Sept. 17 to 21, 2018 – 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.)
$40 with the support of *Emploi-Québec (or $140, non-eligible rate)
$10 drop-ins (unless full)
Open to artists of all disciplines / In English
Capacity: 25 people, priority for full week attendance
Participants should come with some knowledge of the form and vocabulary, about an elementary level of experience, or be very comfortable picking up movement.
As a daily training form for an ongoing contemporary dance practice, ballet can still be a beautiful way to keep the body open, articulated, and sensorially available, but it undeniably occupies a place of inaccessibility and exclusivity, and experiences of trauma are common. For people with histories of injuries, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, chronic and mental illness, for trans and queer folx, people of colour, and anybody whose tendency is to be a shit disturber, ballet class can be an oppressive framework. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can have a ballet class that has freedom for investigation within clarity of form, opening in the upper body through port de bras and spinal fluidity, rigorous investigation of functional anatomy offering balance that feels impossible, and dynamic movement sequences that generate and capitalize on momentum. We can translate the technique of ballet into movement forms that take place in horizontality and on the ground. We can rebuild a structure together to create space for our desires and learning, and do it while wearing awesome dance outfits.
Amelia Ehrhardt is a dancer who works through creation, curation, writing, and teaching. As a dancer she works predominantly in multidisciplinary contexts, having interpreted works for Zeesy Powers and Suzy Lake as well as choreographers Carol Anderson, Susie Burpee, and Julia Sasso. Amelia is the curator at Dancemakers Centre for Creation (Toronto). A passionate dance educator, she has been teaching adult beginner contemporary dance for six years, and regularly teaches technique at the professional level. Amelia has trained extensively in ballet, attending the George Brown dance program directed by Canada’s Ballet Jörgen from 2005 to 2008, where influential teachers included Svea Eklof, Tara Butler, and Che Chun. She maintains continued professional study with notable teachers including Christine Wright, Janet Panetta, Libby Farr, and others. She has performed in repertoire including corps de ballet selections from Giselle, Swan Lake, and numerous contemporary ballets.
All workshops are for professional performing artists. Some require advanced dance training.
Registration – Please contact (514) 393-3771 or at info@studio303.ca. A non-refundable deposit of $20 is required to reserve your spot.
Payments – By check, cash, Paypal or credit card on the phone or in person ($1 to $2 fee)
Reimbursement policy– No reimbursement possible without a good reason (ex: sickness or injury).
*Emploi-Québec – With the support of Emploi-Québec. In order to get this rate, participants must be Canadian citizens or permanent resident and live in Québec. Full-time students and social assistance beneficiaries are not eligible to this rate. In case of inadmissibility, you can refer to the non-eligible rate, contact us for questions.
Studio’s accessibility – Consult this page for detailed information.