Dance, Explore, and Perform with Voices & Visions Contemporary Performance Workshops at The Ailey Extension October 4 – November 1; Other Fall Highlights Include a National Women’s Health & Fitness Celebration on September 30, Afro Flow Yoga Workshops Beginning October 18, and a New Weekly Vinyasa Yoga Class Starting on October 11

Dance, Explore, and Perform with Voices & Visions Contemporary Performance Workshops
at The Ailey Extension October 4 – November 1

Other Fall Highlights Include a National Women’s Health & Fitness Celebration on September 30, Afro Flow Yoga Workshops Beginning October 18, and a New Weekly Vinyasa Yoga Class Starting on October 11

(New York) September 28, 2015 — For the fourth consecutive year, the Ailey Extension welcomes Voices & Visions Contemporary Performance Workshops, beginning the week of October 4. The workshops are designed for advanced beginner students who want to develop their technique and versatility, while also contributing to the creative process. Students seeking a stimulating performing experience have six unique workshops to choose from, all led by distinguished dancers and choreographers. The workshops culminate with a performance at the Ailey Citigroup Theater on Sunday, November 1 at 7pm, allowing students to take their love for dance from the studio to the stage.

Workshops will be led by:

• Jennifer Archibald – October 4 – 27, Sundays, 5:30 – 7:30pm and Tuesdays, 7:30 – 9:30pm: Jennifer Archibald studied at The Ailey School, and her work has been commissioned by Ailey II, Atlanta Ballet, and Cincinatti Ballet, among others. In this workshop, a new work will be developed using Archibald’s signature contemporary style combined with a mix of classical, street, and jazz techniques.
• Germaul Barnes – October 4 – 29, Sundays, 5 – 7pm, and Thursdays, 7:30 – 9pm: A former dancer with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Barnes’ work infuses contemporary techniques with various African movement styles. Workshop participants will explore improvisation, as well as the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane choreographic method for movement development.
• Karen Gayle – October 7 – 30, Wednesdays, 7:30 – 9:30pm, Saturdays, 5 – 7pm, and Friday, October 30, 5 – 7pm: Karen Gayle studied at The Ailey School, has worked with choreographers Ronald K. Brown and Earl Mosley, and has created dance works for the screen and stage. Her workshop will fuse several styles and techniques to develop a narrative piece that incorporates the diverse experiences and backgrounds of all participants.
• Christian von Howard – October 5 – 31, Mondays, 8 – 10pm, and Saturdays, 5 – 7pm: Christian von Howard studied at The Ailey School, where he is currently on faculty, and has worked with dance artists including Doug Varone and Daniel Gwirtzman. This exuberant workshop will challenge dancers to explore various techniques – including classical ballet, contemporary dance, and poly-rhythmic movement concepts – as they create a new work.
• Sekou McMiller – October 4 – 29, Sundays, 4 – 6pm, and Thursdays, 8 – 10pm: Sekou McMiller is a regular instructor at the Ailey Extension, has performed and choreographed for top Latin artists, and has taught Afro-Latin workshops around the world. This fusion workshop features Latin rhythms and music, combined with urban, jazz, and contemporary movement styles. Students will focus both on learning repertory and choreographing, and must have some previous knowledge of Latin dance.
• Michael Leon Thomas – October 9 – 31, Fridays, 7:30 – 9:30pm, and Saturdays, 5 – 7pm: Michael Leon Thomas has traveled the world with such celebrated companies as Complexions, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Students in this workshop will develop a supercharged new work, combining their various techniques with Thomas’ neo-soul style of contemporary movement.

Other fall highlights include a special three-part fitness workshop for National Women’s Health & Fitness Day on Wednesday, September 30 at 7pm, led by three of the Ailey Extension’s most revered instructors: Irini Res (yoga), Sarita Allen (Ailey Barre), and Karen Arceneaux (dance fitness); the return of monthly Afro Flow Yoga workshops with Pilin Anice (Sundays, October 18, November 15, and December 20 at 2pm); and weekly Vinyasa Yoga with Keisha Boden (Sundays beginning October 11 at 12pm).

These workshops and classes take place at the beautiful Ailey Studios in the Joan Weill Center for Dance – New York’s largest building dedicated to dance. The program’s regular classes total over 80 per week and are offered in 25 diverse dance and fitness techniques, including Ailey Barre, West African dance, ballet, yoga, and more. For the complete schedule of “real classes for real people,” and to purchase Voices & Visions tickets, visit aileyextension.com.

For additional press materials including photos, video, and class descriptions visit pressroom.alvinailey.org/the-ailey-extension.

AILEY EXTENSION PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS

Jennifer Archibald
Sundays, October 4 – 18, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Tuesdays, October 6 – 27, 7:30 – 9:30pm

Germaul Barnes
Sundays, October 4 – 18, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Thursdays, October 8 – 29, 7:30 – 9:00pm

Karen Gayle
Wednesdays, October 7 – 28, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Saturdays, October 10 – 24, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Friday, October 30, 5:00 – 7:00pm

Christian von Howard
Mondays, October 5 – 26, 8:00 – 10:00pm
Saturdays, October 10 – 31, 5:00 – 7:00pm

Sekou McMiller
Sundays, October 4 – 25, 4:00 – 6:00pm
Thursdays, October 8 – 29, 8:00 – 10:00pm

Michael Thomas
Fridays, October 9 – 30, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Saturdays, October 10 – 31, 5:00 – 7:00pm

All performance workshops are $200/person

Final Performance
Sunday, November 1 at 7:00pm
Tickets: $25

OTHER FALL HIGHLIGHTS

National Women’s Health & Fitness Day Workshop: Yoga, Ailey Barre, and Dance Fitness
Wednesday, September 30, 7:00 – 8:30pm / $25

Afro Flow Yoga Workshops
Sundays, October 18, November 15, December 20, 2:00 – 3:30pm / $20; $55 for three sessions

Vinyasa Yoga for Beginners
Sundays starting October 11 / $19

Since its inception in 2005, The Ailey Extension has fulfilled Mr. Ailey’s life-long commitment of bringing dance to everyone by offering “real classes for real people.” The Ailey Extension offers of over 80 classes per week in more than 25 different dance and fitness techniques such as Ballet, West African, Ailey Barre, Jazz, Zumba, House and Hip Hop. All levels are welcome, including beginners! Over 100,000 people have taken classes at Ailey’s home, New York’s largest building dedicated to dance, where dancers of all levels and walks of life can learn and be inspired – body, mind, and spirit!

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