WHAT: Straighten your toes and point your knees! Ballet Technique for Aerialists!
This workshop will be a bridge between ballet class and aerial class, as we go back and forth between mediums. We’ll step from in front of the mirror, barre class style, to our apparatuses and back again-To demonstrate how proper ballet technique directly benefits your aerial work. The general rules of ballet create an aesthetic that not only adds grace and beauty, but strength as well. We’ll work on several neglected muscle groups and take note of how engagement of other muscles is super important in both forms of Art. And lastly, we’ll discuss not only the aesthetic choice, but the risk reduction importance of, straight knees and pointed toes.
You may even hear it so many times you to start saying “straighten your toes and point your knees!” ; )
APPARATUS: Recomended for Lyra, Sling, or Dance Trapeze but can also be modified for Fabric, Straps, or Rope. (Please email us info@gravityaerialarts.com with what apparatus you will be using and if you will need to borrow one of ours?)
PREREQUISTES: Some aerial experience required, but all levels welcome.
WHO: New York Cat (they/them) studied dance since they could walk. Cat's eclectic dance style draws from ballet, first and foremost, as well as pointe, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, partnering, musical theatre, hip-hop, West African, vogue, tribal and belly dance... Performing in NYC since the age of 15, they studied intensely from a young age with Mia Michaels, Dan Karaty, Suzi Taylor, Terry Beeman, Finis Jhung, Daniel Catanach, Debbie Allen & numerous others.
At 17 yrs old Cat studied with and performed Mia Michaels' rep at the Riverside Church, moved to NYC and started attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. They travelled to Africa to study West African dance with the Ghana National Dance Co. and performed immediately after earning their BFA from NYU in many National Tours and Regional Musicals.
After a hit-and-run left them with 4 herniated discs, a concussion, a handful of other injuries and unable to perform 8 musicals a week, they shifted into straight acting and became a personal trainer, certified by former middleweight champion Michael Olajide Jr, to help others with spinal and shoulder injuries like themself. Cat can be spotted on Broad City, High Maintenance, Incarnate, The Bridge, Law & Order and several other film projects.
Gogo Dance + Performance Art entered their life 8 years ago and since then Cat has become a resident performer at Henrietta Hudson, NYC and House of Yes, BK. They also perform for Hot Rabbit, Bad Habit, Femme Party at Club Cumming, with Share Gurl on Fire Island and the Modern Gypsies. They’ve also been seen at Diamond Horseshoe, Secret Loft, Elements Festival, Envision Festival & many more.
More recently, w/over 7yrs of training with Benn Mendoza, Kyla Ernst-Alper, Jonathon Conant, Jan Manke, and Francoise Voranger under their belt, they regularly perform Aerial- Cage, Moon and Cube as well as Lyra, Cat’s solo apparatus of choice!
In 2015 they debuted their first Fire Fans act at Envision Festival in Costa Rica and has performed Fire with Flambeaux Fire and Enchanted in NYC.
Cat’s been teaching a flexibility class at 305 Fitness, NYC since 2017 and has continued teaching flexibility and mobility classes over Zoom every Tue + Thur at 4:20pm ET.
You can connect with Cat on Instagram at @newyorkcat
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WHEN: Saturday 2/20/21 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Please arrive 15 minutes early to help with rigging.)
COST: $55 with Early Bird Discount (or $60 after 2/17/21)
Also sign up for Cat’s SPINS! Workshop and save!
Both for $100 with Early Bird Discount (or $110 after 2/17/21)