June 1-3
, 2012
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
READ Building, Room 263

The weekend will include modern technique-based master classes and a composition workshop.  Master classes can stand alone and will precede the composition class each day.  See the class descriptions and schedule below.

COST
$200 for full weekend
Student rate $100 for full weekend
Individual Master Classes $20/class
Can’t attend the whole weekend?  Daily rates available.
Email danielle@brazosdance.org for more information

Participants must REGISTER HERE in advance, must be at least 18 years old
Hotel recommendations:  Hawthorn Suites offers reasonable rates for larger groups;  Days Inn offers lower cost alternatives for single rooms.

Monica Bill Barnes is a New York based choreographer and performer. She has created twelve evening-length dance works, numerous site-specific events and several cabaret numbers for her company, Monica Bill Barnes & Company. Since moving to New York from her native California in 1995, Barnes choreography has been produced in over twenty venues in New York City including Danspace Project, Symphony Space, Dance New Amsterdam, Dance Theater Workshop, Dixon Place, Dancenow/NYC/The Festival, Movement Research at the Judson Church and La Mama. Her work has been presented in 30 cities throughout the United States and abroad, including The International Fabbrica for Choreographers (Florence, Italy), The Fourth International Dance and Movement Festival on the Volga (Yaroslav, Russia), Tanz Festival (Karlsruhe, Germany), Sushi Performance and Visual Art (San Diego, CA), DancePlace (Washington, D.C.) and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. She has been the invited Guest Artist at the North Carolina School of The Arts, University of California at San Diego, Shenandoah University, University of California at Riverside, Vassar College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Florida State University, James Madison University, Steps on Broadway and Dance New Amsterdam’s Modern Guest Artist Series (1999 to present). Barnes holds an MFA from New York University/Tisch School of the Arts and a BA in philosophy and theater from the University of California at San Diego.*

For more information about Monica’s company and work, see her website or our ad on Vimeo.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Master Class
Based on the company’s performance style, which blends nuanced theatricality and explosive movement vocabulary, this technique class will focus on understanding how to use your technique to support your personal performance quality.  Class begins with an easy to follow, fast-paced warm-up, which brings together an eclectic mix of modern techniques and highlights musicality and bold choices.  The second part of class focuses on learning and performing longer phrases, which challenge the students to move with clarity, theatrical intention and full-bodied power.*

Composition Workshop
This composition class encourages indulgence and bold decision making through a series of experiments with stillness, speed, gesture, repetition and music.  References to other art forms, including film, music and theater, will be used throughout to illustrate extreme artistic choices.  By taking away the expectation of making “good dance,” the choreographers will have the opportunity to explore wide dynamic range, question their assumptions, cultivate a sense of humor about their process and take risks in a supportive, generous environment.*

*From Monica Bill Barnes & Company Press Kit

SCHEDULE
Friday, June 1
1-2:30pm Master Class
2:45-6:30pm Composition

8pm Reception

Saturday, June 2
10-11:30am Master Class
11:45am-1:15pm Composition
1:15-2:30pm Lunch
2:30-6pm  Composition

Sunday, June 3
9-10:30am Master Class
10:45am-12:15pm Composition
12:15-1:30pm Lunch
1:30-3pm  Composition

Tuesdays  4-4:45pm  Creative Preschoolers* – Ages 4 & 5
Wednesdays  10-10:45am  Creative Tots – Ages 2 ½  & 3
Wednesdays  11-11:45am  Creative Tots - Ages 2 ½  & 3  FULL
*This class will be offered if minimum enrollment is met

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Creative Tots (2 ½  & 3 years old)   This class develops rhythm and motor skills in addition to listening skills. Children will learn through imagery, musical exercises and games, such as follow the leader.  The class will focus on gross motor skills like marching, galloping and jumping.  Non-locomotor exercises will consist of stretching, twisting and balancing.  Children also will use their imaginations to move through space exploring levels, tempo and pathways.

Creative Preschoolers (4 & 5 years old)  This class focuses on rhythm, motor and listening skills in addition to spatial awareness.  Children will learn through imagery, musical exercises, and games.  Children will continue to expand their gross motor, stretching and balance capabilities.  Exercises are designed to develop left and right discrimination, discerning patterns in movement and coordinating different parts of the body.  Children also will use their imaginations to move through space exploring levels, tempo and pathways.

Visit the following link to read an article about the benefits of creative movement for children: http://www.dltk-kids.com/articles/creativemovement.htm

INSTRUCTOR
Andrea Sheridan
An Idaho native, Andrea graduated from the University of Idaho in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance. While attending the University of Idaho, she was given the opportunity to work at several dance studios teaching a variety of age groups and dance styles. Since moving to the Brazos Valley she has been able to continue working students at Suzanne’s School of Dance, where among other classes she also teaches a ballet/tap combo class to 3-5 year olds.

As part of her undergraduate program curriculum, Andrea was able to take several classes, such as Children’s Dance and Motor Behavior, with a focus on child movement/dance. These classes focused on how children naturally move and develop from infancy to about age 5 and different ways to teach them dance concepts in a creative, fun environment. In her children dance classes Andrea likes to use a lot of dance “games” and imagery to encourage creativity while also teaching them basic dance concepts and body/space awareness. She makes it a point to keep the class moving continually so the children stay as engaged as possible. She is looking forward to working with your little ones in a creative movement environment!

PAYMENT
After registering, you may pay by check or credit card.

Make checks out to Brazos Dance Collective and mail to:
Brazos Dance Collective
1809 White Stone Dr
Bryan, TX 77807

To pay by credit card, use the Google Checkout link below.  Please register by email or phone before paying.

donate online through google checkout here:
donation may be made in increments of the amounts you see below. you may also select more than one amount to be added to your cart. after selecting “add to cart,” you will have the opportunity to change the quantity of your donation.

if you would like to mail a check, please make it out to “Brazos Dance Collective” and mail to:

Brazos Dance Collective
1809 White Stone Dr
Bryan, TX 77807

contact danielle@brazosdance.org for information.

Friday, March 30 & Saturday, March 31, 2012
7:30pm
Dance Theatre, Room 263 in the Read Building, Texas A&M University

Parking is available in the University Center Parking Garage*

Brazos Dance Collective is proud to present their second annual spring concert, Trans:figures. The evening will debut works from eight choreographers: Andrea Alvarez, Carisa Armstrong, Christine Bergeron, Danielle Brestel, Jessica Herzogenrath, Andrea Sheridan and guest artists Shelley Blanton Strong and Rosie Trump.

$6 students/seniors, $10 general in advance

Tickets are no longer available online.  They can still be purchased at the door.

Tickets will also be available at the door
$8 students/seniors, $12 general
[Cash, please!]

*Directions:  Due to construction, enter campus on Houston St from George Bush Dr, look for performance signs in front of READ building, 1/3 mile on left.  University Center Parking Garage will be on your right, directly across Houston St from READ.

Rebecca Bryant’s contemporary technique classes are formed around the idea that dance technique is fundamentally about increasing perception and awareness.  We will use bodywork and exercises from release technique to drop into our bodies, find efficient alignment and free up our movement artistry… allowing us to prepare for performing.  Participants are invited to wear comfortable dance/yoga clothes, that cover ones’ arms and legs, as we will be spending time on the floor.

Rebecca Bryant is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Purdue University.  She is an active performer and educator specializing in dance and interdisciplinary performance.  Her recent projects include collaborations with visual artists, poets, actors and musicians as well as solo works that combine text, technology and dance.  Bryant’s research includes investigations in ensemble improvisation; she is interested in ensemble interaction as a training method, a performance practice and a model of collective action and consensus-building.  She also researches the applications of Alexander Technique in dance training and dance making.  She is a member of the Lower Left Performance Collective (dance/performance art) and co-founder of the Past Modern Performance Duo (music/dance/theater).  She holds an MFA in Dance from UCLA, a BA in Visual Art from the University of California at San Diego and comes to Purdue from Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

Tickets:
• At the door, cash only:  $15 general admission, $8 students, seniors, children
• Discounted tickets available online until Friday, Nov 4 at noon.

The Brazos Dance Collective is hosting a variety of talented artists from the surrounding area for this year’s Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival.  This non-profit dance company is excited to announce that dancers from Austin, Houston, San Marcos, and even Purdue University will be performing in the beautiful Margaret W. Rudder Performing Art Center at Rudder High School.  Come join us as we bring passionate artists to BCS for a memorable evening of contemporary dance!

Featuring performances by:

• Brazos Dance Collective
• ChinaCat Dance
• Diane Cahill Bedford and The San Jac Dance PAC
• Kate Warren
• Merge Dance Company of Texas State University
• Mysti Jace Pride
• Rebecca Bryant
• Verge Dance Company

For more information, please contact Danielle Brestel at danielle@brazosdance.org or call 512.590.9232

Cost: $50 for full weekend; $12/ class
Participants must register in advance; email danielle@brazosdance.org to register

The intensive will include classes in modern technique, pilates, composition, and improvisation.  Classes will be taught by Christine Bergeron, Danielle Brestel, and Andrea Sheridan.  Click here for bios.

Class descriptions:

Modern – Chris’ modern dance technique class draws from a variety of modern dance styles and focuses on full body integration through efficient and organic movement.  Chris organizes her classes from starting with the back work that will later be found in the phrase work.  Phrase work is crafted to encompass weighted and released movements, floorwork, inversions, core strengthening, suspension and momentum.  Her movement has been described as quirky, athletic, humorous, fluid and organic.

Composition – Chris’ Composition class emphasizes identifying, selecting and utilizing a variety of source material to create work.  It explores creating through the use of time, space, energy/force, and weight. She will also share her process of expanding movement from a simple phrase.

Modern – Andrea’s class is designed to help each dancer enhance and expand on their current movement vocabulary while discovering new places from which to move and initiate.  We will explore how to move from the core out, while allowing the weight of the pelvis assist the movement. We will also explore other concepts such as head/tail connection, spiraling and breath, reaching and moving to our fullest capacity.  Class will consist of a warm up, starting on the floor, working our way to standing, then progressing to across the floor exercises and center combinations.

Improvisation – Danielle will offer a beginning level contact improvisation class.  It will focus on the core elements needed to share weight with a partner and move into low-effort lifts.

Sat, Oct 22
1:30-2:30pm Pilates with Andrea Sheridan
2:45-4:15pm Beginning Contact Improvisation with Danielle Brestel
4:30-6pm  Modern Technique with Andrea Sheridan

Sat, Oct 23
1-2:30pm  Compostition with Christine Bergeron
2:30-4pm  Modern Technique with Christine Bergeron

Parking is available in the Koldus/University Center Parking Garage

Dedicated to their mission of bringing Modern and Contemporary dance to the Brazos Valley, the newly formed Brazos Dance Collective is proud to present their first spring concert, Trans:figures. The evening will debut works from seven choreographers: Carisa Armstrong, Christine Bergeron, Danielle Brestel, Brittany Hardin, Andrea Sheridan and guest artists Emily Boyd and Kathleen Byrne.

Here’s a sneak peak of one of the dances in the show!
Trans:figures

$6 students/seniors, $10 general in advance
available here

Tickets will also be available at the door
$8 students/seniors, $12 general
[Cash, please!]

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