St. Louis Summer Dance Intensive | Saint Louis Dance Program | Modern Dance

12th Annual IMPULSE Dance Festival
July 9- 24, 2011

Details TBA

11th Annual IMPULSE Dance Festival
July 12- 24, 2010

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
July 10-17

The Dance Co-Op at Crestwood Plaza, St. Louis, MO
July 12-24

IMPULSE Dance Festival is a two-week dance intensive designed for advanced and intermediate adult dancers. Students participate in full day or evening workshops taught by nationally recognized guest faculty to develop technique, performance, partnering, improvisation and composition skills. IMPULSE also includes performance and choreographic opportunities.

Program Info:

Past IMPULSE artist-educators have worked with the some of the country’s most prestigious companies and choreographers including: Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Stephen Petronio, New York City Ballet, David Parsons, Dance Theater of Harlem, Momix, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Murray Louis & Alwin Nikolais, Erik Hawkins, Merv Griffin, The New York City Rockettes.

IMPULSE is specifically designed for adult dancers, college students, and young professionals. Anyone under the age of 15 must audition to participate and/or be recommended by their dance instructor. A minimum of three years of formal dance training required, at least one year in Modern dance.

$550 for full two-week program
(week 1 at SIUE, week 2 in STL)

$450 for both weeks in STL

$300 for week 1 at SIUE OR week 2 in STL

$200 for week 1 in STL (includes Rep class and performance)

$100 Rep Class (any single rep class, Janzweski at SIUE, Janzweski at the Co-Op -note this class is MWF evenings of both weeks, Alexander at SIUE or Beasley at the Co-Op)

$60 for five classes, $120 for ten classes

$15 Drop-in rate for individual classes

Pay for classes online

SIUE Dormitories
$100/week for Shared Double
$125/week for Single

SIUE Parking Passes
Must be reserved by July 1 by sending Name, Driver's License #, Make, Model, Color and License Plate number by Thursday July 1.

Students have to bring own bedding. These costs do not include a meal plan.

Additional price options available upon request

SCHOLARSHIPS & WORK STUDY
Full and partial scholarships and work study are available based on talent, financial need and availability. Professional artist rates also available.

IMPULSE Scholarships are very competitive as we receive many requests each year. A great way to receive a reduction in IMPULSE tuition is to complete an aTrek work-study.

Work-study is also limited and is far easier to get during the school year than over the summer as there is less competition for a limited number of positions. Work-study hours can be complete anytime. They accumulate and can be exchanged for a reduction or elimination in IMPULSE (or any other aTrek program) tuition.

Please contact us about completing a work-study assignment to put towards IMPULSE tuition. Work-study candidates must have completed highschool.

Download the Scholarship form here.

Email dancers@atrekdance.org with questions or concerns about a scholarship or work-study position.

Alicia Janelle Graf received her training at Ballet Royale Academy under Donna Harrington-Pidel and attended the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater summer intensives. She comes to St. Louis immediately following her role as a principal dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and prior to that with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Her guest appearances include Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, the Balanchine Celebration at Central Park SummerStage, and the Fashion Rocks Awards with Andre 3000 and Beyoncé at Radio City Music Hall. She is currently a guest writer for several dance publications including Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine and Dance Spirit. In 2007, Smithsonian Magazine named her one of 37 young American innovators of the arts and sciences.

Modern: Alicia Graf
The work in this course will be based in Horton modern dance technique. Students will engage in work from the intermediate and advanced Horton vocabulary including, “T” positions, laterals, and hinges designed to improve extensions, balances, turns and jumps. Combinations involve longer, more sophisticate movement phrases that require strength, speed, flexibility and musicality.

Mathew Janczewski (LehrerDance, Artistic Director)
Voted one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2008, Mathew Janczewski is the founder and artistic director of ARENA Dances. Mathew has danced with chore-ographers Beth Corning, Shawn McConneloug, Robin Stiehm and Cathy Young. He was a company member with Shapiro & Smith Dance and JAZZDANCE! by Danny. His continued study of ballet, hip-hop, yoga, tai-chi and modern dance continue to influence his unique blend of movement. Mathew has choreographed more than 30 contemporary works and worked on special projects and commissions for Theater Latte Da, Minnesota Opera, Repertory Project of Cleveland, St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Macalester College, State University of New York, Carleton College, University of Minnesota, St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, Perpich Center for the Arts, Walker Art Center, and Zenon Dance Company and School. Mathew received a 2005 Sage Award for “outstanding performance” for Solo Lounge and is a recipient of a 2005 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Choreographers. ARENA has been presented by the SCUBA network in Philadelphia, Symphony Space and City Center and Joyce Soho in New York, Dance St. Louis, and the L1 Dance Festival in Budapest, Hungary.

Modern: Mathew Janczweski
Explore movement using oppositional lines and full body awareness of radiating “Disco Ball” beams of light. Taking these principles and moving them in space giving awareness to dynamic energy of the movement while focusing on alignment, weight, and power.

Repertory Class: Mathew Janczweski
Taking the principles of my modern dance class we will create an original work together following its instinctual path. Dancers need to be a clear slate each day learning movement very quickly, retaining information and have the ability to change it up when needed. Improvisational skills are necessary to play off of the movement I create with the ability to take directions on the rules or objectives of what I am looking for with that play.Partnering/contact improvisational skills are essential. And perhaps the most important ability is to make the movement your own- what does it mean to you? how are you communicating the emotion of the movement to each other and the audience?

Paula Young David’s performing credits include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Lynda Martha Dance Company and the Lake Shore Dance Theatre. While performing with HSDC, under the artistic direction of Lou Conte, she worked with choreographers Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington, David Parsons, Richard Levi, John McFall, Rick Hilsabeck, Lou Conte and Claire Bataille. Over the last 20 years, she taught at several Chicago area studios including the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Dance Centre North, Northbrook Dance Centre, Sedala School of Dance, School of Dance West Ballet, and Bonnie Ardelean School of Dance. In 1997 she co-founded the Dance Academy of Libertyville and directed the Terpsichore Dance Ensemble. Paula successfully choreographed 10 original contemporary pieces for the company as well as co-produced the ballets, Coppelia and Giselle. She has set works on the Boca Ballet Theatre and Dance West Ballet. In 2002, Paula was asked to revive “Rodin Impressions”, an original piece performed by Hubbard Street and choreographed by Lou Conte, on dancers, Iasabele Melo Elefson (former soloist with Sao Paulo Ballet of Brazil) and Michael Anderson (former soloist with the Joffrey Ballet) for Boca Ballet Theatre.

Ballet: Paula Young David
This class is designed to refine the technique of the contemporary dancer. Since ballet is the foundation of all dance, emphasis will be placed on keeping its traditions, while at the same time taking into consideration the versatility of the current day dancer. The class is influenced by the ballet training offered to Hubbard Street Dance Company, since the teacher trained and performed with the company.

Jennifer Medina began her dance training in St. Louis, MO with Barbara Craig. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and an MFA in Dance from the University of Iowa. As a performer, Jennifer has had the privilege of performing the choreography of artists such as: Bill T. Jones, David Parsons, Sean Curran, Hanya Holm, William Whitener, Milton Myers, Fred Benjamin, Kevin “Iega” Jeff, and many others with her time as a performer with the Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance Company. As an educator, Jennifer has taught throughout the U.S. at many institutions and festivals, both as regular faculty and a guest artist. Faculty positions include Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Arias Dance NYC, The Kansas City Ballet School, Webster University, the Glenda Brown Choreography Project, and multiple studios throughout the NYC area. Guest teaching includes the Virginia School of the Arts, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Washington University, Ball State University, RDA Southeast Regional Festival (SERBA), multiple ACDFA festivals, and the Georgia Athletic Health, Recreation and Dance Association. As a choreographer, Jennifer has been presented throughout the U.S. Recent works have been commissioned by the Virginia School of the Arts, Arova Contemporary Ballet (Birmingham, AL), Missouri Contemporary Ballet , and Independence (invitational performance) at the City Center, NYC. Jennifer was recently invited to teach in the 2011 Alvin Ailey American Dance Center Summer Intensive and choreograph a work on their students. Jennifer is very happy to be back in her hometown sharing her teaching and choreography after a 6 year absence. Look for her new company, Common Thread Dance to premiere in STL this year.

Modern: Jennifer Medina
Jennifer Medina’s modern technique class is a dynamic integration of multiple dance forms. The class structure is drawn from the roots of ballet technique and the technique of Lester Horton. Movement vocabulary for the class comes from both traditional movement as well as new and inventive material, reflective of the needs of today’s dance artist. This contemporary dance class will inspire you to find a greater sense of purpose in your dancing, as well as a visceral experience that is challenging both physically and mentally. Jennifer is a passionate educator that believes in respecting all dancers on their journey of self-expression.

Geoffrey Alexander began working with the aTrek Dance Collective in 2007 performing in repertory pieces by former Bill T Jones company member, Germaul Barnes. Since then he has performed with aTrek at Dancing in the Streets, the St. Louis Dance Festival, National Dance Week and in their annual company concerts. He toured this past year with aTrek;s Moving Through Science program performing the role of Sir Isaac Newton. He also has had the honor of performing in the American College Dance Festivals Gala Concert in 2007 and 2010. Now with a BA in Theatre and Dance Geoffrey plans to continue teaching dance while pursuing his professional dance career.

Repertory Class: Geoffrey Alexander
This contemporary repertory class will combine modern, ballet, and jazz techniques with hip hop influences. Along with focusing on musicality, rhythm, and isolation, dancers will be challenged to find a rawness and an individualized artistry that is seen in hip hop.

Summer Beasley received a BFA in Dance from Webster University and an MFA in Theater w/an emphasis in movement from Lindenwood University. Her work has been showcased in Washington D.C., Seattle, Kansas City, MO and extensively in St. Louis. She produced, directed, and choreographed In Concert (2004), Panorama (2007) and has collaborated with other St. Louis choreographers to produce Gramo Danse (2006). She is currently on faculty at MICDS.

Repertory Class: Summer Beasley
In this class you will learn movement, manipulate movement and explore new ways of thinking about movement. The movement taught will focus more on how the movement feels in the body rather than how the movement looks on the body. We will work together to create spatial patterns and timing throughout the piece. Although no one can say how this piece will turn out, you can expect the movement to be athletic, organic and unrefined.

Pamela Moodys is the owner of Integrated Body Studio, LLC in Glen Carbon, Illinois, which specializes in one-on-one training in Classical Pilates Method (certified 1993 by Romana Kryzanowska at the New York Pilates Studio), Yoga and Yoga Therapy (certified by International Association of Yoga Therapists), and several types of somatics-related modes (Laban, Gyrokinesis and Feldenkrais). She received her Masters in Kinesiology from SIUE in 1999. Pamela works with all levels of fitness, abilities and goals - from professional dancers to athletes to post-injury clientele. In addition to training at the Studio, Pamela also develops exercise prescriptions tailored to client's needs so that they can continue their training when they are not in the Studio.

You can find more information on Pamela or the Studio at www.integratedbodystudio.com.

2009 - Guest Faculty:
Alicia Graf (Alivin Ailey, Dance Theater of Harlem)
Jon Lehrer (LehrerDance, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Erik Hawkins Dance Co)

2008 - Guest Faculty:
Mathew Janczweski (ArenaDances, Shapiro and Smith)
Jon Lehrer (LehrerDance, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Erik Hawkins Dance Co)

2007 - Guest Faculty:
Germaul Barnes (Bill T Jones)

2006 - Guest Faculty:
Germaul Barnes (Bill T Jones)

2005 - Guest Faculty:
Alexandra Beller (Bill T Jones)
Lisa Race (Race Dance and David Dorfman)
Adele Meyers (Momix and Joy Kellman/Co.)

2005 - Guest Faculty:
Todd Williamsr (Stephen Petronio and New York City Ballet)
Amy Marshall ( Paul Taylor and David Parsons)
Kim Epifano (Contraband, Epifany Productions)