Urban /
Contemporary
Contemporary dance, while requiring technical skills, also gives the choreographer a large amount of freedom in musical selection, space for fusion, and room to innovate. Urban dances, music, slang, clothing, and culture, are a huge part of the fabric of my upbringing. I'm a city kid. I grew up on soul, funk, and hip hop, dancing with friends on the street, in the school yard, and along to Music Videos.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area also afforded me access to great teachers in many cultural dance styles, so my 'urban' also refers to the streets of Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. There's also tremendous access to queer/club culture, so elements of voguing, waacking, and other gay club styles peek their heads in from time to time.
Elements of many of the dance styles I've studied or am inspired by sneak their way into my choreography, and this is the place where I get to explore and celebrate them all.
Take Class
Saturdays 12-1:30pm
New Style Motherlode International
4225 Broadway Blvd, Oakland, CA
Open to Int/Adv dancers of all styles, may be suitable for enthusiastic Advanced Beginners.
Class includes a full body warm up that utilizes technical skills as well as grooves and flow. Across the floor components including turning, jumping, and floor work may be included. Exercises on solo and group improvisation give space for dancers to tune their own impulses and explore their own space. Class always includes a short choreography.
This class is great for hip hop/cultural dancers who want more technique in their trap, and technical dancers who want more funk in their trunk.
Love Letters
“This class feels great! Cera is SO musical dancing her choreo feels awesome. Her way in class is a perfect mix of energy and relaxation. No stress, all dance."
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Alanna Kelly
Mentors
Partial List:
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Luana, Graham Technique & Repertory
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Paco Gomes, Afro-Brazilian Modern & Folkloric, Choreography
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Dunham Technique: Linda Johnson Bayo, Lynn Coles, Alicia Pierce, Dr. Albirda Rose Eberhardt, Ruby Streate, Penny Godboldo, Dr. Glory Van Scott, Ms. Dunham Herself
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Portsha Jefferson, Haitian
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Allan Frias, Hip Hop
Videos
clips from class: