2026 Masterclass Schedule

9:30-10:30 AM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

Dance alongside the Wellspring company in this open company class. Participants will explore the company's approach to movement through a selection of floorwork exercises inspired by Erick Hawkins' principles. We will then transition into standing work to apply these same principles, and time permitting, the class will conclude with learning a short phrase from the company's repertoire. 

9:30-10:30 AM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

Countertechnique, developed by Anouk van Dijk, is a movement system and practice for the body and mind that supports dancers in meeting the demands of contemporary practice. Through structured exercises, it prepares the body for rehearsal and performance, cultivating dynamic balance that enables movement to be bigger, freer, and more flexible.

2:45-4:00 PM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

​​The goal of this class is to utilize improvisation as a tool to stimulate creativity, and connection. Creative and poetic prompts based around themes in nature will encourage participants to investigate internally and then to expand awareness to include and respond to other happenings in the room. Participants will workshop prompts both as individuals, and in small groups, engaging in collaboration to craft something new. This class is a creative hybrid of dance improvisation, composition and general art-making, providing an opportunity to co-create with your fellow festival attendees!

9:30-10:30 AM, Ballet Kalamazoo

Designed specifically for dancers, this class focuses on key areas such as hip mobility, hamstring flexibility, and spinal alignment. We will target the muscles and joints that dancers use most, helping you build strength and increase your flexibility in a safe, intentional way. Through conscious breathwork and movement, you'll develop a deeper connection to your body, allowing for smoother, more controlled transitions in your dancing.

10:45-12:00 PM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

Contemporary Jazz blends the fluidity and expression of contemporary dance with the dynamic rhythms and stylization of jazz. This class focuses on musicality, grounded movement, and versatility, helping dancers build both technical skill and performance quality.

10:45-12:00 PM, Ballet Kalamazoo

As a teacher I am fascinated by where movement comes from (especially in the realm of contemporary dance practices). Utilizing elements of classic Modern Techniques (Limon, Cunningham, etc.), David Zambrano’s flying low technique, postmodern techniques, improvisational practices, and a current practice in house dance, my class fuses elements that I value in a performer: fluidity, dynamic energy, rhythmic acuity, and full-bodied awareness. We will start with a floor-based warm-up through a series of exercises to cultivate strength, flexibility, and spatial awareness.  As the class progresses we will work through three-dimensional pathways, moving through space and in and out of the floor. There will be some center work, heart pounding cardio, and rhythmic across the floor. The class will culminate in a final phrase of movement incorporating all the material from class. We will aim for movement in its fullest embodied potential, while remembering joy as our primary directive.

1:30-3:45 PM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

Contemporary Flow is a sweaty class designed to activate the body’s intuitive impulses and the thrill of bodies flying together. Beginning with guided improvisations to increase sensorial-awareness, joint articulation, and potential pathways, class will build into fast-paced exercises that challenge reactivity and coordination. Using principles from Flying Low, Bartenieff Fundamentals, and release technique, dancers will move expansively in the floor, air, and each other’s space.

1:30-2:45 PM, Ballet Kalamazoo

Closed Eyes Exploration is a trust-building and reflex-crafting class structured around a staple training exercise from Contact Improvisation. The logic of the classic exercise of leading around a closed-eyed partner taken to its fullest conclusion. The four exercises are:

The Classic – an open-eyed person leads, guides, or cues a closed-eyed person by way of tactile input.

Lead by Touch – swapping sights, the now closed-eyed person is led by the now open-eyed person.

Trust Through Touch – the closed-eyed person leads, guides, or cues an open-eyed person by way of tactile input. Interpreting Impulse – swapping sights, the now open-eyed person is led by the now closed-eyed person.

10:00-11:45 PM, Ballet Kalamazoo

Somatic Contemporary Ballet is an inclusive, somatic, and holistic approach to ballet instruction that integrates the principles of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and Bartenieff Fundamentals (BF). This comprehensive class is designed to enhance participants' understanding of their individual physicality while exploring fundamental kinesthetic concepts such as body connectivity, dimensional quality, spatial intent, and somatic awareness. Participants are encouraged to cultivate an ongoing curiosity about movement and to embark on a journey of self-discovery. This class not only enhances technical proficiency but also nurtures a deeper, more nuanced understanding of one's physical capabilities and expressive potential.

11:30-12:45 PM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

This class explores how to expand movement outward in all directions of space in order to move with freedom and efficiency. We will combine soft-acrobatic floorwork with other release-based contemporary practices to move in and out of the floor with power and ease.

11:30-12:45 PM, Judy Jolliffe Theatre

Our class offers an immersive window into our creative process, welcoming all bodies and movement backgrounds. Rooted in improvisation, we draw on nature as a generative force to guide participants out of the head and into embodied expression. Beginning with a somatic warm-up, we gradually build toward intuitive, dynamic movement inspired by seasonal imagery and physical textures (e.g., winter’s dense muscularity). The class then shifts into phrase work from our repertoire and introduces our concept of “solo duets”—non-synchronized partnering shaped by physical intuition and shared presence.

Drawing on years of training in Gaga, contemporary dance, yoga, and Pilates, our teaching integrates meditation, stretching, improvisation vocabulary, and play. This holistic approach nurtures creativity, connection, and safe exploration while supporting deeper intuitive listening and providing tools to expand improvisation and partnering skills—both individually and collectively.