International Artists to Offer DanceMasters Classes

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago is entering into a new partnership with DanceWorks Chicago to present DanceMasters classes in conjunction with its 2012–13 season of performances. DanceMasters is an ongoing series of movement classes open to intermediate/advanced-level dancers offering a variety of dance techniques, perspectives and styles from internationally renowned choreographers.

FALL DANCEMASTERS CLASSES
Tuesday, September 11: African choreographer Nadia Beugré integrates traditional dance from the Ivory Coast with improvisation and contemporary global forms. She is one of five choreographers whose work is featured in Voices of Strength: Two Programs of Dance and Theater by Women from Africa September 13–15 at The Dance Center.

Thursday, September 27: New York-based Japanese choreographer Kota Yamazaki introduces participants to his unique blend of Butoh, ballet and contemporary dance. Yamazaki's company Fluid hug-hug performs his work (glowing) September 27–29 at The Dance Center.

Tuesday, October 9: Gallim Dance Founder and Artistic Director Andrea Miller, deeply influenced by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin's Gaga style, offers a class that builds a heightened physical awareness of the body and space as well as a chance to develop expressive movement and musicality. Gallim Dance performs Miller's evening-length Blush October 11–13 at The Dance Center.

The Dance Center will offer additional DanceMasters classes in spring 2013; the schedule is to be determined.

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, named "Chicago's Best Dance Theatre" by Chicago magazine and "Best Dance Venue" by the Chicago Reader, is the city's leading presenter of contemporary dance, showcasing artists of regional, national and international significance. Programs of The Dance Center are supported, in part, by the Alphawood Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, The Irving Harris Foundation, and the Arts Midwest Touring Fund. Additional funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council. Special thanks to Athletico, the Official Provider of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy for The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, and the Friends of The Dance Center.

Founded in May 2007, DanceWorks Chicago is committed to building a foundation for the individual artistic growth of dancers and choreographers, providing a laboratory from which early career artists propel themselves and the art form to a new level through training, collaboration, mentorship and performance. Led by Artistic Director Julie Nakagawa and CEO Andreas Böttcher, DanceWorks Chicago is dedicated to creating an environment conducive to nurturing experiences of significance for everyone from artists to audiences.

Each DanceMasters class takes place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Parkway in Chicago. The cost is $15, $10 for students; those interesTed May call 312-369-8330 or register online. Information about The Dance Center's 2012–13 season is available at colum.edu/dancecenter.