Frequently Asked Questions:

Modern Dance began in the early 20^th century as a departure from the traditions of Classical Ballet.  While Ballet is often light and airy, Modern Dance uses both "gravity" and "air" to create contrasts when dancing.  We practice in bare feet, which helps ground us to the earth. Ballet is often limited to a specific code of steps, while modern dancers are encouraged to discover new ways of moving through active exploration.   The movement possibilities are limitless.  Much of our training as modern dancers is heavily influenced by Ballet.  For example, many warm-up exercises (plies, tendues, degages) have been adopted from Ballet.  The study of Modern Dance encourages creative expression, good posture, balance, discipline and strong muscles.  We use our breath to illuminate our dancing and leave plenty of room for self-expression.  Choreography may tell a story, focus on an idea or simply use the body to express an abstract thought.  There is ample room to create unique work.  Modern Dance can be studied independently or as a compliment to other dance styles. 

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 with Dani Nikas and Dancers, among others and choreographed her own work for many years in Metropolitan New York before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2002.  Currently, she studies Limon-influenced modern technique with Katherine Wildberger and Vinyasa Yoga at Living Seed in New Paltz.  In addition, she takes workshops at Movement Research in NYC, and continues to watch as many live dance concerts as possible.  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.  In addition to teaching classes at Barefoot (see schedule for details), she also directs the Barefoot Dance Company.

June Omura has been a life-long student of ballet and a career-long member of the Mark Morris Dance Group, which she joined in 1988 when Mark Morris was invited to be the resident choreographer of Le Theatre Royal de la Monnaie, in Brussels, Belgium.  She toured the world as a full-time company member for the next two decades, creating roles throughout the repertory--from "L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato" and "The Hard Nut" while still in Brussels, to the 2007 "Orfeo ed Euridice" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.  She is featured in the film "Falling Down Stairs," which was a collaboration between Mark Morris and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and in 2005 she was honored with a New York Dance and Performance Award ("Bessie") for her work with the company. 

When not taking company ballet class with Mark Morris and performing occasionally with him (including "L'Allegro" at the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center in August and "The Hard Nut" in December, 2010, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music), June now lives and studies in New Paltz with her husband and their three wonderful children.  She has taught ballet, Mark Morris repertory, and modern dance in workshops and master classes across the country, and is very pleased to be teaching a ballet class to the students at Barefoot Dance Center. 

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.

last updated 07/20/2010