Following Nature: Dance IT with Tensegrity

We often notice that our minds and bodies sway like tree branches, or like the wind. In our bodies, there are many common elements, forms, and functions which humans draw from nature– because we are nature. Find elements of nature moving through your grounded and centered body. Integrate your tangible and visible aligned body to internally and externally weave the intangible and invisible flow of air and energy as a conduit between heaven and earth. Through somatic exercises based on PNF and myofascial release as well as improvisational and compositional creative exercises, Ayako will guide you to perceive dance as the art of being, gaining further freedom by letting go.

Artist Bio

Called “moving everyday sculptures, artfully cast in naturalness” (Luzerner Zeitung, Switzerland), Ayako Kato established her dance company Ayako Kato/Art Union Humanscape in 1998 and has been active as a choreographer, dancer, educator, and curator. She has created work through interdisciplinary collaborations with more than sixty musician-composers, and has toured throughout the US, Japan, and Europe. Most recently, she received the Best of Dance 2020 in SeeChicagoDance and the High Concept Labs Fellowship. She is also a recipient of: Links Hall Co-MISSION Fellowship; residencies at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, California (2021) and Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France (2018) through the 3Arts Residency Fellowships; a 3Arts Award (2016); the Meier Achievement Award; and a Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Award. She has received recognition for her work as "Best of Dance" by the Chicago Tribune and as one of “Fifty People Who Really Perform For Chicago” by NewCity (2014, 2018, 2020). The company has received funding from the Reva & David Logan Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Japan Foundation, The Puffin Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the Chicago Dancemakers Forum, Experimental Sound Studio, and Links Hall.

Kato's current project is “Inception: ETHOS Episode II" from the trilogy. Recent projects include "To the Shore: ETHOS Episode I,” a promenade performance from the Colvin House to Thorndale Beach as part of the Pivot Arts Festival 2019; "Just being," a solo performance at Steelworkers Park in South Chicago, premiered as a film as part of Bridge Dance Festival 2020 curated by Rika Lin and Links Hall; a site-responsive performance with pianist Mabel Kwan for Edra Soto’s “Screenhouse” at Boeing Gallery North, a public art commission of the Millennium Park Foundation and produced with the Arts Administration and Policy program of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago; and the 30th Anniversary Winter Solstice concert by Michael Zerang and Hamid Drake, two of the world’s leading percussionists, presented at Constellation in 2020. Her essay on improvisation, "'Art of Being' through Emptiness," will be published as part of Worlding Bodies by the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College, directed by Susan Sgorbati.

Since 2010, Kato has been an artist in residence at the Hamlin Park Fieldhouse Theater under Chicago Moving Company's Dance Shelter Program. She has been studying dance anatomy under Irene Dowd since 2007. In addition to classical ballet and modern dance, she also studied Tai Chi, Noh Theater, and Butoh with master Kazuo Ohno, one of the founders. She holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Michigan and a certificate from the Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance of Wesleyan University. 

Gaga/dancers

Gaga/dancers deepens dancers’ awareness of physical sensations, expands their palette of available movement options, enhances their ability to modulate their energy and engage their explosive power, and enriches their movement quality with a wide range of textures. The classes are built on the same principles as Gaga/people classes but also employ the specific vocabulary and skills that are part and parcel of a dancer’s knowledge. The layering of familiar skills with Gaga tasks presents dancers with fresh challenges, and throughout the class, teachers prompt the dancers to visit more unfamiliar places and ways of moving as well, unlocking the endlessness of possibilities. Dancers are guided to connect their effort to pleasure and to discover the virtue of silliness.

Artist Bio

Anna Long is a performer, choreographer, and certified Gaga teacher based in the United States. Raised in Massachusetts, Anna began her dance training with New England Dance Academy of Attleboro. She earned her degree in dance and biology at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.  In 2011, Anna was accepted to the pilot Gaga Teachers Training program in Tel Aviv, and trained under Ohad Naharin, Gaga faculty,  and members of Batsheva Dance Company.  

Anna became a certified Gaga teacher in 2012. Since then, she served as a guest teacher for CSU Long Beach, Columbia College, TU Dance, Lee Saar,  and Punch Drunk Theatre’s Sleep No More. She has also hosted Gaga/choreography workshops in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Paris, Denver, Seattle, and Los Angeles. She served on faculty as a Gaga instructor for Hubbard Street Dance Company’s Pre-professional program and teaches Gaga  around the world. Anna now offers classes through Zoom to her community. 

 Anna has produced and created works independently and has choreographed commissions by Visceral Dance Chicago, the Cambrians, Dance Works Chicago, Elements Contemporary Ballet, Loyola Marymount College, Dance in the Parks Chicago, Extensions Dance Company, and James Graham Dance Theater in San Francisco. Anna was chosen as a featured artist for Dixon Place’s Under Exposed series in New York City and presented work in the inaugural Netherlands Choreography Competition in Spring 2017, the 2019 Boston Contemporary Dance Festival and at the 2019  VHS International Solo Dance Theater Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. 

Most recently, Anna wrote, directed, and produced her first independent short film, titled EVEN. The film will be available in 2021 to any and all who contribute to the film’s GoFundMe campaign. 

www.thisisannalong.com

Jazz Funk

Nico's style is rich in old-school grooves and 90s-style jazz funk lines, and also draws on contemporary hip hop and hip-hop technique fundamentals.  In class, you may get anything from gritty swag to a fierce pop performance routine. In jazz funk, he highlights his more technical side.  But in all of Nico's classes, dancers get the chance to tap into a feeling or emotion.  Class members appreciate Nico's physically challenging choreography and the diversity of his movement. He also encourages individuality and risk-taking in class, and students enjoy his warm, energetic personality.  Nico is a patient teacher who really wants students to learn. He breaks the moves down thoroughly and reviews when needed.  Classes offered are intermediate/advanced level. He strives to keep his moves intermediate, but complex musicality and dynamics raise the bar for more advanced students.

ARTIST BIO

A California "Bay Area" native, with over ten years of dancing, teaching, and choreography experience, Nico O’Connor's ability to dance and learn syncopated movement has always come natural to him.  Specializing in Jazz Funk and Hip Hop, his training also includes Ballet Folclorico (traditional Mexican culture dance), Salsa, Jazz, Contemporary, and Ballet.  Growing up in northern California, Nico immersed himself within the dance community around him, taking all the classes he could and eventually dancing for a handful of companies and several bay area artists.  He was a member of the well known non-profit dance troupe Culture Shock Oakland, and a backup dancer for artists like Disney's Kristy Frank, and filipino star Kim DelFierro.  He was a featured dancer in the Bollywood film “Duhaan in America” and at “Wild 94.9 Doghouse” Comedy Jam.  His theater credits include “The Nutcracker” with California Ballet Academy, Chino in “West Side Story”, Fleance in African American Shakespeare’s Company, “The Macbeth Project”, and in the ensemble casts of “The Wizard of Oz”, and “Cinderella”.  

Working professionally in Los Angeles, Nico has danced in ads for: Wal-Mart/Latin Grammys, Sean T's Rockin Body Fitness, and MC hammer's reality show.  He has appeared in music videos for Finger 11, Stephie Ray, NLT, and was a dancer for artists Kat Graham, Prima J, AB Soto, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, and for Pink at the AMA’s.  You can see him on the DanceNetwork’s,“Steady Mobbin”, on SiTv’s “The Drop” and he has also worked with Tabitha & Napolean Dumo on FOX ’s "Mobbed" and casted in their “No Ho Ho Hooligan” Holiday Show. 

As an assistant choreographer he has worked closely with Chonique Sneed & Lisette Bustamonte on MTV's Americas Best Dance Crew, Britney Spears Femme Fetale World Tour & korean pop girl group, Girls Generation. In addition to that he’s assisted Candace Brown on several international dance showcases including Poland’s “You Can Dance”.  On television, his choreography includes setting a duet between actors Kristen Bell and Don Cheadle on a promo for Showtime’s “House of Lies”, and China’s vocal competition show “Heroes of Remix”.  On stage, Nico has choreographed for Brian Justin Crum, Todrick Hall’s “Twerk the Halls” Christmas Show, Latin Artist Noelia on her “40 Degrees” international tour, and “Ms. Viet Nam Continents” beauty pageant. Other credits include:  Bloomingdales, Disney, Boeing, Chevrolet, Rupaul’s Drag Con, Gold’s Gym, DanceOn, DancePlug, Turning Stone Casino, and Choreographers Carnival Ball.

As an internationally known dance instructor, he has taught classes in regions like Japan, China, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Canada, Russia, Germany, Poland, and England.  Nationally he’s been able to instruct at some of the countries most reputable dance studios such as Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios, International Dance Academy (IDA), American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Broadway Dance Center (NY & TOKYO), and Peridance Capezio Center.

Nico is currently on faculty at Millennium Dance Complex, EDGE Performing Arts Center, and Movement Lifestyle, all located in the Los Angeles area. Signed to Go 2 Talent Agency and starting to creatively direct a production company, He continues to teach at various gyms, schools, workshops, community events and kids programs.  Passionate about educating youth on the principles of dance and promoting active lifestyles.   His inner groove and sharp ear for musicality sets him apart from the rest. Creatively he’s known for his dynamics, visual concepts, and staging.  As a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Nico's passion for dance has allowed him to follow his dreams and achieve many goals, now able to share his experience and knowledge with others who share the same passion.