Dance Festival Masterclasses and Workshops
Dance Festival 2026 Class Sessions (Descriptions Below)
View Instructor Bios Here
9 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. (Session One)
Ballet Technique / Jenelle Figgins / HVPA 115
Tap / Miguel Ledesma / HVPA 110
Contemporary Dance / Ryan Bailey / HVPA Smith Theatre
Conditioning + Stretch / Ann-Marie Gover / Studio Theatre
10:30 a.m. - 11:50 p.m. (Session Two)
Contemporary Ballet / Jenelle Figgins / HVPA 115
Contemporary / Ann-Marie Gover / HVPA 110
Partnering / Ryan Bailey / Studio Theatre
African Dance / Adjetey Klufio / HVPA Smith Theatre
12 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. (Session Three)
Jazz / Amanda Fair / HVPA 115
Hip Hop / Project Charma / HVPA 110
Classical Indian / Jayamangala / HVPA Smith Theatre
Photoshoot for Dancers / Hank Wang / Studio Theatre
1:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. (Adult Session One)
Ballet / Amanda Fair / HVPA 115
House / Project Charma / Studio Theatre
2:50 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. (Adult Session Two)
Contemporary Movers / Darion Smith / Studio Theatre
Class Descriptions
African Dance / Adjetey Klufio
Students will acquire knowledge in the various facets of natural rhythmic movements as they pertain to African Dance. We will explore full body expression rooted in African dance traditions. The class will be accompanied by live drumming.
Tap / Miguel Ledesma
Let's make some noise! This session will provide a fun, social, and challenging tap experience geared toward the beginner tapper. Class will move through a center warm-up, rhythm and skills drills, a brief structured improvisation, and culminate in a cohesive phrase with an emphasis on syncopation and musicality.
Conditioning & Stretch / Ann-Marie Gover: Rooted in Pilates, yoga, and somatic principles, this class cultivates strong, aligned, and well-organized bodies ready for dynamic dancing. Through mindful conditioning and intentional stretching, dancers develop the physical clarity that allows them to move freely, safely, and with full expressive range.
Contemporary / Ann-Marie Gover: A contemporary movement practice weaving somatic awareness, modern dance floorwork, and improvisational dance into a fluid, embodied experience. Drawing on release-based and somatic modalities, the class invites dancers to explore presence, internal alignment, and expressive freedom, cultivating a body that feels grounded, alive, and open.
Ballet Technique / Jenelle Figgins
This class will focus on ballet technique with the goal of increasing strength, flexibility, and stamina. Students will gain additional understanding of alignment, musicality, dynamic changes and spatial awareness.
Contemporary Ballet / Jenelle Figgins
Dancers will be challenged to think outside the ballet rigidity of classical ballet. This class will have live musical accompaniment.
Hip-Hop with Project ChArma
Project ChArma invites you to elevate your dance journey in our Hip Hop Foundations class! Immerse yourself in the beats as you refine your musicality, groundedness, and groove. Experiment with breaking techniques and enhance your ability to pick up choreography. Connect with the rhythm, showcase your unique style, and explore the legendary influences of hip-hop history. Join us for a vibrant class filled with energy and creativity-let's transform the dance floor into your playground!
Jayamangala / Introduction to Indian Dance
Students will get an overview of how dancers are trained in footwork, delicate hand gestures, facial expressions, and storytelling. Since Indian dance is closely tied to music, emotions and spirituality, we will touch upon how those elements are tied into our dancing which involves complex rhythms intertwined with stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses in creative and organic ways.
Jazz / Amanda Fair
Explore jazz dance styles with a focus on musicality, technical precision, and self-expression. Class will include a center warm-ups, leading into across-the-floor progressions and an engaging, performance-ready combination. This class is perfect for dancers looking to refine their technique and explore the storytelling elements of jazz.
Partnering / Ryan Bailey
Dancers will integrate contemporary movement qualities and explore how they apply to partnering by learning short sequences that move in and out of the floor, off the ground and into the air, with a partner or two. The class culminates with the combination of learned sequences into a short, partnered dance.
Contemporary Dance / Ryan Bailey
Contemporary movement exploration based in release techniques and improvisation.
Photoshoot for Dancers / Hank Wang
Create powerful images that capture the most dynamic and expressive moments in movement. In this session, dancers explore aspects of dance photography with a professional photographer. Students will not only learn how to set up incredible shots, they will receive images created during the photoshoot. This class will incorporate the use of props provided by the instructor.
Adult Class Descriptions
Ballet Technique / Amanda Fair
Dancers will focus on refining classical ballet technique with increasing speed,
complexity, and clarity. The correct body coordination will be emphasized for all adagio,
turning, and jumping movements.
House with Project ChArma
Join Project ChArma to explore your unique style in house dance. We’ll start with a focused warm-up to get you moving before diving into sequences that play with low, mid, and high-level movements.
This class emphasizes improvisation, allowing you to express yourself and connect with the music. Whether you want to refine your skills or simply have fun, this class is open to all levels. Come ready to dance and make new connections!
Contemporary Movers / Darion Smith
Class begins with a somatic awakening, followed by a dynamic and full bodied warm up. In the center, dancers explore combinations of movement that integrate floorwork, direction changes, inversions, jumps and turns. Darion will encourage dancers to focus on finding a refined movement quality and expression in every moment, and achieving flow in large movement sequences, while experiencing the joy and satisfaction of dancing together.