Spring 2012 Schedule
Coming up...
The next introductory course for Beginners and Back-to-Basics Fresh Starters will begin in April. Two sections are tentatively scheduled: Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:00 (beginning April 17), and Thursdays 7:30 - 8:30 (beginning April 19). The course will run for eleven weeks.
For continuing beginners, advanced beginners, and shaky intermediates, Autumn plans to offer a Brush-Up series on Thursday nights. (Eleven weeks, beginning April 19, 6:30 - 7:30). The course will focus on shoring up and formalizing foundation technique, and is especially recommended for "orphans": those who have completed some beginner classes with one or more teachers, but are currently without a primary training program in which to move forward. Also appropriate for Tribal dancers who are interested in exploring the Oriental roots of their form.
For all levels: Elements of Oriental Dance, is a Saturday workshop series that gets granular with movement breakdowns and contextual considerations for movement vocabulary. Students may opt to study only foundations (from 2:00 - 3:00), or continue through to the most advanced vocabulary (3:00 - 5:00). This series elucidates how belly dance components build on and relate to one another, and how, when, and why they are used. It is for dancers at any level who wish to refine their technique or understanding, learn new movements and new options for variations and layering, and gain a holistic understanding of belly dance technique.
Tentative schedule:
March 31 Precision Hip Isolations
April 7: Egyptian Hipwork
April 14: Arms, Shoulders, Hands, and Head Isolations
April 21: Undulations, Vertical 8s, and Ribcage Isolations
May 5: Footwork and Turns
Classes for intermediate and advanced dancers featuring new Oriental choreography are tentatively scheduled Saturdays in May and June.
Long Island: Autumn will be teaching a new Oriental choreography in a workshop on April 28. Official announcement forthcoming.
Registration will begin as soon as the schedule is formalized, on or before March 1.
Winter 2012 Schedule
Winter courses have begun (and, in some cases, finished); only drop-in single classes in the Thursday night beginner course are currently available.
Beginning Belly Dance Twelve Week Course (in progress)
$180 / $18 Single Class Drop-In
Thursdays, 6:30-7:30, 440 Studios (East Village), 1/12-3/29
Click to pay in advance to confirm your spot.
If a spot is available you may pay at the door (cash only), but you must confirm via email or call Autumn at 917-686-1622.
Gift Certificates are available.
Course Descriptions
Beginning Belly Dance Twelve Week Course
Start your dance education off on the right foot, following a structured curriculum that builds clean versatile technique from the ground up. This comprehensive course for new beginners and back-to-basics fresh starters lays it all out step by step.
See and enjoy clear advancement in every class, reviewing and perfecting essential foundation movements, applying your growing skills to new and progressively more sophisticated material each week, and putting it all together in a simple choreography that we will build through the session.
Learn footwork, torso isolations, technique for arms, wrists, and hands, and music theory in a training program that emphasizes precise and confident dancing. Each movement is taught with consideration to ideal placement and alignment relative to each dancer's unique anatomy and abilities; performance context; and cultural context.
At the conclusion of the session, students will have the option to continue on to a Beginner II course.
Drop-ins are permitted at the rate of $18/class, but, in fairness to those who come every week, drop-in students are respectfully asked to understand that your instructor may be unable to individually catch you up on prerequisite material you've missed. If you drop in and are out of pace with the class, please accept that you may receive less individual attention than regular students.
Studio Locations
440 Studios
440 Lafayette St. (Just southeast of 8th and Broadway, near the Cube)
East Village, Manhattan
Subway: N/R to 8th St.-NYU; 6 to Astor Place; short hike from Union Square (L; 4/5/6; N/Q/R)
Google Map
Private Lessons with Autumn Ward
To make arrangements for individual coaching or a privately-arranged group lessons, contact Autumn directly at (917) 686-1622. Autumn's fee for individuals is $80/hour, or $140/2-hour lesson. Midtown studio, your home or gym, or other location. (Travel fee may apply; additional charges for additional students.) Autumn does not recommend private lessons for students with no previous dance training.
