Beginner Ballet Classes at Peridance
Peridance offers several beginner ballet class options with different instructors. Please review the instructor methods and styles below and choose an instructor that best aligns with your needs and learning preferences.
1) Martha Chapman
Martha Chapman has performed with NYC Opera Ballet, NJ Ballet, Eugene Ballet in Oregon, Ontario Ballet Theater, in the Edinburgh Festival, with Cork City Ballet in Ireland, and at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors. Her repertory spans classics like The Sugar Plum Fairy to "Shakers" by American modern-dance pioneer Doris Humphrey and works by Graham and Hawkins company members. She is a co-director for Omega Dance Company, where she has performed and choreographed for almost 20 years. Martha has choreographed and set works for the National Cathedral in Washington DC, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and other prestigious settings. She directs Dance Ministries at The Church of the Village, whose famous annual Christmas Pageant features tap-dancing sheep and where Omega is now an Artist-in-Residence. Additionally, Martha is a faculty member of Dancewave in Brooklyn.
Class Description: Her classes provide a supportive environment where dancers receive detailed instruction on placement and alignment tailored to their individual body structures. Students benefit from fostering the visualization of energy lines and the precise initiation of movement forces. From foundational exercises to advanced levels, students receive clear breakdowns of vocabulary, repetition for strength-building, and progression towards more intricate steps and faster tempos, encouraging growth and mastery in their practice.
Schedules: Mondays 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Wednesdays 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Thursdays 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
2) Yuka Kawazu
Yuka Kawazu was born in Kanagawa, Japan. She has performed throughout the United States and Japan as a corps, soloist, and principal dancer with many distinguished ballet and theater companies. In the past, Yuka served as ballet mistress for the Staten Island Ballet Company and other organizations. Yuka is a regular faculty member at several New York City studios, including Ballet Arts, Peridance Capezio Center, and Broadway Dance Center. She was also a faculty member of New Dance Group and the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center. Yuka has choreographed performances at several theaters, including the Alvin Ailey Theater, Symphony Space, the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, and others. Yuka is the Artistic Director of Yuka Kawazu's Danse En L'Air, a young, vibrant, and exciting dance company whose choreographic vision uses the traditional ballet form combined with the expressiveness and immediacy of theater dance to make the company accessible to all audiences.
Class Description: This class aims to solidify classical ballet fundamentals, emphasizing clean lines, core strength, and precise placement to enhance students' centering and readiness for advanced training. Students will hone their technique, focusing on proper placement, rhythm, and musicality, while also developing dynamic movement and refining their understanding of muscle engagement and body alignment to improve turns, placement, and overall line.
Schedules: Tuesdays 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Fridays 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
3) Julia K. Gleich
Julia K. Gleich is a prominent figure in contemporary ballet with extensive experience as a choreographer and educator. She has taught at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and served as Head of Choreography at London Studio Centre. As the Artistic Director of Gleich Dances and Co-Founder of Norte Maar, she has made significant contributions to the arts scene, garnering recognition such as the University of Utah Fine Arts Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014. Her innovative approach to teaching is rooted in her "Vector Theory" of movement generation and analysis, coupled with kinesiological principles and mental imagery. This holistic approach fosters a joyful learning environment, reflected in the success of her students who have pursued diverse professional dance careers internationally. Gleich believes that a broad and inclusive approach to dance yields the best results in art and life.
Class Description: Discover the perfect beginner's ballet class in NYC, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds, including athletes, actors, and artists. With a focus on building movement confidence and increasing physical awareness, the class provides access to 21st-century ballet techniques, aiming to inspire and motivate while delivering a fulfilling workout infused with the joy of ballet.
Schedules: Tuesdays 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, Saturdays 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
