InProcess: December 18-21, 2023 - James Sewell Ballet

InProcess

December 18-21, 2023

View the Intensive handbook

We are no longer accepting enrollment. Stay tuned for the next InProcess series coming in 2024!

Move with exciting leaders in the Twin Cities contemporary dance scene

The goal of this series is pure process. The leaders get to see ideas actualized on movers in the room, and movers get to experience a single-day choreographic workshop with each leader.

Geared toward adult dancers (18+) with Int/Adv technique who are:

interested in "trying out" the movement vocabulary of various dance-makers.

committing to their movement practice ahead of a holiday break.

looking for a friendly creative environment without commitment to a long-term project.

Schedule

11:30am-2pm, Monday through Thursday

Join for one, two, three, or all four days! Discounts apply for multiple days.

Enrollment fee includes optional participation in regular JSB Open Class, 9:30-11am.

featuring guest instructor & choreographer
Shohei Iwahama!

Overall I loved this intensive! It was amazing. Being in close contact with the company members was definitely my favorite thing. Being able to watch them in class and take their advice gave me an entire new perspective on not only how I dance, but also how I think about attacking or conserving my movements in a step. I am so grateful I was given this opportunity!!

Student from 2018 Twin Sky Intensive

I was welcomed each day in class by being pushed to work harder as well as acceptance of where my movement level stands. Each teaching artists had so many unique offerings that each day felt like a whole new world of ideas. Finally, despite the days being long they did not feel that way, it was such a fun program to be a part of!

C.R., reflecting on JSB's August 2022 Intensive

I most enjoyed having the privilege of working with such a great group of non-judgmental and passionate people.

Student from 2018 Twin Sky Intensive

Over the course of the rehearsals and performance, I realized that effective movement felt like a language I didn't know how to speak, and that the company dancers were completely fluent in. It highlighted my insecurities, but it also felt like it opened my eyes to how dance can serve as a language and a means of communication. I loved the experience overall, learned so much, and developed even more respect for the dancers.

Big Sky community member, reflecting on a 2019 workshop and performance experience with JSB

The JSB summer intensive was a lovely experience that helped me to ground myself in my body and my movement style! Every class set me up for success and the reflections from company members and teachers have impacted my dancing in more ways than one! It was an incredible experience to learn from so many wonderful artists and I am extremely grateful for the company, teachers, pianists and my fellow dancers for all of the special moments that have come from this intensive.

A.S., reflecting on JSB's August 2022 Intensive

What you need to know:

Program Basics

December 18-21, 2023

11:30am-2pm, Monday through Thursday
Join for one, two, three, or all four days! Discounts apply for multiple days.

Enrollment fee includes optional participation in regular JSB Open Class, 9:30-11am.

Classes will take place in beautiful studio 2B at the Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis.

Questions may be directed to info@jsballet.org.

Health and Safety Policies

Effective June 20th, 2022, the Cowles Center will require masks only when attending a performance in the theatres. Masks are no longer required in hallways and dance studios. JSB will adhere to this policy, making masks optional in our classes until further notice. JSB reserves the right to make changes to these policies at any time.

To take full advantage of this program, we expect participants to be well-nourished, well-rested, and hydrated.

Injuries should be communicated immediately so a plan for best program interaction can be formed.

Leaders

Monday (Dec 18)

Photo by Blake Nellis

Javan relocated to Minnesota in 2021 by way of Portland, OR. He graduated from Western Oregon University in three years, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Sociology. At present, he dances with James Sewell Ballet, ARENA Dances, and Rhythmically Speaking. He has previously been a company dancer with Black Label Movement, Collide Theatrical, Threads Dance Project, Dar Vejon Jones Dance Ensemble, and BodyVox. He has also had the privilege of performing as a guest artist for numerous companies such as HATCH Dance, Analog Dance Works, Ballet Co.Laboratory, Heidi Duckler Dance, Cynthia Gutierrez’s Company Movimiento, and Dar Vejon Jones Dance Ensemble. Javan is a certified instructor of The Ellové Technique®; he has taught at many studios in Oregon and Minnesota. This season Javan is teaching at Hothouse MN and Out on a Limb.

https://javan-mngrezzo.webnode.page/

Tuesday (Dec 19)

Photo courtesy Berit Ahlgren

Native to St. Paul, Minnesota, Berit Ahlgren gained her foundational dance training from Minnesota Dance Theater and received a BFA in Dance from St. Olaf College, where she also studied biomedical studies. Ahlgren was a founding member of TU Dance under the artistic directorship of Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, and performed with the company between 2006—2016. Having received Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s highly competitive Next Step Grant in 2011, Ahlgren had the opportunity to study the Gaga Movement Language in Tel Aviv, and moved to Israel to pursue teacher certification between 2011— 2012. Ahlgren earned her MFA in Dance from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts in 2016, and has since been on faculty at the University of Minnesota and Winona State University, performing with independent choreographers between Minneapolis and New York, and choreographing her own body of work for both stage and camera under her fledgling dance organization, HoneyWorks (2019). Ahlgren has had the great pleasure to work with Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Netta Yerushalmy, Dimitri Chamblas, Gregory Dolbashian, Dwight Rhodan, Ashwini Ramaswamy, and Helen Hatch, among others. In addition to her work as dancer-choreographer, Berit teaches weekly Gaga/people classes throughout the Twin Cities.

https://www.beritahlgren.com/

Wednesday (Dec 20)

Photo by Bill Cameron

Jarod is a Minnesota native from Adrian, MN. He started his dance training at Saint Mary’s University where he also obtained his BA Degree in Dance Performance and Studio Art. His formal dance training began at the age of 18 in college where he had the opportunity to train and perform internationally with Rose Bruford College in the U.K. and The Gaiety School of Acting in Ireland. Upon arrival to the Twin Cities, Jarod has worked with several local companies; Contempo Physical Dance, Twin Cities’ Ballet, Collide Theatrical, and St. Paul Ballet to name a few. If he is not in the dance studio, you can find him leading class as a certified barre and yoga instructor or under the big top tent coaching and choreographing for Circus Juventas.

Thursday (Dec 21)

Photo by Dahli Durley

Elayna Waxse (she/they) is a choreographer, dance educator and performer based in Mni Sota Makoce on the ancestral lands of the Dakota and Anishinaabe, now known as St. Paul, Minnesota.

Originally from Overland Park, Kansas, she began her training with Alecia Good and also at the Kansas City Ballet School under the direction of Karen P. Brown, spending her summers at the School of American Ballet in New York City. They continued their training at the Professional Division program at Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, WA., where they regularly performed with the company.

Professionally, Elayna has danced with Minnesota Dance Theatre, Colorado Ballet/Colorado Ballet Studio Company, Black Label Movement, BodyCartography Project, and with Cie. Ismael Ivo at ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival and in São Paulo, Brazil.

She was a member of TU Dance from 2012 to 2019, performing works by Alvin Ailey, Dwight Rhoden, Jawole Willa Jo Zoller, Katrin Hall, Francesca Harper, Stephanie Batten-Bland, Gioconda Barbuto, and Gregory Dolbashian among others. They were part of the original creation team of Come Through, the collaboration between TU Dance and Grammy-award winning musical group Bon Iver. Through this collaboration Elayna performed at the Hollywood Bowl (LA, CA), the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), and at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (Manchester, TN).

Elayna is 2019 recipient of a McKnight Fellowship in Dance, through which they worked with choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith on an original solo.

Previous choreographic commissions include Minnesota Dance Theatre, University of Minnesota Dance Department (2022 Cowles Visiting Artist), Carleton College Dance Department, Threads Dance Project, St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, University of Minnesota Opera Theatre, and Zenon Dance Zone among others.

https://www.elaynawaxse.com/

Secure your spot now!

Early Bird pricing activated! Enroll on or before Monday, December 11th, for $40-136.

Student from 2018 Twin Sky Intensive

C.R., reflecting on JSB's August 2022 Intensive

Student from 2018 Twin Sky Intensive

Big Sky community member, reflecting on a 2019 workshop and performance experience with JSB

A.S., reflecting on JSB's August 2022 Intensive

Monday (Dec 18)

Tuesday (Dec 19)

Wednesday (Dec 20)

Thursday (Dec 21)

Payment information