Adult Classes

2019-2020 Adult Classes

Fall Term: September 9-December 15, 2019
Winter/Spring Term: January 6-May 17, 2020

All drop-in classes that take place at ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios (721 Broad Street) are $15 to drop in with class cards available for a discounted rate, advance registration not required.

Class pass/class card information

Regular 5 class pass – *expires 6 months from first use* – $65 – ($13 per class)
Regular 10 class passes – *expires 6 months from first use* – $120 – ($12 per class)
Student/teacher 5 class pass (ID required) – *expires 1 year from first use* – $60 – ($12 per class)
Student/teacher 10 class pass (ID required) – *expires 1 year from first use* – $110 – ($11 per class)

When you use up your 10 class pass, you will be sent a personalized coupon for $10 off your next class card as a thank you for dancing with us!

For upcoming workshops click HERE.

2019-2020 Drop-in Classes at ADF’s studios

Fall Term: September 9-December 15, 2019
Winter/Spring Term: January 6-May 17, 2020

cunningham-based technique with Justin Tornow

FALL TERM: Mondays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 7:00–8:30pm

Justin’s classes are based in Cunningham Technique, taught through a contemporary lens. We will move through the traditional standing class sequence with a focus on energy management and anatomically-based placement. The practice we seek is grounded in an easy curiosity and experimentation—we’ll dissect technical movements into do-able formats, and get a handle on some of the philosophical foundations of the technique. It’s my belief that Cunningham class is a site for freedom and play, all while deepening a connection with your inner technician.

Community moves – Basic WITH Megan Yankee – Enrollment OPTION

FALL TERM: Tuesdays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 5:30-6:45pm
WINTER/SPRING TERM: Tuesdays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 5:30-6:45pm (8 week series repeating)

Community Moves: Basic is an intersectional, intergenerational modern dance class designed to unite people of all experiences levels through movement (including beginners!). Students can expect exercises to be taught at a gradual, gentle pace that focuses on developmental movement patterning, balance, breathing, and simple choreography. Megan offers exercises in such a way that empowers students to individually modify movements for more or less challenge. Students are encouraged to interact, help each other create mini-dances, and celebrate their unique and shared movement experiences throughout class. In addition to focusing on precision, the class is intended to embolden new movers and provide a gentle weekly practice for more experienced movers at the same time.

MODERN JAZZ with Tracey Durbin

Wednesdays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 6:30-8:00pm

This soulful modern-jazz class equips dancers with a strong technical foundation while focusing on lowering the dancers’ center of gravity and syncopating movement with a blend of latin, modern, ballet, and jazz. This intense fluid class emphasizes the relationship between music and movement and inspires dancers to feel movement from the inside out, keeping you engaged, sweaty, and inspired.

Community moves – OPEN WITH GERRI HOULIHAN

Sundays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 1:00–2:30pm

Join us for this joyful movement class for adults with some dance background and an interest in continuing and developing their movement skills. The class begins with stretching and strengthening exercises on the floor, and progresses to movement sequences traveling through space. Whether your last dance class was 10 weeks ago or 10 years ago, we encourage you to join us in this supportive and enthusiastic class environment.

For adult beginners, we strongly recommend Community Moves – BASIC with Megan Yankee on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:45pm.

REGISTER ONLINE for Drop-ins at ADF Studios

2019-2020 Adult Enrollment Classes

Price: $96 to enroll for the full 8 week series. Must reach minimum enrollment to run.*
*Once minimum enrollment is met, class will open for drop-ins and regular drop-in class cards and rates will apply.

Alexander Technique In Motion: A mid-day restorative Practice with Glenna Batson – Enrollment class

WINTER/SPRING TERM: Mondays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 12:30-1:15pm (8 week series)

This class is designed for those wanting to put a potent pause in a busy day. The class will draw from the Alexander Technique – an approach to understanding postural support and reducing mind-body stresses in everyday living. You’ll gain an appreciation for ease in simple functional movements. You’ll learn how brain and body work together in unique ways for mindful standing, sitting, walking and even resting. The “easercises” are designed to shift your thinking from stressful reactions to becoming more present and supported. The ease and effortlessness you learn in class will restore a sense of peaceful and pleasurable embodiment. What you take home, you can practice in daily living, offering you a means of transforming stress on the go. All are welcome to join this lunch-time series at any point.

Afro-Horton Technique with Jasmine Powell – Enrollment class

WINTER/SPRING TERM: Mondays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 6:30-8:00pm (8 week series)

Drawing on traditional West African and modern-based Horton practices, dancers will activate muscle groups through codified exercises involving fast-and-slow-twitch muscle sequences present in both dynamic styles. Our focus will be incorporating grounded rhythmic syncopation along with lengthened suspensions through precision and strength. Layering sequences with body isolations, each weekly combination will foster full-bodied physicality and expression, which will explore the organic embodiment of converging dance forms.

Community moves – Basic WITH Megan Yankee – Enrollment class

FALL TERM: Tuesdays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 5:30-6:45pm
WINTER/SPRING TERM: Tuesdays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 5:30-6:45pm (8 week series repeating)

By popular demand, we are bringing this special enrollment class to the space as an extension of our wildly popular Community Moves – Open class! This class is suitable for adult beginners with little to no dance experience.

Int/Adv Contemporary studio practice with Megan Yankee – Enrollment class

WINTER/SPRING TERM: Tuesdays at ADF’s SHS Studios, 7:00-8:30pm (8 week series)

Join Megan for a studio practice that explores and refines releasing techniques, improvisation, sequentiality, spirals, momentum, as well as off-center and upside-down play. Class begins on the floor, progresses through developmental movement patterns, then gradually rises to dynamic center and traveling phrases. Material is approached in a manner that douses competitiveness in favor of encouraging curiosity and knowledge-sharing among a supportive community of intermediate/advanced movers.

REGISTER ONLINE for full term enrollment

parkinson’s movement initiative

American Dance Festival is proud to offer Parkinson’s Movement Initiative classes in partnership with NC Dance for Parkinson’s and Poe Wellness Solutions and supported by a community grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation. Through this support, all classes offered through the Parkinson’s Movement Initiative are free for people living with PD and their caregivers.

Additional support provided by Lyna J. Rogers Fund of Triangle Community Foundation in memory of Betty Y. Powell.

FALL TERM: September 9-December 15, 2019
WINTER/SPRING TERM: January 6-May 17, 2020

Pilates for parkinson’s with meg poe

Mondays, 2-3:15pm
Wednesdays, 2-3:15pm

Pilates for Parkinson’s consists of a warm-up focusing on alignment, exercises challenging strength and balance, and a cool-down for stretching and relaxation. All exercises are explained and demonstrated with options for beginners as well as more advanced participants. Time is spent seated in a chair, standing with the wall or a chair for support, and on the floor. Each class explores new ideas for improving strength, flexibility, and balance.

All people with Parkinson’s and/or PD care partners are invited!
**This is a FREE class, but you must PRE-REGISTER to participate. Hope to see you there!

About the instructor: Meg Poe is dedicated to health and happiness through movement and mindful living. She is a Duke-certified Integrative Health Coach, a Registered Yoga Teacher, and a certified Pilates instructor with a Masters degree in Exercise Physiology from UNC Chapel Hill. She has been directly involved in educating and training students in the integration of mindful, healthy movement for over 25 years.

Dance for parkinson’s with Susan Saenger and Lindsay Voorhees

Fridays, 11-11:50am *NEW*
Sundays, 3-4:15pm

NC Dance for Parkinson’s is modeled after the Dance for PD® program, developed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and Brooklyn Parkinson Group, and our teachers have attended their training workshops in Brooklyn. Although the class conveys the benefits of exercise, it also highly values the creative expression, aesthetics, and artistry that are at the core of dance as an art form. Participants will learn choreography in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, and cultural/folk, and have opportunities to improvise and create unique movement sequences. A typical class includes movement done seated, standing, and locomoting, with adaptations offered based on each individual’s level of comfort and mobility. Participants dance together, in partnerships, and at times, solo. In addition to dance, the teachers utilize related art forms such as theatre games, poetry, image-based mindfulness, and storytelling to foster creative and expressive experiences. The class also promotes a sense of community where isolation is broken and meaningful connections are formed through the joy of dance.

All people with Parkinson’s and/or PD care partners are invited!
**This is a FREE class, but you must PRE-REGISTER to participate. Hope to see you there!

About the instructors: NC Dance for Parkinson’s is co-directed by Lindsay Voorhees and Susan Saenger. Lindsay has her MS in Occupational Therapy and a BA in Psychology and she is currently a licensed occupational therapist. Susan has a BA in Biology and an MA in Dance/Movement Therapy, is also a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, and a licensed professional counselor. Lindsay and Susan co-teach the Dance for Parkinson’s classes and were both trained by David Leventhal of the Mark Morris Dance for PD® program.

register online for Parkinson’s movement Initiative

More information can be found on the Rates & Policies page.

You can book classes from our new mobile app!