Archive for absolute beginner ballet

My July Classes; Qigong & Tai Chi Easy™ Trainings with Dr. Roger Jahnke

RECOMMENDING MY QIGONG TEACHER’S WORKSHOPS:

This July, my qigong teacher and Tai Chi Easy™ founder returns to NYC to teach special workshops at The Open Center. Dr. Roger Jahnke created this more simplified version of Tai Chi so that the profound benefits (balance, stress-reduction, self-healing) could be available to everyone no matter the age or condition of the students. Traditional Tai Chi requires years of study, but Dr. Jahnke’s shortened and flowing version will bring you those benefits almost immediately. I know it may sound too good to be true, but it really does work!  I teach Dr. Jahnke’s Tai Chi Easy™ in my Integral  Yoga classes and during my Dorot telephone series (a seated version). 

Here are the links to his NYC Workshops on Saturday, July 13: https://www.opencenter.org/the-healer-within/ and Sunday, July 14 https://www.opencenter.org/qigong-as-gateway-to-inner-peace – choose one day, or both! If you are interested in doing 5-day courses with Dr. Jahnke this Summer, he will be at Kripalu Yoga Center mid-August: https://kripalu.org/search/jahnke  I highly recommend studying with Dr. Jahnke – he is a true spiritual teacher who walks the tai chi walk!

Dr. Roger Jahnke and a few graduates of his programs at our awesome Reunion this year outside of Austin, TX.  

MY SUMMER CLASS SCHEDULE:

This Summer, I am happily teaching many movement classes including yoga, qigong and ballet. In addition to teaching Monday morning Gentle/ Level 1 yoga classes at UWS Yoga & Wellness, there will be two Thursday evening Gentle Yoga & Qigong classes at the beautiful Integral Yoga Institute. I will be back at Dorot on August 19 for a Chair Yoga class, and my telephone Qigong, Tai Chi Easy™ and Guided Meditation series starts again Friday, July 5 (by the way, you can start this 10-week series at any time).

Additionally, I am subbing Sunday adult ballet classes for my ballet teacher, Finis Jhung, at the Alvin Ailey Dance Extension Program. These “Adult Basic Ballet” and “Adult Beginner Ballet” classes are taught in the style of Finis Jhung, as I have completed a teacher training with him, and continue to study with him. We will be using compilations of his beautiful classical music cds, composed specifically for his classes. You can wear yoga clothes if you don’t have dance leotards and tights, but I do suggest you purchase a pair of canvas ballet slippers (at Capezios, Bloch, or elsewhere) for under $ 20. The Alvin Ailey boutique also sells our ballet barre instructional DVDs, so you can practice at home too. If you have any questions about ballet supplies, please email me!

Alvin Ailey Dance Extension 

Adult Ballet at Ailey Extension This Summer

I am teaching four Sunday adult ballet classes for my ballet teacher, Finis Jhung, at the Alvin Ailey Dance Extension Program. See below for the exact dates and times of these “Absolute Beginner Ballet” and “Beginner Ballet” classes.  Both levels are taught in the style of Finis Jhung, as I have completed a teacher training with him, and continue to study with him.  We will be using compilations of his beautiful classical music cds, composed specifically for his classes. You can wear yoga clothes if you don’t have dance leotards and tights, but I do suggest you purchase a pair of canvas ballet slippers (at Capezios, Bloch, or elsewhere) for under $ 20. If you have any questions about ballet supplies, please email me!

Alvin Ailey Dance Extension 
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CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Absolute Beginner Ballet for Adults on Sundays, June 9 and August 4 at noon – 1:30 pm:
This class is open to all, whether you have ballet experience and want to review the basics or you are a brand-new beginner.  Non-dancers will not be intimidated as the instructions are clear and the class moves at a slow pace. We begin standing ballet exercises at a portable barre in front of the mirror. Most exercises are done with both hands on the barre and proceed slowly and methodically, and the second time we practice away from the barre so balance and strength are further developed. In Absolute Beginner Ballet, students learn the basics of correct dance posture, positioning, and balancing on one leg. The centerwork includes stretching on the floor, as well as basic dance movements which travel across the floor.  Ballet helps increase coordination, balance and memory, and movements are coordinated with beautiful classical music.  I enjoy taking the Absolute Beginner class, because I find the slow, mindful dance movements to be like a zen yogic flow — meditative, but also with the added benefits mentioned above.  I am very happy to be teaching this class as I believe in Finis’ movement principles, and see many parallels with the Tai Chi Easy/ Qigong classes I teach (fall prevention, movement quality, strength and grace, etc.).     
 

Melissa Elstein at the barre.

Beginner Ballet for Adults on Sundays, June 9 and August 4 at 2:00 – 3:30 pm: 
The Beginner Ballet class is for people who have had prior dance experience, because the barre moves much faster and the center includes turns and jumps. The combinations are longer and more complex than the Absolute Beginner Ballet, but the underlying technical principles remain the same.   

photo by Stephen Von der  Launitz___________