WEEK A: Monday, July 31 – Friday, August 4, 2023
Aerial Choreography – Intermediate
3:00-4:30 PM. Week A.
Ages 14+. $175. FFP Studio 1.
Prerequisites: Strong curiosity for creating original movements and thinking outside of the box (or apparatus). Being fearless with failure. Must have a minimum of one to two years of aerial dance experience on single point or circus trapeze, silks, lyra, sling or hammock. Improvisation skills are a plus.
Exploring and understanding the creative process through choreographic tools and techniques both on the ground and in the air. Emphasis on improvisation, self-exploration, group interaction, relating musical tones, theme and variation and abstract invention. Participants will develop a strong sense of spontaneity, imagination and creativity as well as strengthen their kinesthetic sensitivities to both individual and group movement experiences on and off of the apparatus. Participants will create and build on their own composition or work as a duet throughout the week for feedback and ideas with fellow classmates.
WEEK B: Monday, Aug. 7 – Friday, Aug. 11, 2023
The Aesthetics & History of Low-Flying Trapeze- Intermediate with Jayne Bernasconi
1:00-2:30pm. Week B.
Ages 14+. $175. FFP Studio 1.
Prerequisites: 1 year experience on either horizontal (trapeze, lyra) or vertical (fabric, rope, sling)
What were the inspirations and aesthetic choices of aerial pioneers, Terry Sendgraff, Robert Davidson, Stephanie Evanitsky and Alwin Nikolais? This class is part aerial technique (single point trapeze, sling, silks) and part history to learn what inspired their creativity helping students gain access to a variety of aesthetic approaches for creating aerial dance. We will look at videos of these pioneers to examine their aesthetic approaches and then incorporate these methods as we move through the air exploring: theme and variation, improvisation, modes of movement, low/high and underworld scores, duets, and the aesthetic of blending movements from ground to air.
Jayne Bernasconi is a dancer/choreographer/author/educator/yogi and Artistic Director of Air Dance Bernasconi. She has danced with leading NYC postmodern choreographers including David Gordon, Stephen Petronio, Pooh Kaye, and Bill T. Jones and received an M.A. in Dance Education from Columbia University. Jayne trained and danced with aerial dance pioneers Nancy Smith, Terry Sendgraff and Robert Davidson and danced with Frequent Flyers Productions from 1995-1999. She relocated to Baltimore in 1999 and introduced aerial dance to the Baltimore/DC area. She teaches and performs regularly at the International Aerial Dance Festival here in Boulder since it began in 1999. Jayne is the co-author of the book/DVD “Aerial Dance” with Nancy Smith published by Human Kinetics.Jayne is a pioneer of mixed ability dance and founded ArtsAbility (for kids) and Forces of Ability (for Adults) two dance projects/performing companies that bring mixed ability dance to underserved populations. She established the first mixed ability aerial dance workshop in 2003 at the Aerial Dance Festival. She also invented and introduced Aerial Yoga to the yoga and aerial dance communities at the Aerial Dance Festival in 2003 combining her passions of yoga and aerial dance. Since then it has spread throughout the globe. Jayne is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Towson University since 2000 teaching courses in aerial dance, aerial repertory, movement fundamentals, composition, modern dance and yoga. She is the subject of the short documentary film on Aerial Dance & Yoga by Jessie Lamsworth. www.jaynebernasconi.com
