Asheville Contemporary Dance

Presented by Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre Legacy Butoh, in partnership with the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, presented the 9th Annual Asheville Butoh Festival September 2014 at the BeBe Theatre in downtown Asheville. The Festival, under the artistic direction of Julie Becton Gillum, featured internationally renowned butoh choreographer and dancer Vangeline, along with solo works by Asheville dancers Jenni Cockrell, Susan Collard, Amy Hamilton, Megan Ransmeir, and Julia Taylor. Ticketed performances and workshops open to dancers of all skill levels will be offered. The unique art of butoh originated in post-World War II Japan as a reaction to the loss of identity caused by the westernization of Japanese culture, as well as a realization that ancient Japanese performing traditions no longer spoke to a contemporary audience. One of the major developments in contemporary dance in the latter half of the 20th century, butoh combines dance, theater, improvisation and influences of Japanese traditional performing arts to create a unique performing art form that is both controversial and universal in its expression. “We’re so fortunate to have Vangeline as the featured artist in the Asheville Butoh Festival this year,” said Julie Gillum. “Vangeline believes that Butoh can be a vehicle for collective and individual transformation in the 21st century, and I’m eager for her to share her artistic vision, her extraordinary choreographic skills, and her mesmerizing performances, with Asheville dancers and audiences.”

With over 25 years of teaching experience across studio, pre-professional, public school, and university settings, Melissa is dedicated to nurturing the expressive potential of every individual through dance. She holds a BFA in Dance from George Mason University and draws inspiration from her training with the Limón Dance Company, which greatly influences her teaching approach.

Upon returning home, she instructed classical ballet at several Asheville studios including the New Studio of Dance. She also performed with the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre. Jerri took a break from performing, teaching, and choreography to obtain a degree in Web Technologies.

With decades of professional experience as a dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Fancy brings her strength as a musical artist into the creative artistry that is this complete artistic tapestry. Thereafter, Rebecca spent the next 8 years traveling nationally and internationally as a singer and dancer with various regional theatres and cruise lines before arriving in Asheville, NC in 2012 which she made her home.

They began teaching aerial silks and acrobatics with ACDT in 2015, and have been teaching ever since with a particular focus on safety, sustainability and autonomy in each student’s aerial practice. In addition to teaching, they have a passion for performance work and have performed regionally as well as internationally.

Anita Feldman Tap, a company of musicians and dancers, appeared at over 100 venues in the U.S., Japan and Germany. The company performed regularly in New York City, including at Dance Theater Workshop, the Whitney Museum, and the Village Gate. Additional residencies and appearances included two seasons at the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina, and performances at tap festivals throughout the U.S.

She transitioned into Modern Dance after many seasons of study at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC and The Colorado Dance Festival in Boulder, CO. She has performed most recently in Havana, Cuba for the International Festival of Dance in Urban Landscapes – “Habana Viejo Movimiento,” where she choreographed a piece for Cuban and American dancers, and for the OFF Festival in Montpelier, France.

Diana loves sharing her skills and creativity as an instructor and mentor. Her diverse experiences as a dancer and her passion for dance have helped shape her teaching style and approach. Her classes offer an inspiring environment to learn and grow as a dancer.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Improvisation.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Voice.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Partnering dance.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Ballet dance.

Who: Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre/White Dog Project What: Sugar Skulls and “The Tenth Muse:” Día de los Muertos Celebration Where: BeBe Theatre 20 Commerce Street Asheville, NC 28801 How Much: $17.00 Adults $15.00 Students and Seniors When: October 28 th , 29 th at 7:30pm and October 30 th at 6:00pm Contact: acdt.org or 828-254-2621 What: In celebration of 37 years of original modern dance In a time when women had limited legal and social rights, a woman born out of wedlock had few choices and an uncertain future. Through the grace of her own intelligence and the religion that she constantly struggled with, Sor Juana Inéz de la Cruz, the Mexican nun born in 1651, became one of the first feminists, intellectuals, writers, poets, and artists to choose her own future and change the social views that restricted women. In ACDT’s “The Tenth Muse,” Susan Collard and guest choreographer, Jaime Camarena, have choreographed an evening dance show that delves into the life of Sor Juana. It captures her struggles with her own faith and with the Church and government authorities who would try, and eventually succeed, at silencing her poignant, poetic, and insightful voice. The show will contain dance, poetry, singing, and graphic animation. “The Tenth Muse” will be performed at the Bebe Theatre with choreography by Susan Collard and Jaime Camarena, slow animation and graphics by Rachel Allison Johnson, costuming by Giles Collard and Evelyn Gomez, and performed by the ACDT dance company members. This performance will be a part of ACDT’s annual Sugar Skulls showcase that honors The Day of the Dead Festival. Audience members are encouraged to bring a photo or memento of a deceased love one for the Day of the Dead altar. Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre (ACDT) is a non-profit professional dance company created in 1979. It was the first modern dance company in Asheville and Western North Carolina. For 37 years ACDT has been producing original modern dance and has collaborated with different artists and choreographers from around the world to host dance, theatre, and art exchanges.

This modern dance class is informed by José Limón technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals, emphasizing the organic rhythms of fall and recovery, the play and contrast between gravity and suspension, and the use of breath and human gesture. Classes begin with a warm-up that integrates floorwork and standing center exercises, emphasizing the development of skills through correct technique, musicality, and spinal articulation. This is followed by moving across the floor with traveling sequences and the development of improvisation skills. For students with a minimum of 3 years of experience.

In this Jazz class we will be strengthening our technique & flexibility, learning different styles of jazz & improving our performance skills. We will also practice learning new choreography and build on it each week, changing at the end of the month.

This modern dance class is informed by José Limón technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals, emphasizing the organic rhythms of fall and recovery, the play and contrast between gravity and suspension, and the use of breath and human gesture. Classes begin with a warm-up that integrates floorwork and standing center exercises, emphasizing the development of skills through correct technique, musicality, and spinal articulation. This is followed by moving across the floor with traveling sequences and the development of improvisation skills. For students with a minimum of 2 years of experience.

In this Jazz class we will be strengthening our technique & flexibility, learning different styles of jazz & improving our performance skills. We will also practice learning new choreography and build on it each week, changing at the end of the month.

Ballet 6, Senior Ballet: A continuation on level 5 concepts as well as refining port de bra and foot articulation with more focus on center practice.

This fast paced modern dance class is informed by José Limón technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals through a contemporary lens, emphasizing the organic rhythms of fall and recovery, the play and contrast between gravity and suspension, and the use of breath and human gesture. Class phrases generally build for approximately a month and each class ends with small group improvisations. For students with pre‐professional or professional proficiency.

The conditioning class blends exercises and techniques from multiple disciplines to boost overall physical performance in dance. It focuses on enhancing technical skill, preventing injuries, strengthening the core, and refining a dancer’s ability to perform movements with greater control, strength, and precision.

This modern dance class is informed by José Limón technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals, emphasizing the organic rhythms of fall and recovery, the play and contrast between gravity and suspension, and the use of breath and human gesture. Classes begin with a warm-up that integrates floorwork and standing center exercises, emphasizing the development of skills through correct technique, musicality, and spinal articulation. This is followed by moving across the floor with traveling sequences and the development of improvisation skills.

This aerial silks class begins to work with more advanced skills involving single and double footlocks, unsupported inversions, and hand supports, building these skills in progressions over the course of the year to include compound double footlock skills, beginning knee hook skills and unlocked skills. Silks 2, some aerial experience or teacher approval required, suggested ages 10-12. Students will work towards a silks showcase at the end of spring semester and are invited to participate in group choreography as well as create their own choreographies for solos or duets.

This is a structured classical ballet class designed to develop technique, strength, flexibility, and coordination with a focus on proper alignment and technique performed at the barre and the incorporation of fun traveling sequences across the floor.

This aerial silks class begins to work with more advanced skills requiring solid single and double footlocks, unsupported inversions, and hand supports, building these skills in progressions over the course of the year to include hipkeys, compound inversion skills and unlocked skills. Silks 3, some aerial experience or teacher approval required, suggested ages 11-14. Students will work towards a silks showcase at the end of spring semester and are invited to participate in group choreography as well as create their own choreographies for solos or duets.

Coming Soon!

In this class the dancers will learn basic, beginner ballet positions and start to understand how to “listen” to music & match movement to the beat. We’ll learn how to dance together as a group & start learning how to listen for cues in music. We will occasionally work on choreographed dances but will remain having fun throughout the process.

This aerial silks class focuses on introductory skills on fabrics including basic climbs, locks, and supported inversions, building these skills in progressions over the course of the year. No prior silks experience needed, suggested ages 6-9. Class may be repeated as needed. Students will work towards a silks showcase at the end of spring semester and are invited to participate in group choreography as well as create their own choreographies for solos or duets.

This modern dance class is informed by José Limón technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals, emphasizing the organic rhythms of fall and recovery, the play and contrast between gravity and suspension, and the use of breath and human gesture. Classes begin with a warm-up that integrates floorwork and standing center exercises, emphasizing the development of skills through correct technique, musicality, and spinal articulation. This is followed by moving across the floor with traveling sequences and the development of improvisation skills. For students with 1‐2 or more years of dance experience.

In this class the dancers will start to work more with modern movement & learning new ways of counting the music. They will be learning more choreography & we will even begin partner work this year. We will be continuing to practice our ballet warmups while adding the modern twist to the curriculum.

This aerial silks class focuses on elaboration of introductory skills on fabrics, and requires some familiarity with skills such as basic climbs, locks, and supported inversions, building these skills in progressions over the course of the year to include double footlocks, unsupported inversions, and simple compound skills. Silks 1, some aerial experience or teacher approval required, suggested ages 8-11. Class may be repeated as needed. Students will work towards a silks showcase at the end of spring semester and are invited to participate in group choreography as well as create their own choreographies for solos or duets.

This aerial silks class works with more advanced flexibility and strength based skills involving single and double footlocks, hipkeys, compound inversion skills and unlocked skills, building these skills in progressions over the course of the year with a emphasis on sequencing, endurance and technique. Silks 4, some aerial experience or teacher approval required, suggested ages 12+. Students will work towards a silks showcase at the end of spring semester and are invited to participate in group choreography as well as create their own choreographies for solos or duets.

Técnica La técnica cubana, often abbreviated as Técnica, is a form of Cuban contemporary dance that was founded by Ramiro Guerra Suarez in Cuba in 1959. Unlike other forms of traditional Cuban dance, técnica fuses many different dance forms together, such as those from Africa, Europe (Spanish-based Flamenco), and North America (Graham, Cunningham, Limón, Sokolov and Humphrey). It is a highly expressive dance form, incorporating undulating movements of the torso and pelvis. Big jumps while traveling across the floor, turns and extensions are one main characteristic of Técnica. Técnica is demanding and dynamic, forming dancers that move with remarkable ease; it is ever changing, and the technique continues to evolve. The Class Técnica class in general, involves two aspects: instruction and education. The first includes the aptitude for dance, the creation of physical and mental habits and all the technical knowledge that this implies. The other, equally important, speaks of creating artistic convictions, the appreciation for dance, developing will and character and laying the foundations of an artistic personality.

In a dance composition class, participants engage in the creative process of crafting original dance pieces. The focus is on developing choreographic skills and exploring various elements such as movement dynamics, spatial arrangements, and thematic concepts. Students learn to structure and organize movements to convey a coherent and expressive dance narrative. The class often involves experimentation with different choreographic tools, improvisation exercises, and collaborative activities. Participants receive guidance on refining their artistic vision, refining transitions, and considering the overall composition of their dance works. This class encourages individual expression, fosters a deeper understanding of choreographic principles, and provides a platform for dancers to evolve as skilled and imaginative choreographers. Students must be enrolled in a ballet or modern technique class in order to take composition.

In a dance composition class, participants engage in the creative process of crafting original dance pieces. The focus is on developing choreographic skills and exploring various elements such as movement dynamics, spatial arrangements, and thematic concepts. Students learn to structure and organize movements to convey a coherent and expressive dance narrative. The class often involves experimentation with different choreographic tools, improvisation exercises, and collaborative activities. Participants receive guidance on refining their artistic vision, refining transitions, and considering the overall composition of their dance works. This class encourages individual expression, fosters a deeper understanding of choreographic principles, and provides a platform for dancers to evolve as skilled and imaginative choreographers. Students must be enrolled in a ballet or modern technique class in order to take composition.

In a dance composition class, participants engage in the creative process of crafting original dance pieces. The focus is on developing choreographic skills and exploring various elements such as movement dynamics, spatial arrangements, and thematic concepts. Students learn to structure and organize movements to convey a coherent and expressive dance narrative. The class often involves experimentation with different choreographic tools, improvisation exercises, and collaborative activities. Participants receive guidance on refining their artistic vision, refining transitions, and considering the overall composition of their dance works. This class encourages individual expression, fosters a deeper understanding of choreographic principles, and provides a platform for dancers to evolve as skilled and imaginative choreographers. Students must be enrolled in a ballet or modern technique class in order to take composition.

A structured classical ballet class to develop technique, strength, flexibility, and coordination with a primary focus on proper alignment and technique performed at the barre.

This dynamic class is designed for motivated teen dancers preparing for pointe work as well as adult students at an intermediate or higher level. We focus on building the strength, flexibility, and refined technique required for safe and successful point dancing–while continuing to advance artistry and musicality. For dancers who want to get stronger and see measurable progress in their technique, taking more than one ballet class per week is essential. Consistent training builds muscle memory, enhances endurance, and allows skills to solidify from week to week. Class includes barre, center work, turns, jumps, and targeted conditioning for foot, ankle, and core strength in a supportive, challenging environment tailored to help each individual reach his or her ballet goals.

The classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer. The classes are taught by members of ACDT, and will include workshops in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Partnering, Theater, Voice, Improvisation, Composition, and Choreography.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Choreography.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Composition.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Theater.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Jazz dance.

Classes are taught in a series of workshops of various dance forms to train a well-rounded artist dancer, and include workshops in Modern dance.

2016 marks the 10th Asheville Butoh Festival and twenty years of butoh dance in Asheville. Julie Becton Gillum and the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre have collaborated to produce this uncommon festival. For Asheville Butoh’s landmark year, we have invited Yumiko Yoshioka, world renowned butoh performer and teacher to share her talents with us. Cities such as Portland, San Francisco, Vancouver, Montreal, New York, Chicago, and Asheville are havens for butoh dance, still finding itself in North America. In honor of our 10th anniversary we have asked Yumiko to perform her seminal work Before the Dawn, a piece that represents butoh at its most profound level of movement exploration and philosophical inquiry. In this evening length epic, Yumiko Yoshioka, through her own transformation, illuminates secrets in our bodies. Her movement and gestures, execute a divine incantation in which she invites the sublime and monstrous beings from dreams and nightmares to dance with her. Her performances will be Thursday April 7 and Friday April 8 at 7:30 PM. Yumiko will teach two butoh and organic movement workshops on Saturday April 9 and Sunday April 10, 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Cost is $40 for each workshop or $75 for both. The body is a receptacle of time. Body Resonance is a key to open the ever changing world inside and outside of us. The body unfolds its secrets, holding them up until they reverberate within the surrounding Universe. A dance of metamorphosis inevitably appears. One step to metamorphosis! All levels are welcome to this 8 hour corporeal feast. Performances and workshops take place at the BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce Street in downtown Asheville. Local contemporary butoh will feature prominently in the Asheville Butoh Festival. Performances by Sara Baird, Jenni Cockrell, Constance Humphries, and Julia Taylor will highlight this year’s anniversary show. Composers Elisa Faires and Meg Mulhearn will make spotlight appearances to accompany in the Local Color show. Co-produced by Julie B. Gillum and Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre.

Rhythm Tap Dance is an American art form with African inspiration. The goal of these workshops is for the participants to experience the joy of tap dancing – syncopated rhythms with their feet, enjoying music, improving balance and coordination, and developing the mental ability to learn new combinations. In each class they will do a tap warm-up to learn the basic steps, and then work on a combination, while also gaining a little understanding of the rich, interesting and multi-cultural history of this exciting dance form.

Rhythm Tap Dance is an American art form with African inspiration. The goal of these workshops is for the participants to experience the joy of tap dancing – syncopated rhythms with their feet, enjoying music, improving balance and coordination, and developing the mental ability to learn new combinations. In each class they will do a tap warm-up to learn the basic steps, and then work on a combination, while also gaining a little understanding of the rich, interesting and multi-cultural history of this exciting dance form.

Each day of Dancing Unicorn Carnival Camp is a vibrant blend of dance, creative movement, music, and arts-based projects. Guided by our professionally trained instructors, campers will explore various dance styles while discovering carnival traditions from around the world. As they engage in choreography and all aspects of performance, they will build collaboration skills and gain confidence in their artistic expression. The week will conclude with a performance showcasing the original choreography created by the dancers.

Step into the spotlight at our Cinematic Dance Creations Camp – where young talents become dance film stars! Dive into the enchanting world of movement, music, and movie-making as we focus on creating a dance film masterpiece. In this immersive camp, participants will not only learn the fundamentals of dance but also explore the exciting realm of filmmaking. Our experienced instructors will guide them through choreography, storytelling, and the technical aspects of capturing dance on camera. Get ready for a week filled with creativity, laughter, and the joy of bringing dance to life on the big screen. On our final day of camp we will hold a film screening for friends and family. Join us for a magical journey of dance and filmmaking at our Cinematic Dance Creations Camp – where every dancer is a shining star!

This immersive program is tailored for dedicated and disciplined dancers who are passionate about deepening their artistry, technique, and understanding of dance. Designed for committed and curious students, the intensive offers daily training with our professionally accredited instructors and guest artists in contemporary modern, ballet, choreography, classical and contemporary repertoire, and dance history. The week will conclude with a performance showcasing the repertoire learned and original choreography created by the dancers.