Join us for Flow Space, an atmosphere that allows for the act of “pure play” to help dance artists use more capacity, intellect, sense, courage, and imagination in their movement styles. Conducted by director of The DASH Ensemble, Gregory Dolbashian, the class is a highly developed series of improvisational tools and games that warms and pushes both the mind and the body to break habits and fulfill more presence. These exercises are all methods that Gregory has developed and utilized to create movement with The DASH. The artists learn confidence not just in themselves but also in the environment that they are a part of. Games and tasks work both on the individual and in tandem, so that Flow Space creates a community for progress, inspiration, and most of all, discovery. Classes are for dancers aged 16+.

Sunday, February 20th, 2022 | 11:00am-12:30 pm (CST)

In-Person: Due to our Covid protocols, only 9 in-person participants will be allowed to take class in-person in Studio 1.
Virtual: When in person capacity in Studio 1 has been reached, up to 6 participants will be able to take the class virtually in Studio 2. Other virtual participants are welcome to take class at their desired locations.

*Proof of vaccination + masks are required at the door for all in-person participants.

GREGORY DOLBASHIAN – Born and raised in New York City Gregory received his dance training at the Alvin Ailey School, then graduated cum laude from SUNY Purchase dance conservatory. He debuted his own company, The DASH Ensemble, in December 2010 at The JOYCE SoHo. DASH Company performance credits include The JOYCE Theater, Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York Live Arts, Guggenheim Works and Process Series, Kaatsbaan as well as domestic touring all over the U.S. including Dallas, L.A., and North Carolina. Gregory, in partnership with dance education specialist Lindsey Pettus, is also the co-founder of The DASH Academy. He has been commissioned for original works by American Ballet Theater, Atlanta Ballet, American Dance Festival, and most recently for Limon Dance Company’s newly formed Limon 2 . Awards for Choreography Hubbard Street 2 International Competition, Ballet Austin’s New American Talent. His collegiate and training program commissions include Juilliard, Point Park, LINES Ballet, NYU, and SUNY Purchase. Faculty positions include Broadway Dance Center, Gibney Dance, and Peridance Capezio Center. He has conducted multiple masterclasses around the country including Juilliard, NYU, UNCSA, UC Irvine, SUNY Purchase, and Point Park. In addition, Gregory, alongside fellow choreographer Loni Landon, is the co-founder of The PlaygroundNYC, a choreographic initiative that was voted 25 to Watch in 2013 by Dance Magazine.

Photo by Mike Esperanza @ mikeesperanza

We are excited to offer these virtual open classes focusing on self-care and well-being with teaching artists DejaJoelle, Lynn Barre and Wendy Anderson.

Cost: sliding scale $8, $12, or $15
(please register a minimum of 24 hours in advance)

Virtual We Dance TU with DejaJoelle
Thursday, January 14 (6:00-7:00pm CST) 

Join teaching artist Deja Joelle for “We Dance TU”, a dance session that prioritizes BIG BODIES and welcomes participants age 18+. Utilizing African based movement, discussion and Self – Love/affirmation, this space is for all who were told they were “too (something)” to be a dancer—even if you were the one who told yourself. This space is to make discoveries in your body, your creativity, your YOU!

DejaJoelle uses Traditional West African Dance and Black social dance to create an aesthetic that promotes healing and Self – Love. DejaJoelle is an interdisciplinary artist who is guided by ancestral dance and healing. Deja believes Self – Love is the first step in healing from your past and ensuring the fullness of your present. Through dance, mindfulness, Self – reflection, and affirmation, Deja is developing a dance aesthetic that promotes/evokes healing. In addition to dance, Deja creates intentional spaces for otherwise marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ2, BIPOC and Deaf community. Recent intentional space holding created for the Minneapolis Institute of Art under the title Discover Yourself: Golden Season, which was a day-long healing conference in collaboration with local Healing Artists with workshops including: Black Pleasure, Finding your Divinity, Body Reclamation, Afro Futurism, Sound Bathing, and many more. DejaJoelle, believes dance and healing should be fully accessible, and curated this conference to be completely free including childcare and food. In addition, DejaJoelle is proficient in American Sign Language and is intentional about making space for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. DejaJoelle continues to activate this work at Northside Healing Space where she directs her dance company BLAQ and holds community Dance and Healing Sessions and activities monthly. She works closely with Dr. Joi Lewis, a nationally known Healer, Author, and Joy instigator to deepen her research in solidifying her healing practice. Her ultimate goals include guiding herself and others to their higher selves, creating stronger community ties, and building an accessible revolution. “I believe in movement that brings life to the dancer’s experience. I’m based in traditional West African dance and informed by life experiences. I believe in dancing from the inside out. With rhythm. With love.”

Virtual GYROKINESIS® with Wendy Anderson
Tuesday, January 12 (4:30-6:00pm CST)

Participants age 16+ are welcome to join and please have an armless chair/stool and yoga mat/blanket readily available.

More about Wendy

Movements in Meditation with DejaJoelle
A virtual safe space to generate movement while preserving and tending to your mental health. Sessions are 30% discussion-based. The curriculum focuses on using Dance and Body to heal from, confront, and identify emotional pain in the body. How does one use this not for performance but for personal growth and enlightenment?

More about DejaJoelle: DejaJoelle uses Traditional West African Dance and Black social dance to create an aesthetic that promotes healing and Self – Love. DejaJoelle is an interdisciplinary artist who is guided by ancestral dance and healing. Deja believes Self – Love is the first step in healing from your past and ensuring the fullness of your present. Through dance, mindfulness, Self – reflection, and affirmation, Deja is developing a dance aesthetic that promotes/evokes healing. In addition to dance, Deja creates intentional spaces for otherwise marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ2, BIPOC and Deaf community. Recent intentional space holding created for the Minneapolis Institute of Art under the title Discover Yourself: Golden Season, which was a day-long healing conference in collaboration with local Healing Artists with workshops including: Black Pleasure, Finding your Divinity, Body Reclamation, Afro Futurism, Sound Bathing, and many more. DejaJoelle, believes dance and healing should be fully accessible, and curated this conference to be completely free including childcare and food. In addition, DejaJoelle is proficient in American Sign Language and is intentional about making space for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. DejaJoelle continues to activate this work at Northside Healing Space where she directs her dance company BLAQ and holds community Dance and Healing Sessions and activities monthly. She works closely with Dr. Joi Lewis, a nationally known Healer, Author, and Joy instigator to deepen her research in solidifying her healing practice. Her ultimate goals include guiding herself and others to their higher selves, creating stronger community ties, and building an accessible revolution. “I believe in movement that brings life to the dancer’s experience. I’m based in traditional West African dance and informed by life experiences. I believe in dancing from the inside out. With rhythm. With love.”

GYROKINESIS® + Improvisation
Maurya Kerr’s session starts with a GYROKINESIS® class, followed by diving into being, a class that offers an improvisatory landscape of generative play and imaginative rigor. Participants will challenge self-conceived limits of generosity and curiosity; fortify creative, investigative, and physical stamina; and plummet into the exquisite messiness of having a body.

More about Maurya

Yoga with Lynn Barre
Class will transition from moving meditation toward greater stillness as we support and integrate the whole being.  We’ll continue to cultivate the conditions for healing through breath, alignment, attention and presence.

More about Lynn

Photos: (top) Laura Kane Scher Photography. (bottom left to right) Wendy Anderson provided by Wendy Anderson, Gregory Dolbashian by Mike Esperanza, DejaJoelle by Maya Clark of Culture Piece Magazine, Maurya Kerr by Quinn B Wharton, Lynn Barre by Luciana Pampalone.

A virtual safe space for participants age 18+ to generate movement while preserving and tending to their mental health. Sessions are 30% discussion-based. The curriculum focuses on using Dance and Body to heal from, confront, and identify emotional pain in the body. How does one use this not for performance but for personal growth and enlightenment?

Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm
October 15-November 5

SESSION 2 (4 weeks):
Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm
November 12-December 10 (NO class on November 26)

To complete your registration, please submit this form and pay the fee below.

DejaJoelle uses Traditional West African Dance and Black social dance to create an aesthetic that promotes healing and Self – Love. DejaJoelle is an interdisciplinary artist who is guided by ancestral dance and healing. Deja believes Self – Love is the first step in healing from your past and ensuring the fullness of your present. Through dance, mindfulness, Self – reflection, and affirmation, Deja is developing a dance aesthetic that promotes/evokes healing. In addition to dance, Deja creates intentional spaces for otherwise marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ2, BIPOC and Deaf community. Recent intentional space holding created for the Minneapolis Institute of Art under the title Discover Yourself: Golden Season, which was a day-long healing conference in collaboration with local Healing Artists with workshops including: Black Pleasure, Finding your Divinity, Body Reclamation, Afro Futurism, Sound Bathing, and many more. DejaJoelle, believes dance and healing should be fully accessible, and curated this conference to be completely free including childcare and food. In addition, DejaJoelle is proficient in American Sign Language and is intentional about making space for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. DejaJoelle continues to activate this work at Northside Healing Space where she directs her dance company BLAQ and holds community Dance and Healing Sessions and activities monthly. She works closely with Dr. Joi Lewis, a nationally known Healer, Author, and Joy instigator to deepen her research in solidifying her healing practice. Her ultimate goals include guiding herself and others to their higher selves, creating stronger community ties, and building an accessible revolution. “I believe in movement that brings life to the dancer’s experience. I’m based in traditional West African dance and informed by life experiences. I believe in dancing from the inside out. With rhythm. With love.”

Photo by Maya Clark of Culture Piece Magazine

This 4-week ballet technique workshop emphasizes alignment, placement and somatic awareness. The class consists of barre and center work that focuses on balance, classical line and connecting steps.

Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00am
October 6-October 27 (single classes also available)

SESSION 2 (4 weeks):
Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00am
November 3-December 1 (NO class on November 24)(CANCELLED)

To complete your registration, please submit this form (only for 4-week workshop registrations) and pay the fee below.

Tina Anderson Wallum’s 23-year performing career included principal and soloist work with Minnesota Dance Theatre, Ballet Minnesota, Ballet Arts Minnesota, Ballet of the Dolls, Savannah Ballet, The Contemporary Ballet Company, and Pennsylvania Ballet. She holds her BS from Radford University in Virginia. She has taught ballet classes for Ballet Arts Minnesota, Ballet Minnesota, Classical Ballet Academy, Chinese Dance Theater and is currently teaching at the University of Minnesota. Her current scholarly research is in Mind-Body Centering and somatics where she is devoted to creating a sense of embodiment in her students.