Arts & Entertainment
LJD Offers Hip Hop on Saturdays
Winter semester begins this week for young dancers with acclaimed choreographer.
Young dancers have the opportunity to study under the tutelage of choreographer Lydia Johnson, the founder and artistic director of Lydia Johnson Dance. In addition to ballet and contemporary classes that begin this week, the school will be offering Hip Hop on Saturdays.
Sherrell Bush, the assistant director for Lydia Johnson Dance (LJD) Camp, teaches the Hip Hop and Jazz class on Saturday mornings at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood Village.
The school is offering free trial classes on February 2 and February 9. Email Info@lydiajohnsondance.org to reserve your spot.
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This class will focus on both Hip Hop and classic Jazz (Broadway) dance steps and combinations in a creative environment which allows each student to progress at their own pace. Students will learn combinations based on Hip Hop and Jazz and use these moves as a springboard for their own choreography in this genre.
Two classes are offered: For Grades 1-3 at 10:30 a.m.; and for Grades 4-11 at 11:30 a.m. Classes run until May 18.
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New this semester is a Saturday morning Creative Ballet class for ages 3-5 beginning at 9:30 a.m.
This class for young dancers allows the children to experience both the basic structure of ballet and the creative flow of expressive movement. Taught by Bush and designed by Tammi Shamblin, the class will include opportunities for creative dance work as well as the introduction of ballet positions. Music will be varied and young dancers will experience how it feels to move to different kinds of music. The semester will culminate with an Open Class Day.
Lydia Johnson Dance has been consistently praised for its distinctive choreography, with reviews in The New York Times, Backstage and Oberon's Grove. At the school, LJD believes that technique is best learned as children use their creative energy to compose their own dance works.
For information, see LJD Dance Classes on its website, or Lydia Johnson Dance School on Facebook. Dance Camp this summer will be July 8-July 26, 2013.
All classes are held at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood. Email Info@lydiajohnsondance.org for more information.
