eclectic vocabulary that ranges from classical dance across genres and styles (hip hop, gaga, ballet, modern dance, somatic practices) and taking inspiration from practices developed by Thomas Hauert, Salva Sanchis, Renan Martins, Tommaso delivers a highly energetic and stimulating experience for both professional dancers and artists still in the middle of their studies.

About

Over the past 12 years Tommaso has built an extensive career as a performer and more recently as a maker. Based in the UK since 2016 he has collaborated as a performer with the likes of Van Huynh Company, for which he works as Artistic Assistant, and Rehearsal Director, Tavaziva, Rob Heaslip Dance Company, Mathieu Geffré, Neus Gil Cortés, Joao Cidade, Martino Muller amongst others.

His previous works as a choreographer include two majorly acclaimed solos: She (2019) commissioned by Dance Bridges Festival, PrEp ME (2017) performed at The Point Eastleigh as part of Pitch dealing with Queer thematics. Tommaso has collaborated with renown composers such as Elaine Mitchener, Dai Fujikura, Tansy Davies, Matt Wright, Laure M. Hiendl and through these collaborations his practice has expanded across disciplines to include extended forms of vocal improvisation.His dance training with established artists has laid the foundations on which he thrive today both as a performer and educator.

After graduating from Balletto di Roma in ballet technique, he moved to N.Y.C. to complete his contemporary dance studies at Peridance Capezio Center. There he joined Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, directed by Igal Perry and worked with renown choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Francesca Harper (Forsythe), Charlotta Hofverholm (DV8), Manuel Vignoulle (Cedar Lake), Gregory Dolbashian (The Ensemble), Robert Battle amongst others.His teaching skills are in demand and he regularly collaborates with Rambert School, The Place (LCDS) , Tripspace, The Hub Studios, Canterbury Christ Church University, London Studio Centre, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama amongst others.

Social Media

Instagram: @tommasopetrolo

Website

This is a physical contemporary class, which will involve strong, complex and technical sequences in and out of the floor, focusing on quality, initiation, performance and stamina. Each session will begin with a different aspect of movement study, focusing on the articulation of hands, isolations, spirals, breath and flying. Improvisation will also be explored as part of self-development.

About

Alleyne Dance (AD)is a UK based company with an international reach, founded in 2014 by award winning dancers and twin sisters Kristina and Sadé Alleyne. The choreographic aesthetic reflects the sisters diverse background in athleticism and dance training. Within their abstract contemporary construct, Alleyne Dance blend West African, Caribbean, Hip Hop, Kathak and Circus Skills, delivered as fast paced and dynamic movement. They infuse lyrical and fluid motion, layered with rhythm and textures in physically powerful, yet graceful performances.

Alleyne Dance strives for high quality and excellence as the Company delivers its three main objectives: performance, participation and development. In 2023, Alleyne Dance were winners of Black Female Icons of Lewisham with Brockley Max and The Mayor of London, and the Company also received the award for Best Independent Company at the National Dance Awards.

Social Media

Instagram: @alleynedance

Website

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.

Social Media

Website

The class will predominately focus on the exploration of threading within contemporary dance movement. We will explore precision, fluidity and unconventional pathways of the body through a mixture of set combos and improvisational tasks. We will conclude with a phrase that incorporates the ideas explored and provide a opportunity to add your own flavour to our movement style. Expect good tunes and the space to be creative and playful!

About

TwoFold Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance duo that combines threading and theatre to form a unique approach to storytelling. Made up of Laurie Case (she/her) and Jan Wood (he/him), the duo aim to democratise contemporary dance by creating engaging work that people can relate to and empathise with.
Their creative partnership began from a shared interest in making narrative work, and has been shaped by their ongoing research into the principles of threading within contemporary dance movement. Their most recent work ‘Forward to Nowhere’ was showcased alongside other pieces for Resolution 2024.

Social Media

Instagram: @twofolddancetheatre

FUBUNATION have developed a distinctive movement practice and physical language that pulls on influences from contact partnering, Hip Hop and African rhythms. Through this workshop participants will be taken through the different methods and principles the company apply to performance focusing on breath, dynamics and group connectivity. The company will also give an insight into the creative and choreographic tools used to build and develop choreography.

About

FUBUNATION is a London based organisation founded in 2017 by Rhys Dennis and Waddah Sinada with the vision of adding to black culture by creating more visibility and representation for dancers of colour in contemporary dance. Their objective is to build more diversity in the audiences that come to theatres and other dance platforms. ​Their movement language combines contact improvisation forms with influences of Hip Hop and African dance styles. ​Since their debut performance at the Festival of Alternative Theatrical Expression in Croatia 2017, FUBUNATION has been gaining recognition nationally and aims to continue pursuing their journey in encouraging diversity not only in dance but through the arts as a whole.

Social Media

Instagram: @fubunation_

Website

Tess’s classes are inspired by David Zambrano’s Flying Low & Passing Through methods. Class begins with playful exercises that connect us to ourselves, to the space and to each other, travelling, spiralling, curving and weaving through pathways in the room. We will then focus on specific movement sequences which explore the principles of cohesion and expansion, gathering and sending the whole body. Through these we practise moving into and out of the floor with ease, efficiency and the joy of dancing together!

About

Tess Letham is an independent dance artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland, working as a performer, educator, dance theatre maker and curator.
She has trained extensively in the methods of Flying Low, Passing Through and Improvisation with internationally renowned teacher David Zambrano, sharing this work across UK and beyond. These methods are a vital part of her movement practice and philosophical understanding of what dance represents in the wider context of community and culture.
Her performance work spans dance-theatre, film, outdoor and large-scale spectacle and has included projects by Shotput, Simon Fildes/Cagoule, David Zambrano, PanicLab, and Mairead McClean/The Wapping Project, as well as her own work.

Social Media

Instagram: @tessletham@fairplay_projects

Website

Annie's classes work with principles of flow, falling, and spiral, letting go to find space & power in the body.

Questions to work with: How do we find joy in what is available for each of us today, and start from there? How do we observe change in the body? How do we meet moments of challenge, and stay with it, while respecting our bodymind's capacity in the moment?
Improvisation work & set movement sequences will both be explored. Imagery & touch may be used as tools in some moments.
We will dance solo and as a group, exploring how to find connection/harmony across our differences.

In every moment, staying quiet & working up a sweat are available as you choose.
Dancers identifying as Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent are very welcome!Contact The Place for access information.

About

Annie Hanauer is an internationally-renowned dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Annie is passionate about the power, wisdom, and creativity of disabled people, and continuing to discover different ways to access full-bodied dancing.
Annie’s works 'A space for all our tomorrows' and 'UPDRAFT' are currently on tour. She has choreographed for Mobius Dance, Zurich University of the Arts, University of Minnesota, Ramped, Theater Münster, and Candoco Dance Company.
Annie has performed with Rachid Ouramdane since 2013, and in projects with Paris Chamber Orchestra, Emanuel Gat Dance, Lea Anderson, Nic Conibere, Boris Charmatz, and with Candoco between 2008-2014. She regularly leads workshops and professional classes internationally, with access at the heart of her practice.

Social Media

Instagram: @Ah_dance

Website

In the ‘Energy and Flow’ class we will start by discovering and developing our personal way of moving through improvisation and guided tasks and will then move onto set choreographic material based on floor work technique.We will work towards awaking body connections in order to play with the quantity and quality of our energy to find flow in our movement. We will practice body totality, presence as well as developing our strength.We will challenge the physicality of the body, as well as the exploration of rhythms andspeed. We aim to find efficiency in movement, especially in moving in and out of the earth, clarity and details. Expression and creativity are key, as well as the connection with thegroup. And most of all we want to connect to the joy and passion of dance itself!

About

Vivian is a freelance dance artist from Greece. She studied contemporary dance at Trinity Laban and then continue as a chosen member of the Akram Khan experiment program and JV2. She has performed for Bittersuite, Vinicius Salles, Jose Agudo and Theatre Rites, Ben Judd, Melanie Lomoff (Lowry and Rambert project) and others. Vivian has also been a performer and choreographer’s assistant for Hagit Yakira. She is a dance captain for Alleyne Dance.She has taught for Rambert, The Place, Laban, Greenwich Dance, Royal Academy of Dance, NDC Wales, Dancce Athens and others. She was the interim Artistic Director of Trinity Laban Youth Company in 2023.Vivian’s work as a choreographer has been supported by Tripspace, Laban, Arts Council England and she has choreographed also for youth groups and commissions.

Social Media

Instagram:@vivian__tr

Website

Gerrard’s class is for advanced / professional dancers who wish to experience a relaxed, encouraging, and inspiring environment.

Dancers will encounter a fusion of contemporary dance styles and will be guided by yogic principles of empowerment, openness, and connectedness.
Dancers can expect to experience floorwork, centre practice, movement phrases, improvisation and creative tasks during the week.

About

Gerrard Martin is a dance artist: performer, choreographer, movement director, dance educator, yoga teacher and consultant.
His practice investigates the connection between people and the intersectionality of creation, exploration, and well-being.
Gerrard trained at De Montfort University, gaining a BA Hons in English Literature and Performing Arts; he continued his professional dance studies at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and went on to gain an MA in Choreography from the Central School of Ballet.

He has danced for Jose Agudo’s dance project with Akademi, toured nationally with Tavaziva Dance, Union Dance Company, and Phoenix Dance Company, as well as dancing for the West End's production of the Lion King, Ballet Black, Aletta Collins Dance Company, State of Emergency, and Rosie Kay Dance Company

Aside from commercial dance contracts, and film engagements, Gerrard has danced for the
National Theatre, toured internationally with the English National Opera, and the Royal Opera House.

Social Media

Instagram:@gerrardmartindance_gmd

Website

Working on krump foundation and technique and implimenting different styles using improvisation and choreography and concepts related to krump to find new ways of moving and impliment into your own style.

About

Joshua ‘Vendetta’ Nash is a freelance hip hop dance theatre artist, holding a BA degree in Dance from Kingston University and he is centred both in the hip-hop theatre and battling sector. Joshua has established himself within the street dance community, as a creative dance artist whose movement language is formed through street dance styles with a focus on Krump.

Social Media

Instagram: @joshua.vendetta.nash

Website