} Classes
SUMMER CLASS SCHEDULE - BEGINS JUNE 15TH
ALL CLASSES ARE AT THE NORTHWEST DANCE PROJECT STUDIO
833 N. Shaver Street (at Mississippi) MAP
The Northwest Dance Project holds dance classes for adults and teens every week. We offer various styles including Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Global, Conditioning and Stretch. For beginners, classes are a fun way to get fit while gaining dance experience. For more experienced dancers, classes are more technical, advanced and challenging.
Please note that classes in blue begin July 20th.
* = No Northwest Dance Project class cards or promotions apply
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8:30 - |
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Wake-Up |
Dance |
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10:00 - |
Ballet / |
Ballet / |
Ballet / |
Ballet / |
Ballet / |
Ballet / |
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2:15 - |
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Lyric Jazz* |
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5:15 - |
Dance |
Teen |
Teen |
Urban Jazz |
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6:30 - |
Lyric Jazz* |
Ballet / |
Lyric Jazz |
Contemporary Fusion |
Hip-Hop |
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8:15 - |
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No enrollment necessary - you can join a class at any time.
Classes are available on a drop-in basis for $10 per hour or SAVE 20% by purchasing a Class Card (20 hours of classes for only $160).
Our open classes are for dancers 14 years+
Our teen classes are specially geared for dancers between 13 and 17 years old.
About Our Classes
BALLET / Advanced
Our advanced ballet class begins with a strong technique-based warm-up barre and continues with focused and structured ballet class center exercises. Dancers should have a knowledge of classical ballet vocabulary. Barre only is an option. Live accompaniment.
Level: Intermediate +
Instructors: Sarah Slipper, James Canfield, Zach Carroll and guests Lucas Crandall, Septime Webre and Paul Vasterling
BALLET / Basics
Our basics ballet class provides a basic grounding in ballet positions and basic ballet technique. Placement, principles of ballet movement and alignment are clearly explained and emphasized. This class offers a comprehensive barre and center practice. Participants should have a basic knowledge of ballet steps and terms. Barre only is an option.
Level: Beginners to Intermediate
Instructors: Sarah Slipper, Zachary Carroll
CONTEMPORARY FUSION
This class fuses contemporary dance styles with jazz, ballet, and world dance influences. Combines precision leg work with an ease and fluidity in the torso. A fun, expressive combination of global music and movement.
Level: All
Instructor: Sara Martins
DANCE CONDITIONING
This energizing class combines elements of yoga with stretch components particularly suited to dance. The aim is to develop core strength, ease and openness in the joints and a flexible, well-balanced body.
Level: General / Suitable for all dancers and fitness enthusiasts
Yoga or fitness mat useful.
Instructor: Andrea Parson
HIP-HOP
The class introduces the street dance styles from the Bronx and beyond. Fresh, funky and soulful expression of movement that is constantly evolving. A great and fun work out for all dance enthusiasts.
Level: All
Instructor: TBA
LYRIC JAZZ
This soulful class develops a strong technical foundation focusing on lowering the dancer's center of gravity, and syncopating movement with a blend of Latin, modern, ballet and jazz. Through a wide range of incredible music, this intense, lyrical, down to earth class helps dancers connect to feeling movement from the inside out.
Level: All
Instructor: Tracey Durbin
TEEN CONTEMPORARY
This class combines modern and contemporary dance styles along with elements of jazz and ballet. It emphasizes and develops proper body alignment, strength and flexibility, rhythmic and musical phrasing, and self-expression.
Level: All
Instructor: Sara Martins
URBAN JAZZ CLASS
This class combines the popular music and movement of hip-hop and street funk with the technique and athleticism of jazz and is focused on improving artistry and stamina - while having fun!
Level: All
Instructor: Lex Dones
About Our Instructors
James Canfield
James Canfield, founding artistic director of Oregon Ballet Theatre from 1989-2003, was born in Corning, New York, and received his early dance training at the acclaimed Academy of the Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Mary Day. Mr. Canfield was a member of the Washington Ballet in Washington D.C., the Joffrey II Dancers in New York City and the Joffrey Ballet under the direction of Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, where he danced an extensive repertoire of works by Jiri Kylian, Agnes de Mille, John Cranko and William Forsythe among others. In 1986, he left the Joffrey Ballet to become the Artistic Director of Pacific Ballet Theatre, and once the company combined with Ballet Oregon, Mr. Canfield was appointed Artistic Director of the new Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) in 1989. There, he choreographed numerous ballets for the year-round company and established the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre in order to provide the best classical training to dancers throughout the Northwest. In March 2008, James became the Artistic Director of Nevada Ballet Theatre. James has created four works and regularly teaches for the Northwest Dance Project.
Zach Carroll
Zachary Carroll began his training with the legendary dancer George Zoritch in his native Tucson, Arizona. He continued his training as a full scholarship student with the National Ballet School in Toronto. He has performed a wide variety of principal roles as a dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Minnesota Dance Theatre, and Ballet West. His repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Hans Van Manen, Antony Tudor, and many others. Most recently, Zach danced as a member of Portland's own BodyVox. He currently teaches ballet in Portland and as a guest teacher for several schools around the country.
Lex Dones
Lex Dones hails from Portland where he began his dance training at the age of five. He trained with local dance schools, and for four years he was a key dancer in Portland's highly celebrated Jefferson Dancers, performing in over 50 shows a season. Lex also worked with leading names in dance while participating in the Northwest Dance Project's 2006 Project. In July of 2007, He relocated to New York City to work with MOMIX Dance Theatre under the artistic direction of Moses Pendleton. He recently worked with Luna Negra Dance Theatre of Chicago under the direction of Eduardo Vilaro, as well as a guest artist with the Salt Creek Ballet under the direction of Sergey Kozadayev and is a member of our Project Company.
Tracey Durbin
Tracey started dancing professionally at the age of four. After studying years of piano, theater and ballet at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, Tracey moved to Los Angeles where she studied ballet with Stanley Holden, jazz with Luigi (the innovator of the world's first jazz technique), and assisted Hama, Luigi's protégé. Her choreography has been in the L.A. Jazz Festival, music videos, industrials, and many shows. Tracey has also lived and taught dance in Israel. In Portland, Tracey was an original member of Dancers' Workshop, started Irvington Dance Company, and has taught for many years at Oregon Ballet Theatre, Reed College, and BodyVox. Currently she teaches at DaVinci Arts Middle School and Portland Ballet. Teaching since the age of 15, Tracey's classes blend the philosophy of classical Luigi jazz technique, the lyricism and strength of modern and ballet, and the musical experience ranging from Bach to Aretha Franklin. Her life experiences inspire her true passion - teaching lyrical jazz dance.
Sara Martins
Sara Martins, Portland native, began studying dance at the age of three, and performed locally with Elizabeth Abts Contemporary Dance Theatre, The Jefferson Dancers, and numerous productions at Portland Civic Theatre and The Musical Theatre Company. She trained in multiple disciplines with master teachers and legendary choreographers in Portland, New York, and Los Angeles, and earned her degree in Dance from UCLA. Sara has performed on stage and television, and has choreographed numerous dance, theatre, and film projects in Los Angeles and Portland. A seasoned teacher, Sara was the assistant director of dance at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, CA for a decade before returning to Portland, and has been teaching dance at Northwest Academy for the past three years.
Andrea Parson
Andrea Parson began her early training in Hillsboro, Oregon at Northwest Conservatory of dance under the direction of Anita Mitchell. She received her B.A. in dance from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 2008. Andrea has participated in workshops with the Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, the Northwest Dance Project and worked with numerous choreographers such as Chad Hall, Aszure Barton, Sarah Slipper, James Canfield, Luca Veggetti, Alejandro Cerrudo, Cayetano Soto, Edgar Zendejas and many more. Andrea has taught dance throughout Oregon and Washington and is a member of our Project Company.
Sarah Slipper
An award winning independent choreographer and noted dance mentor, Sarah Slipper studied at the Royal Ballet School, was a principal dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and appeared as a guest artist worldwide. She has worked with internationally renowned directors and choreographers such as Arnold Spohr, Rudi van Dantzig, Hans van Manen, Jirí Kylián and Agnes de Mille. Sarah Slipper served as Ballet Mistress of Alberta Ballet and Oregon Ballet Theatre, and teaches master classes throughout North America. She was awarded the Grand Prize for Choreography at the International Choreographic Competition at Saint Sauveur in 2000. Sarah has created over 20 works for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Ballet Jorgen, Louisville Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Ballet New York, Ballet Pacifica and The Jefferson Dancers. "A Fine Balance," her pas de deux created during the inaugural NWPDP, was a finalist for the prestigious Benois de la Danse award in 2006 and was performed at the Bolshoi Theatre as part of the award's gala celebration. Sarah is currently working on several new creations and serves as the Artistic Director of the Northwest Dance Project.
INFO
503.421.7434 / info@nwpdp.com