Barefoot Dance Center opened its doors in the summer of 2003. The studio, conveniently located on Route 9W in West Park, NY, offers modern dance classes to people of all ages. Our youngest students are toddlers who join with their parents in discovering how their amazing bodies move through space. Three to five year old girls and boys take Creative Movement classes to capture and develop their artistic expression. As children grow older, they learn specific dance skills as they continue to build their own movement vocabularies. Older kids and teens are challenged with a more rigorous technical training, while continuing their personal explorations through improvisation and composition. Every student at Barefoot dances, collaborates and choreographs. We emphasize healthy alignment, skill-building and the creative process in a supportive environment. We also host professional guest teachers. Exciting classes in Modern, Yoga, West African, Ballet and other dance forms are offered to children and adults.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
What
is Modern Dance?
Modern Dance began in the early 20th century as a departure from the traditions of Classical Ballet. Though much of the movement vocabulary is the same, Modern Dance offers more room for movement research and creativity. Dancers work with bare feet and are free to discover new ways to move at all times. The movement possibilities are limitless. The study of Modern Dance also encourages good posture and balance, discipline and strong muscles. Modern Dance can be studied independently or as a compliment to other dance styles.
Who
is Jessie Levey?
Jessie
Levey, Barefoot's founder, director and principal teacher, studied different forms of Modern Dance and Cecchetti Ballet throughout her life in New York City and at Sarah Lawrence College. She performed and choreographed for many years in Metropolitan New York before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2002. Her prior teaching experience includes positions at Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Poly Prep Lower School and Dalton School. She also taught in myriad public schools through Lincoln Center Institute. Jessie also directed a teenage dance company for 10 years. Her eclectic style combines her greatest influences: Cunningham, Limon & Release Techniques, Yoga and Pilates.Who
studies at Barefoot?
Barefoot welcomes girls, boys and adults of all different sizes, shapes and backgrounds to dance in a non-competitive environment. Students come from New Paltz, Gardiner, Highland, Ulster Park, Port Ewen, Marlboro, Kingston, Rosendale, Tillson, Carmel, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, Hyde Park, Clintondale and Poughkeepsie.
Are there hidden costs?
No.
The annual registration fee and the class fees are the only costs.
What
is unique about Barefoot?
Barefoot trains dancers and choreographers
with special attention given to alignment. Dancers are asked to work within their own natural range. With healthy placement of bones and joints, muscles work more efficiently and fewer injuries occur. Students are never asked to over-turnout or to lift their legs too high, thereby putting unnecessary strain on hip and knee joints. We aim to make dancing a healthy and joyful experience.Students
learn important technical skills while also developing their movement pallet
through improvisation. Students
experience the thrill of choreographing their own dances.
At Barefoot, we discuss themes, forms, structures and work to become
stronger dance makers. Each term culminates in a performance celebrating the
student’s hard work. Barefoot is
not a competition school. We are
artists focusing on the creative process.
last updated 04/30/2008
