Classes

9th ANNUAL IMPULSE DANCE FESTIVAL
Starts July 14, 2008
Centene Center for Arts & Education
Directions & Parking
St. Louis, Missouri

IMPULSE is a two-week dance intensive designed especially for college students, adults and young professional dancers. Students participate in full day and/or evening workshops taught by nationally recognized guest artists to develop their technique, improvisation, composition and performance skills. IMPULSE also includes faculty and student performances and guest lectures on topics relevant to the developing dance artist. Information about our 2008 program coming soon. For more information take a look at previous years programs, 2007 Program Info .

GUEST ARTISTS:

Mathew Janczewski (Arena Dances, Artistic Director)
Mathew Janczewski is a Chicago native who began his early dance training at DanceCenter North. At age 19, he moved to the Twin Cities and began his training at the University of Minnesota. There he performed in the works of Doug Varone, Bill T. Jones, Mark Morris, Bebe Miller, Merce Cunningham and many more. He received his BFA in Dance in 1994. Mathew has danced with a variety of Minnesota choreographers, including Beth Corning, Shawn McConneloug, Robin Stiehm and Cathy Young. He was a company member of Shapiro & Smith Dance and JAZZDANCE! by Danny Buraczeski for five years with both companies.

Since 1992, Mathew has choreographed more than 30 contemporary works. His continued studies of ballet, hip-hop, yoga, tai-chi and modern dance continue to influence his blend of movement. In 2005 Mathew joined forces with Theater Latte Da and choreographed an original dance theater work Bankrupt City Ballad to a live big band; with text by Kira Obolensky and directed by Peter Rothstein. Following Ugly at the Walker Art Center, Mathew will be choreographing for the Minnesota Opera’s production of Rusalka in April of 2008. ARENA is in the studio as well remounting the 2001 show waterBRIDGE taking place at the Southern Theater May 8-10, 2008 and a show at the Southern in October with the string quartet, ETHEL.

Over the years Mathew has been recognized by the McKnight and Jerome Foundation, Land O’ Lakes Foundation, Target Foundation, Faegre & Benson Foundation, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Foundation for Contemporary Performing Arts, receiving General Operating Support and Artists Fellowships to create and explore new works. Mathew received a 2005 Sage Award for “outstanding performance” for Solo Lounge. Mathew Janczewski is a recipient of a 2005 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Choreographers, administered by the Southern Theater and funded by the McKnight Foundation. In Fall 2006 ARENA celebrated its Tenth year Anniversary at the Southern Theater.

Several companies in the United States have performed Mathew’s distinctive movement. Special projects and commissions have included choreography for the Repertory Project of Cleveland, St. Olaf College, St. Paul Conservatory for the Arts,Gustavus Adolphus College, Macalester College, Hamline University, State University of New York - Potsdam, State University of New York - Brockport, Carleton College, University of Minnesota, Perpich Center for the Arts, Walker Art Center, and Zenon Dance Company and School.

JON LEHRER (LehrerDance, Artistic Director )
Prior to launching his company, Jon was the Associate Director and Resident Choreographer of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (GJDC). He has also danced professionally with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, John Passafiume Dancers, Merv Griffin's “Funderful” , and in the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.

Jon has created works for companies around the world including GJDC, Thodos Dance Chicago, Instruments of Movement, Momenta Dance Theatre, Dancers from the Joffrey Ballet, Le Jazz Groupe from Monterrey, Mexico, and Kannon Dance of St. Petersburg, Russia. Jon has also set work at the University at Buffalo, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Nevada Reno, East Central University, Northern Illinois University and others. In 2002 Jon was one of four Chicago choreographers selected to participate in the first ever Dance Chicago Choreography Project.

Jon is on the Advisory Board of Dance Spirit Magazine and was featured on the November 2007 cover of Dance Teacher Magazine. He continues to teach master classes throughout the U.S. and around the world, is on the faculty of the Jazz Dance World Congress, Dance Masters of America, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Chicago Dance Connection, and is a guest artist at numerous colleges around the country

Jon's Class Description: these classes will focus on the 4 main elements of the LehrerDance style: Circularity, Momentum, 3-Dimensionality, and Athleticism. Dancers will experience a class that engages their entire physicality, combining elements of ballet, modern, and jazz to achieve a more efficient and engrossing method of movement and expression. More Info on Jon Lehrer, LehrerDance and company members.