Schedule of the workshop
NB: The courses in grey are six days courses with a progression and continuity of materail and as such can not be joined in the middle of the week.
Description of the workshops
Technical courses and choreographies déb 1, déb 2, inter 1,inter 2 : Heather has a teaching philosophy that challenges dancers to experience the creative process and to explore and mature their own artistic style. The blend of original material from her mentors, the development of her own style of concert tap, and her extensive work in collaboration with top musicians in jazz and world music results in a teaching style that is rich with tradition, experience, musicality, and inspiration.
Thematical workshops:
Repertoire (Advanced/pro):HHeather spent many years studying privately with Eddie Brown as well as assisting him in workshops internationally and performing with him. She will be teaching this class at all levels, allowing the students to work through his repertoire at their own pace. The routines available are: Eddie’s BS Chorus and the Lost Routines #1, 2 and 3. Come any experience some of the best steps you’ll ever see!
Impro 2 : accompanied by the residency musicians:Improvisation cannot be taught but the compulsion to do it can be nurtured. This course will be taught with musicians in the room. It will give you a chance to experiment and discover new ideas with bass and drums and to find the personality of each instrument..
Residency (Advanced/pro) : In this intensive, (with live music) Heather will teach one of her early choreographies from Manhattan Tap as a starting point. The class will explore elements of the process such as the balance of choreography and improvisation in the structure, how to arrange music to best serve the choreography and how to keep the music alive in the balance. The goal is to have each student leave with the inspiration to create their own work.
Technical courses and choreographies ( déb 1, déb 2, inter 1,inter 2) :Technical exercises, routines, rhythmical challenges… all this with a funky-jazzy-brazilian sauce.
Thematical courses Impro 1 : Improvising offers an enjoyable feeling to all practising tapdance in that direction. You will be shown a way marked out with tips and trics, that will make you want to explore Open to all levels of tap dancers
Spécial Métriques (Advanced/pro) : Trying to square the circle or attempting to swing in five counts. Or three or seven ! The challange has bee thrown down, will you pick it up?
Déb 1 : : jazz tap technique with focus on masters Carnell Lyon and Leon Collins
Déb 2 et inter 1 : Basic style of Rumba Tap : get with the clave! Cuban grooves and fluid moves... Mixing body rhythm, tap, drums and ancient chants. Easy coordination exercises, simple tap technique to translate basic percussion patterns, body percussions, background info on the developpement of afro-cuban music
Inter 2 : Tap to New Orleans music : a walking Mardi Gras procession playing rhythms of the Crescent city as spiritual support for the people who survived Katrina.
Avancé/pro : RumbaTap... rice and beans with garlic – the Balkan connection ! Max connects with his Eastern European roots to add new flavour to his style
Thematical course Body Percussion : This class is open to all levels and to the general public, not just tap dancers. It doesn't require dance shoes or any prior dance experience. We move around stamping, slapping ourselves silly and sing some cool chants. A great way to improve your feel for music. Invite friends, spouses, parents, grand parents, drivers, secretaries and whoever else feels the urge to get in on the action and get in touch with their inner groove without wasting any time on tap technique.
Levels
Beginners 1 : You have been tapdancing for 1 year, you have learnt the basic steps (shuffle, flap, cramproll…) and can dance them in simple routines (waltzclog, shuffle hop step…)
Beginners 2 : You have been practising for around 2 years, you have improved basic routines (timestep, crossover…) and have started paddles, back essence…
Intermediate 1 : From 3 years of practise, you start studying different styles (buck, rhythm tap, softshoe…) and you dance more complexe routines and rhythms. Speed is coming up.
Intermediate 2 : From 4 to 5 years of tap, basic technique and speed aren't a problem for you anymore. You have started flash-tap (pullbacks, wings, turns…) and you have a good rhythmical comprehension.
Advanced-pro : Very good technical level, for experienced tapdancers, teachers and professionnal dancers.
Impro : To help you overcome your steps and your feet at the right moment, this impro class will focus on specific exercices and some professional tips. Impro 1 : impro beginners Impro 2 :you’ve been practicing impro in classes or in jams
