The Ailey Extension
Real Classes for Real People
The Ailey Extension embodies Mr. Ailey’s legacy that dance comes from the people and that it should be given back to the people by making dance accessible to everyone. Whether you haven’t taken a dance class in 20 years, take class regularly, or have never danced a step, The Ailey Extension has dance and fitness classes designed especially for you.
In the words of our inspirational Artistic Director, Judith Jamison, “If you can get yourself in the door, you can take a class!”
View dance videos here
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Engaging the core is as essential to Horton as plies are to ballet. A strong abdomen is important because many of the steps showcase the torso, but also because everything really begins with the core. The instructor taught laterals, (i.e., 8, 4, 2, and 1 count repetitions of arms up, flat back, rotate, swing to the other side, plie, releve) which forced you to use your stomach or your lower back would ache after the first set. She even told students to think of their tendus and degages as beginning in the stomach and then sending that energy through the leg and out into the pointe. Most of the combinations were centered on learning the essentials of Horton (i.e., the lines, cross lunges, and controlled transitions). As this was my first Horton class, I was surprised that she didn’t count the combinations in 8 counts but went up to even 15. The twenty students (nineteen females, and one male) ranged in ages from twelve to fifty. True to the Ailey Extension motto, the class was geared for the everyday person but the intermediate dancer could also benefit from the core strengthening class. The instructor summed up the benefits of the class stating, “Come to this class if you want to have a beach body that looks as good as mine.” She had beautifully toned arms and a rock hard tummy even after having a couple of children. Proof is in the Modern mommy.
On Sunday, June 13, I took an Intro to Horton class at Alvin Ailey. The class was taught by Karen Arceneaux who was extremely fun, but was also ready to work! The live drumming music made the class very enjoyable and the down beats made the counting for each stretch easy to follow. This is a class for people who want to feel a great stretch, especially in their upper body. You then have the opportunity to incorporate the stretches into a combination across the floor. Overall, this was a beneficial/exciting class!
Quenia Ribeiro’s Samba class was one of the most vibrant and exciting classes I have taken in a while! The class begins slowly utilizing pilates, yoga, and ballet movements to warm up the students and prepare them for the high energy class they are about to experience. Once the half hour warm up was over…we lined up on the side of the room as Ribeiro taught us simple combinations and also explained Brazillian tradition and culture. Her explanations were interesting and the live-drumming never missed a beat as the footwork became more intricate and the patterns in the movement more complex. The entire class was sweating and smiling as they moved across the floor paying attention to the rhythm and movements the teacher was demonstrating. I didn’t even notice what a work out I was getting until the class was over and all I felt was the tired but happy energy around me. This class is beneficial to people of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. However, individuals with knee, foot, or back injuries may want to find a class that is lower impact.
Bev Brown’s class, taught be her assistant, was a fun, high-energy class that catered to people of all skill levels. However, individuals who ranged from beginner to intermediate benefitted most from the relatively simple warm up that consisted of basic stretching and ab work-outs that targeted core muscles and upper body strength while still incorporating the “groove.” The class was a mixture of people who never danced before and seasoned hip-hop dancers. She went slowly through the moves for the beginners while the advanced dancers in the class enjoyed refreshing the basics and performing the fun, sassy choreography. People at advanced fitness levels would benefit from a more intense class, but this is a great atmosphere to let loose, exercise, and learn the basics of hip hop choreography and performance.
The zumba class I took at Ailey was my second zumba class there but was with a different teacher. This teachers name was Ben Byrd. He was a great instructor. The class was much less crowded than last time I took it and it had the essential elements that the other class lacked. This time I could see the instructor and he really engaged the students. He checked on everyone’s technique and would critique them. He was funny and still motivating. Some of the dance steps were a bit challenging but there was also a good blend of aerobics in the class. He even made us do push ups. Overall it was a great class with a great instructor and I’m glad I gave Zumba another chance there.
The class was a great workout with a great instructor that cared about his Zumba students. He incorporated different dance and aerobic moves that made the class very fast faced and fun.