Jermaine Spivey
March 6th 2021

Jermaine Maurice Spivey was born in Baltimore, Maryland where he began his dance training and later attended performing arts high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts. After graduating with a BFA in dance from The Juilliard School in 2002, he moved to Lisbon, Portugal where he danced with Ballet Gulbenkian from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, Jermaine joined the Cullberg Ballet, where he met Crystal Pite, and performed with the company until Summer 2008. Jermaine has received several awards in dance including the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts 1st Level Scholarship and the Princess Grace Award. Jermaine has been performing with Kidd Pivot since August 2008.

Peter Chu (chuthis.)
March 20th 2021

Class Description: A chuthis. ideas class fuses my acquired research and discoveries with improvisation, composition of space, partnering exchanges coupled with Qigong & Tai Chi fundamentals. Implementing these fundamentals helps the artist deeply understand the rapid actions yet mercurial qualities prominent in my work. There are many forms of qigong practiced throughout the world and all are based on similar principles: relaxed, rooted posture; straight, supple spine; and diaphragmatic breathing. Dynamic Qigong uses breathing techniques, series of postures, and specific movements to harmonize blood flow while enhancing the connection between the internal organs and external movement.

Being introduced to these ideas will further the dancer’s gentle, tranquil approach to movement and strengthen the dancers’ emotional control and the ability to be out of control when required to do so.

The heightened mind/body familiarity, physical sensibility, and liquid-like qualities a chuthis. ideas class fosters helps influence the body to create silent and seamless-yet powerful movement. Movement without excess effort is the primary focus of this class as it helps to guide the individual to a more peaceful heart and healthy intention—building awareness and developing courage through the art of listening.

Peter Chu Biography: Born in the Bronx, NY, & raised in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Peter began his training at Dussich Dance Studio and later at The Juilliard School. In addition to an extensive performance career with BJM Danse, Kidd Pivot, and others, Peter is the Artistic Director & Choreographer of chuthis., a Las Vegas project-based dance company.

Lea Ved
April 3th 2021

Class Description: This online virtual workshop will be a sharing in creative process. We will take our time to awaken and channel a physical language through guided improvisation in your intimate space and on the floor, and then play with how this meets form and refinement in choreography.

Lea Ved is a dance artist, teacher, creator, and collaborator from the USA. Since earning her BFA from The Juilliard School, she has danced with RUBBERBANDance Group, The Royal Swedish Ballet, and is now with Nederlands Dans Theater. She has created with Victor Quijada, Alexander Ekman, Sharon Eyal, Hofesh Shechter, Wim Vandekeybus, Crystal Pite, and performed the role of “Julia” in Mats Ek’s ‘Julia and Romeo’. She has choreographed at GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, NDT’s Switch Program, and Korzo Theater.

Spenser Theberge
April 17th 2021

Class Description: This workshop will use improvisation, composition, and conversation to explore the value of presence in movement research and generation. Organization, coordination, and musicality will be at the heart of this workshop, as will individuality and inclusivity. Instead of asking ourselves to fit a prescribed mold or expectation, this class empowers the dancer first — using presence as a tool for each dancer to research their own body, own interests, and own dance values.

Spenser Theberge is a performer and creator based in Los Angeles. His work, both independently and in collaboration with partner Jermaine Spivey, has been commissioned and supported by LA Dance Project, Goteborgs Operans Danskompani, The Broad Museum, NAVEL, REDCAT, Korzo Theater, MOCA Geffen, The Frankfurt LAB, CalArts, and Springboard DanseMontreal, among others. Spenser also works as a Movement Director on projects ranging from Taylor Swift to the New York Times Magazine, and as a text writer for choreographers Alexander Ekman and Astrid Boons. He is a former company member with Nederlands Dans Theater I & II and The Forsythe Company, as well as a guest artist with Kidd Pivot, Goteborgs Operans Danskompani, the ARIAS Company, and RGWW. Spenser is currently on faculty at the CalArts School of Dance, and is a Princess Grace Award winner, a YoungArts winner, and a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

Dana Pajarillaga
April 23rd 2021 (Friday)

Roger Van der Poel
May 8th 2021

Class Description: Ballet warm-up, repertoire and discussion.

Roger Van der Poel is a Portuguese-Dutch award-winning dancer, whose dance career includes Ballet Gulbenkian, Geneva Ballet and, from 2006-2020, the acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater. As a freelance artist, he works with chuthis., teaches, coaches and stages works by NDT-associated choreographers worldwide. Roger was awarded the Dutch Zwaan for best dance performance of 2008 and the Encouragement Prize 2007 by the Stichting Dansersfonds’79 in Amsterdam.

Johannes Wieland
May 15th 2021

Class Description: i am a loser, and you, you’re a loser too. then along comes this day. it makes you invincible. but you’re still a loser. the only thing left to do is to go online to participate in a workshop with first-rate-loser johannes wieland. be prepared for physical and mental exhaustion, being turned inside out and upside down with improvisation, movement and theatricality.

Johannes Wieland hails from berlin, earned his bfa at the amsterdam university of the arts, and worked in various companies with an extensive array of choreographers before going to perform as a principal at the béjart ballet lausanne. ready for a radical change, he then relocated to new york city where he received his mfa in contemporary dance and choreography at nyu’s tisch school of the arts in 2002. his company johannes wieland, founded in new york that same year, facilitated the foundation for his body of work, and since 2006 he holds a permanent position as the artistic director and choreographer at the staatstheater kassel. aside from choreographing and teaching for companies and universities his critically acclaimed pieces have been invited to tour internationally for festivals and events. johannes is also co-directing and curating the b12 festival for contemporary dance and performance art (www.b12.space), which runs annually in berlin. he is a 1st prize winner of the kurt jooss prize, and has been awarded numerous other prizes, recognitions, scholarships, and grants. johannes is a nominee for the german theater prize der faust in 2016 for his creation you will be removed.