What is Creative Dance and Can I Do It?

Anytime I meet someone new, the subject of dance always comes up. It's no surprise, dance has been the longest and strongest influence in my life for over 30 years! Inevitably, many will scoff and joke that they are the most uncoordinated person they know or that they have 2 left feet. Challenge accepted! I invite every uncoordinated human with 2 left feet to try my creative dance class and experience the freedom and joy that comes from dancing!
 
So, what does creative dance look like?
You may be thinking that creative dance might look like the scene out of White Christmas, where Danny Kaye pokes fun at "choreography". Or what about the complex sequences in the latest Broadway show like Hamilton? Some people even think that in a creative dance class, there is little structure at all and the dancers just undulate and fling their bodies about; guided only by the way the music makes them feel. You may be intimidated by the thought - I would be, too! So then, what is creative dance?

Creative dance is a dance form that combines personal mastery of skill with the artistry of expression. During each one-hour Dance Wise class, we alternate between structured and free movement exercises designed to master skills as well as develop personal artistry. The skills in Dance Wise classes include vocabulary from classical ballet as well as modern, jazz and even tap dance. The exploratory dance activities draw from a vocabulary of dance concepts like Energy: smooth and sharp or Levels: low/middle/high. There is a solid structure for every class that supports different learning styles and that we build upon week after week. Even a brand new student can join at any point during the year and begin experiencing the benefits and joy that creative dance can inspire.

So, forget about the time when someone laughed or commented unkindly when you threw caution to the wind and danced like no one was watching! Come learn about the interesting and meaningful dance concepts that underlie all our most basic and complex movements. Experience the satisfaction of mastering dance skills you thought you could only watch as an audience member. And read about what Dance Wise dancers have to say about their experiences in the Dance Wise for Parkinson's Program. Then sign up to attend a class!

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