Classes
My dance career has taken me around the world to perform, teach and choreograph. But everywhere I go, I always try to find time to go take a class. I love training and I find discovering new teachers and styles inspiring and one of the most fulfilling things to do on my free time.
So if you ever find yourself somewhere other than home and you feel like dancing, you can safely walk in my footsteps and try these awesome classes!
EUROPE
- Paris
- London
- Rome
- Kiev
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- Montreal (coming)
ASIA
- Tokyo
- Mexico (coming)
- Buenos Aires (coming)
- Rio de Janeiro (coming)
OTHERS
- Reunion Island
EUROPE
- Paris
The studios that offer a large choice of open classes are Studio Harmonic, LAX Studio, Heartpoint, Centre des Arts Vivants, Juste Debout School, Paris Centre (Rick Odums). Studio Harmonic is one of the most famous studios amongst professional dancers. It's been around for decades. That's where I used to be found 6 days a week when I started dancing. LAX Studio and Heartpoint are newer but nonetheless excellent studios located right next to each other which makes it convenient to train as a versatile dancer. While LAX offers a variety of hip hop classes and is now the landing studio for international instructors to teach at when they're touring around the world, Heartpoint offers quality Contemporary Jazz classes and a professional training program.
As far as teachers, I'd recommend Wayne Byars for Ballet (everybody, from the professional modern/jazz/contemporary dancers to the Paris Opera Ballet dancers loves him!), Laurence Fanon for Ballet/Floor Barre/Partnering (also an amazing teacher... her floor barre will put your body in check!), Corinne Lanselle for Contemporary (you have to try her class!) (as well as Bruno Collinet, Bruno Agati when they're guest teaching), Dominique Lesdema (the director of the Heartpoint studio and my mentor... a phenomenal dancer/choreographer, also teaches Hip Hop, House Dance and Jazz Rock) (as well as Alain Gruttadauria when he's visiting), for Hip Hop, there are soooo many classes and styles : for "commercial" hip hop, Zack Reece, Nicolas Huchard, Jerky Jessy, Mehdi Kerkouche, Marion Mottin (when she's guest teaching), for Hip Hop, Joseph Go, Niako, Meech, Fabrice Labrana aka Fabbreezy, Aminata and many more; for House Dance, Didier Tijo Aimé, Rabah, NYC's own Ejoe, the Serial Stepperz crew members like Kapela, Mamson, Yugson ; for Popping, Bruce Ykanji, Frankey; for Locking P-Lock, Junior, Hakim Hachouche; for BBoying, Arnaud Deprez, Adison, Laos...
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You will also want to look into First Act's guest teachers schedule. A good friend of mine who danced for years in the Caracas Opera Ballet company, opened that great and friendly studio right outside Paris and she regularly invites internationally thought after instructors. It's absolutely worth the 20-minute train ride!
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Organisations of artists also organise monthly affordable workshops with guest teachers : Les rendez-vous parisiens.
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The Centre National de la Danse, located right outside Paris in Pantin also has great studios and hosts regular workshops.
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La Ménagerie de verre also has daily trainings for professional contemporary dancers and workshops
- London
You will find a large choice of open classes at Studio 68 , Pineapple Studios...
- Rome
Like the old saying goes : "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".
Well, Romans like taking classes at Kledi Dance, Planet Sport, IALS.
For Contemporary Jazz, you'll want to look Silvia Martiradonna, Giuliano Peparini, Veronica Peparini, Sabatino d'Eustacchio & Federica Angelozzi, Bruno Centola... For Hip Hop, Francesca Cecchini...
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- Florence
Florence has a great professional school called Opus Ballet, directed by Daniel Tinazzi and Rosanna Brocanello. They offer both professional programs and open classes + regular workshops during which they invite international instructors.
- Milan
Daniele Ziglioli
Francesco Saracino
- Naples
Gravina Dance (Macia Del Prete)
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- Kiev (coming)
Myway
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USA
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- New York City
I've spent close to half of my life in New York, I've always enjoyed taking classes at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, Steps. You'll also find very good classes at the Alvin Ailey Extension (their studios with huge windows are out of a dance fantasy).
Now teachers are going to determine where you'll want to take class.
I have been a regular student in many classes. Ballet, Jazz, Theater Dance, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop... I'm going to give you a list of teachers you can look for, starting with a style that is very specific to New York : Theater Dance. With Broadway musicals being such a big industry, some teachers specialize into training those Broadway performers and helping them not just getting their technique on point but also bringing together their performing skills, adding storytelling to their choreography. My mentor and friend, David Marquez is one of them. His class is a lot of dancers' favorite and he has inspired generations of performers in the 20 years he's been teaching at Broadway Dance Center. You can also look for Josh Bergasse, Andy Blankenbuehler, Al Blackstone, Richard Pierlon or even Chet Walker if he happens to be guest teaching.
Going on with Jazz/Contemporary Jazz, you can safely drop into Shelly Hutchinson's class, or look for Chris Hale, Calen Kurka, Tracie Stanfield, Cecilia Marta, Emily Bufferd, Wes Veldink, my french friend (who also hired me for my first dance job) Brice Mousset, Suzi Taylor or my dance mom Michele Assaf if she is teaching.
If you're a commercial dancer (Hip hop/street jazz), you can look for Rhapsody, Luam, Mishay, Jared Grimes, Jermaine Browne, Valentine Norton.
If you want to refine your hip hop technique I'd say start looking for Brian Green. If he's not around (he travels a lot) check out Future, Eric Negron, Anthony Rue II aka AntBoogie and other members from the Amount Boyz... For House Dance, Waacking, Voguing : there again Brian Green would be the reference, also my favorites are Archie Burnett, Javier Ninja, Princess Lockerooo, Melanie L. Aguirre...
If you want to pick up tap, you can start with Germaine Salsberg, Jared Grimes teaches classes that are a little more advanced.
For Ballet, there are many options too. A lot of people enjoy taking class with Nancy Bielski, Kat Wildish and Dorit Koppel as well as Fabrice Herault or Kenny Larson.
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- Los Angeles
Most dance studios are located in North Hollywood (NoHo): Movement Lifestyle (the newest studio opened by choreographer Shaun Evaristo), Millennium (close to Movement Lifestyle), Debbie Reynolds Studio (a little further away from the North Hollywood station... if you're using public transportation, you'll have to take a bus - 10 minutes ride on the 224 or 162/163).
There is also another major studio located in the Hollywood area : Edge Performing Arts Center.
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For great Contemporary Jazz classes, look for Mandy Moore, Sabrina Philip, Stacey Tookey, Nick Lanzisera, Teddy Forance, Justin Giles...
For commercial styles : I'd recommend Dana Foglia (and members of her company), Mishay, Gigi Torres, Shaun Evaristo, Kevin Maher, Mariel and Keone Madrid, Lando Wilkins, Tony Tzar, Mykell Wilson, Brian and Scott Nicholson, Ricky Lam, Tovaris Wilson, David Moore...
For Hip Hop, you HAVE to take Superdave's classes.
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CANADA
- Vancouver (coming)
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- Montreal (coming)
ASIA
- Tokyo
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- Singapore
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- Hong Kong (coming)
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- Bangkok
If you're in Bangkok, you have to check out a new studio called Stories to Tales Theatre and try a bungee workout or a vertical wall class. I recently taught a master class there and I have to say that trying those classes while I was in Thailand was just the cherry on top! It just brings another dimension to your dancing and if you always dreamed of performing in a Cirque du Soleil show, this class is for you!
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Other dance studios are Zoom and Rumpuree
SOUTH AMERICA
- Mexico (coming)
- Buenos Aires (coming)
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- Rio de Janeiro (coming)
OTHERS
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- Reunion Island
- Niger
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