Hello Everyone,
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Amy Llanes, a new trainee with Sarah at Huntsville Health Movement. Some of you may have met me in class already. I have a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University. Which is where I came to meet Sarah. Sarah and the Huntsville Health Movement are sponsors of my dance company, Rednerrus Feil Dance Company, based out of Huntsville. We have been rehearsing in and around the studio for a little over a year now.
While training with Sarah, I will be teaching the Tuesday night adult movement class along with Betty Nicolay. For the month of February I will be teaching each Tuesday night, then Betty and I will begin to alternate.
I wanted to take this moment to let you know what I feel modern dance is, what you will be doing in the class, and how it will benefit you as a mover. Modern dance is mostly known as an expressive form of art. We do have a basic technique, but it is not as structured as classical ballet. I know a few of you have been introduced to some ballet forms in Sarah and Betty's Pilates classes. This is because dancers have found a way to incorporate these techniques to enhance their range of motion, their connection to their movement, their breath, their flexibility, their stability, to increase strength, to prevent injury, and to recovery from injury, the list goes on.
Modern dance has pulled several poses, exercises, and techniques from pilates and yoga. The difference to me...modern dance streams all the poses and exercises together to form one continuous phrase or sequence. I have experienced some sequencing in Sarah's class as well.
Things you have experience already...
1. spine articulation = lowering one vertebra at a time, twists
2. C curves of the spine = cat/cow, arches
3. leg swings = when you stretch the knee across the body, twists
4. sternum lifts = heart center stretches and reaches
5. heel rocks = the same
6. stretches = did them tonight in Lee's yoga class
7. foot work = in Betty's Pilates class
8. plies = the same knee bends you do with the roller in front
9. side curves = side stretches in Lee's yoga class
10. holding your center = zipping your zipper
Modern dance has adopted the breathing techniques that are so apparent in your classes and massages. Breathing is very important in maximizing your range of motion and centering your energy and motivation.
This class has been designed to tie in all the incredible techniques that you have been working with Sarah, Lee, and Betty on and giving it a little twist. I do hope that you could stop in and give us a try. We would really love to meet with you and work with you. If you have any concerned or further questions please feel free to ask.
Remember... 5:30-6:30 Tuesday nights
Hope to see you soon,
Amy Llanes