National Dance Week-NYC “How-to” Instructional Video Series

National Dance Week-NYC has teamed up with Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) to celebrate diversity in dance by providing an opportunity for dance enthusiasts to participate and acquire knowledge of the limitless holistic benefits of dance for all levels and ages. Kicking the partnership off, the organizations have teamed up to launch a series of twelve instructional videos which will seek to increase dancers’ awareness of the body in order to prevent injury, strengthen core muscular structure and flexibility, and successfully develop stylistic movement in a variety of genres.

CLICK HERE for DNA’s press release.

“How-To”: Achieve Proper Hip/Pelvic Alignment
Presented by: Martha Chapman, DNA Ballet Faculty and Board Member
Music by: Yelle, A Cause Des Garcons

“How-To”: Build Upper Body Strength by Doing Plank Pose

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Jennie Cohen, Dance New Amsterdam Yoga Faculty

Jennie Cohen was first introduced to yoga through dance, and her work with Simonson technique informs her approach to teaching yoga: Classes prioritize working safely and address the needs of different students. Jennie’s interest in anatomy and her studies of the texts that evolved concurrently with the physical practice of yoga infuse her classes. Jennie is 500-hour trained through YogaWorks.

“How-To”: Do a Proper Round-Up

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Chris Heller, Dance New Amsterdam Simonson Technique Faculty

Chris Heller teaches dance and drama all over New York City. She has performed her own work as well as choreography by Katiti King, Jana Hicks, and Max Stone. She currently works as a teaching artist and director/choreographer for Arts Connection, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, and Brooklyn Children’s Theater. In addition, Chris is the co-artistic director and founder of (re)ACTion Youth Theatre, a youth theatre for teens ages 14-20.

“How-To”: Tackle a Hip Hop Class

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Jennifer Archibald, Dance New Amsterdam Hip Hop and Contemporary Faculty

Jennifer Archibald is artistic director of the Arch Dance company, graduated & choreographed for the Ailey school, NBA New York Knicks, has performed at John F Kennedy Center, MTV & other major venues in USA and abroad. She has taught master classes at many American and European Universities, Bates and Florida Festival, Sweden, Russia, Slovania, and France. She completed a solo project for choreographer Michael Foley in Paris. Her work was featured outdoors in the heart of Time Square for Solstice Dance Festival.

“How-To”: Lengthen and Strengthen the Psoas Muscle

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Antolino Alvarez, Dance New Amsterdam Simonson Technique Faculty

Antolino performance credits include Club MTV, The Commodores, TV Show “Latinidad” as well as TV-shows and performances across the U.S., Argentina, and Japan.

He directed his company Dance Express for seven years and in 1997 he was awarded the Choreography Choice Award by the Jazz Productions of B.C. Teaching credits include the Florida Dance Festival; Santa Fe Community College; Moro Landis; Harbour Dance, Showcase in Gold Coast, Australia, and virtualdanceclass.com.

Antolino is Simonson Technique and Pilates Mat certified. He has recently been invited to appear as a fitness and training advisor in a monthly health magazine in Denmark.

“How to Work with Correct Plumb Line Alignment”

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Laurie De Vito, Dance New Amsterdam Simonson Technique Faculty and Founding Director

Laurie De Vito is a founding director and teacher at Dance New Amsterdam (formerly Dance Space Center), where she maintains an active teaching schedule. In addition, she is Artistic Director of Laurie De Vito and Dancers. Along with her company, Ms. De Vito has taught, choreographed, performed and given lecture demonstrations and workshops at schools and theaters across the United States, Canada and abroad. Most notably, she has worked at NYU Tisch School of the Performing Arts, Hofstra University, Montreal Jazz Festival, Spirit Square Center for the Arts(NC), Gustavus Adolphus College(MN), Ecole de Danse(Montreal), YorkUniversity (Toronto), Academie de Ballet de Saguenay (Quebec), Tel Aviv Dance Center (Israel), and I.A.C. Studio(Tokyo).

“How To Approach Learning A New Style Of Movement”

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Nia Love, Dance New Amsterdam Modern Roots Faculty

Nia Love earned her MFA in Dance w/ distinction from Florida State University and has performed and produced choreographies from New York to California and Accra to Paris. She trained in Cuba with Alicia Alonzo in ballet, in Japan with Min Tanaka later in Butoh, and with King Osei Tutu II and traditional Court dancing of Ghana in the process of developing her signature artistic style. Ms. Love serves as Associate Director and Artist consultant of seven award winning Documentary films. A Fulbright Fellow for research and teaching in Ghana, the BAXten New York award for most inspirational artist of the year -2002.

If interested in participating in our video series, please E-MAIL us.

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Lynn Simonson, Founding Director of DNA & Creator of Simonson Technique

Lynn Simonson is an internationally respected educator of jazz dance. She is the creator of Simonson Technique, an organic approach to movement that prepares the body to dance in a way that is anatomically intelligent and somatically aware. Her call to jazz dance grew out of a deep love of jazz music and a need to express that music in movement.

“How-To”: Safely Align the Leg from the Hip – Part 1

“How-To”: Safely Align the Leg from the Hip – Part 2

“How to Protect Your Knees by Avoiding Over Rotating the Lower Leg”

Sponsored by: National Dance Week-NYC; DNA and FitEngine.com

Presented by: Gail Accardi, Dance New Amsterdam Anatomy Awareness Faculty

Gail Accardi works with dancers and others, especially those experiencing pain, injuries, alignment issues, or physical challenges of many kinds. She describes her work as creative physical problem solving; others call it body whispering. She draws on experience and ongoing study of dance, pilates, anatomy/kinesiology, somatics, and other moving and healing practices.