Professional Classes

Having trained in a plethora of dance genres, Liam's ‘contemporary’ class explores an array of movement approaches. His class uses improvisation as the glue to connect exercises focused on alignment, coordination and rhythm. We will tendu, curve, roll and groove.

About

Liam Francis is an award nominated dancer, award winning choreographer, movement director and facilitator. With experiences as both a creator and performer across dance, theatre, film and television, Liam has enjoyed working with world renown choreographers and organisations (e.g Rambert Dance Company, LostDog and ZooNation). Liam is also the founder and director of FranDanCo and The Artistic Gremlins.

Gravity, release, falling, and suspension are key elements in my movement practice, shaping my dance classes. Integrating Gaga principles, we explore deep body awareness and the pleasure in subtle weight shifts. Beginning with yoga-like movements to connect with different states of awareness, we then move into Cunningham and ballet exercises to explore body alignment. This helps participants build strength for suspension and pulling. Cross-floor exercises, inspired by Counter and Release techniques, focus on falling. The class concludes with sequences that blend these elements, encouraging dancers to express their individual artistic style and rediscover the joy of movement.

About

I’m Sam Vaherlehto, a dancer, choreographer, and educator based in London. I was a full-time dancer with the Finnish National Ballet and spent five years with Phoenix Dance Theatre. I have worked with independent contemporary dance companies around the world, most recently with SLATE in Shanghai. I hold a First Class Honours degree in Contemporary Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a Level 2 Qualification in Dance Leadership. Throughout my career, I have focused on blending performance, teaching, and choreography to create meaningful and innovative work.

Drawing on his years of experience with Richard Alston Dance Company, James uses his innate sense of musicality to explore phrasing through movement. This dynamic Cunningham influenced technique class will strengthen and increase awareness of the body. Starting with a series of simple back exercises, the class work then develops in to longer travelling sequences, exploring a fresh approach to direction and timing.

About

James graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2006 and has since danced with Northern Ballet, Peter Schaufuss Ballet, Theater Ulm and Richard Alston Dance Company. Following his retirement from the stage in 2018, he continued to work closely with Alston and fulfilled the role of Rehearsal Director for the Company in 2019. James Currently works as a freelance teacher in both Contemporary and Ballet and delivers regular classes for The Place on their Adult courses. He also teaches at Middlesex University, DanceEast and English National Ballet.

This contemporary class focuses on developing flow and communication throughout the body to increase awareness and expand movement quality. The class takes inspiration from martial arts, movement culture and floorwork practices; and uses familar forms to expand our creative reach.

Thoughout the class we will use set material, partner-based tasks, and improvisation to challenge and develop our physicality and creativity. The aim is to provide tools to expand individual movement vocabulary and enhance our physical awareness.

About

Jannick is a contemporary dance artist based in London. He trained at Trinity Laban, graduating in 2015. He is a Senior Dance Artist with Stopgap Dance, performing internationally (Frock/Lived Fiction). He has also worked as a performer for Errant/Vinicius Salles (Ox, Glitch), Abbott Dance theatre (Launch Day, Deeds not Words) and Vivian Triantafyllopolou (Ego mas). He has worked as rehearsal director for Olga Spiraki and Vivian Triantafyllopolou; and as a movement director for Scrum Theatre. He has taught at Scottish Dance Theatre, Rambert Pro class and others. He is also a certified Gaga teacher, and teaches regularly across the UK.

Luke teaches a dynamic released based class which is informed by improvisation and somatic practices. The class will explore body patterns focused around energising the core of the body, and connecting to the ground with our weight. Usually beginning with improvisation/experiential anatomy, we will then explore set exercises and sequences to develop our bodily organisation and connectivity. As well as technical challenges, a sense of dynamic versatility, a playful questioning and finding both clarity and spontaneity are encouraged.

About

Luke began training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and completed his BA Hons degree at Laban. In 2009 he joined post graduate dance company Edge at London Contemporary Dance School.
Professionally he has performed for a variety of companies (Punchdrunk, Flexer and Sandiland, Janine Harrington) internationally alongside working with visual artists performing in galleries (Tate, Hayward Gallery)
His choreographic work has been shown at Canterbury Festival, Saddlers Wells (Damn Fine Dance at Elixir Festival), The Place, Siobhan Davies Studios, Move it 2016 and Arts Depot. His most recent work commissioned by Loop Dance Company is currently touring the UK.
Luke also has a passion for teaching and has delivered classes and workshops with Greenwich Dance, The Place, Independent Dance, Laban, London Studio Centre, Salzburg Academy of Experimental Dance, Shobana Jeyasingh and Candoco.

This ballet class is tailored to contemporary dancers and starts with simple warm up barre exercises to establish clear placement, core stability and movement clarity. The material then progresses and builds up in pace and complexity to prepare the body and the mind for centre work. This consists of longer combinations with a particular emphasis on coordination, timing, use of space and dynamics. The main aim of the class is fluidity and flavour, with research and care for movement transitions as opposed to aesthetic forms.

About

Beatrice is a London-based Italian teacher and dancer. In 2016 she completed her MA in Contemporary Dance at the LCDS. She has been teaching ballet and contemporary dance classes to young people and adults for the past 12 years in several vocational and community settings. She currently works for several organisations such as IRIE! dance theatre, Ballet4life and Move into Wellbeing. In 2018 she created with her colleague Orley Quick, BOTH Dance Classes, a company which offers adults dance classes in South East London. Alongside her teaching, Beatrice continues to perform for choreographers in projects and independent work.

Hannah's movement style is rooted in ground-based explorations, combining fundamental floorwork practices with fast-paced challenge and a work-hard-play-hard group energy. Hannah has spent a number of years researching her movement practice and enjoys sharing this with other passionate individuals. Expect a high energy class, a spicy playlist and a friendly space to discover, move and play.

About

Hannah Thomas is a British movement artist, performer and teacher, currently performing with Joshua Monten Dance Company in Switzerland. Previously, Hannah has worked with Wee Dance Company and WomanEwer. In addition, she has performed under the direction of James Finnemore, Alison Curtis-Jones and Thomas Page. Hannah is an avid teacher, having shared her practice with a number of professional companies and groups across the globe, including St. Gallen Dance Company, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and Sydney Dance Company. Hannah’s movement practice is driven by her love of climbing, play fighting and snowboarding.

This contemporary ballet class invites us to find our way of moving through a ballet technique. Marie-Astrid loves to use grounding techniques such as breathing, patting and setting an intention to start the class with a state of relaxation and slowly wake up the body by articulating the feet, turn out, etc. It is a journey to rediscover our body's ability, freedom and technique by softening our approach to ballet and deleting expectations.

About

Marie-Astrid Mence is a performer with a decade of experience performing in the UK for esteemed companies such as Ballet Black, Phoenix Dance Theatre, and the West End, as well as in television productions. In 2016 she was promoted "dancer of the month" in February by the Magazine Dancing Times UK. From 2018 to 2022, Marie-Astrid was featured in a few dance series as a body double for lead actress for productions such as OCS, Disney and Hulu and also featured in Netflix's Queen Charlotte’ as a dancer. From 2019 to now, she has been commissioned by a few artists as a writer and dancer-choreographer with musician Fro. creating several films that delved into the relationship between improvisational electro/hip-hop music and dance as art forms. At the end of that year 2020, Marie-Astrid performed, wrote and shared her story in the Nowness short film 'The Truth of Being a black Ballerina' by Rebecca Murray. In November 2023, Marie-Astrid performed as a TEDX speaker in Paris. She discussed the notion of success and the courage to find our voice in an unfair and discriminatory environment. Throughout her career, she delivered several ballet classes and workshops to artists at all stages of their career and taught to established companies and schools in the UK such as Rambert, Wayne Mcgregor, New Adventure and lately at Laine Theatre Arts.

We will start by developing our personal way of moving through guided tasks and then move onto set material based on floor work. We will work with body connections to play with our energy, qualities and find flow in movement. We challenge the physicality of the body , the speed and rhythmically. We aim to find efficiency in moving in and out of the earth, clarity and details. Expression and creativity are key points in our work, as well as the connection with the group and the ideas of self and togetherness. And most of all, in this workshop we want to rediscover the joy and passion of dance itself.

About

Vivian Triantafyllopoulou comes from Greece and studied contemporary dance at Trinity Laban(2012-2015). Then was a member of Jasmin Vardimon 2 and Akram Khan experiment project. She has professionally performed for Jose Agudo/Theatre Rites, WenHsin Lee &Elgiva Field, Alleyne Dance (Dance Captain), Bittersuite, Emily Robinson, Hagit Yakira, Vinicius Salles , Museum of London and others. She also works as a rehearsal director. She teaches professionals, dance students and young people in places like Rambert, The Place, Laban, Tripspace, NDC Wales and others. She has her own dance company since 2019 that has also been supported by Arts Council and also choreographs for commissions and movement directs films.

In Flying Low and Passing Through we practice movement pathways from the ground to standing as effortlessly and smooth as possible. Originated by David Zambrano, the idea of spiral and curved pathways in the body and in space are paramount. We flow in and out of the earth, moving as one group together, using our eyes to connect to each other and the space equally. Amarnah’s work has emphasis on connecting to the community we are sharing the space with, practicing togetherness and cultivating joy in our dancing.

About

Amarnah Ufuoma Cleopatra is a London born Nigerian Contemporary Dancer, Flying Low and Passing Through Teacher, Choreographer, Movement Facilitator, and Vocalist. Since completing a BA at LCDS in 2015, and PG Dip at NSCD in 2016, Amarnah has successfully built a career combining her passion for dance, music, teaching and performance. Her work has led her to appear on Stages, for T.V, Short Films, Music Videos, featured in Albums and Gallery spaces nationally and internationally. Amarnah’s work has emphasis on connection to we are sharing the space with, practicing togetherness and igniting that which inspires us to express ourselves.

DYNAMICS, RHYTHM & TEXTURE 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, stemming from a physical intention. The desired outcomes for the workshop are to develop the dancers' creative mind, driven from passion, determination, strength, musicality and most importantly an intention and honesty in whatever choice they make during the session.

About

Award-winning Alleyne Dance is a unique and powerful company that blends Caribbean, Hip Hop and Kathak, within a contemporary dance context. The choreographic language focuses on rhythms and textures with movement that is athletic, fast paced and dynamic, with infusions of lyrical and fluid motion. Founded in 2014 by award-winning sisters, Kristina and Sadé Alleyne, the company strives for high quality and excellence in our three main objectives: Performance: with productions made for the stage, outdoors and film. Participation: with bespoke training classes and workshops for community groups, youth groups, vocational institutions, professional companies, and dance festivals. Development: by nurturing the professional journey of dancers as they find their artistic voice and strengthen their skills. Alleyne Dance also receives commissions to create work on other professional companies that tour nationally and internationally. Some include: Martha Graham Dance Company (USA) Trioler Landstheater: Ballet Company (AT) Phoenix Dance (UK) 2Faced Dance Company (UK) Some of the awards received include: Best Independent Company – National Dance Awards (UK) Black Female Icons of Lewisham – Brockley Max and The Mayor of London (UK) Bench 2019 Women of Colour Commission (UK) Multiple Awards for of Dance Film, (Re)United from, Frostbite, National Dance Awards and more.

More information tbc

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 practice fast and with loud music.

Flying low is a technique initiated and developed by David Zambrano. Julia practices 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 practice 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.

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.

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.