Spectrum Dance Theater & PNB School present the Donald Byrd Summer Workshop
Pacific Northwest Ballet School and The School of Spectrum Dance Theater are thrilled to announce a new collaborative summer intensive experience. PNB School will host an extension of SDT’s annual Donald Byrd Workshop for dancers ages 12 and up at the Francia Russell Center in Bellevue. Developing dancers are invited to a week-long contemporary dance workshop with Spectrum Dance Theater’s artistic director and choreographer Donald Byrd (whose work Love and Loss was recently performed during PNB’s 2023/24 Season) or PNB Company dancer Leah Terada.
The workshop portion for dancers ages 12-15 will be led by Leah Terada. What does it mean to exist in the space of a new choreography? How does one tap in to their own self-expression in order to make choreographic choices? This week-long workshop with Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist Leah Terada will give young dancers the tools they need to discuss and think critically about the choreographic process, create thoughtful movement with intention, and provide a guide to learn to explore their own voice through dance and the choreographic process.
Participating dancers ages 16 to 30 will take the workshop portion led by Mr. Byrd. Each day will include technique class and choreography class where students will work with Mr. Byrd or Terada on new choreographic phrases as well as excerpts of classic Donald Byrd dance works. Technique class focuses on Mr. Byrd’s movement aesthetics. It emphasizes a relaxed, strong, and flexible torso with highly articulated feet and legs with increasing rhythmic and spatial exactness. With this focus, the dancer becomes more efficient in managing energy and more able to control the visual, emotional, and physical impact of their body moving.
The PNB School + Spectrum Dance Theater Donald Byrd Workshop will take place August 5-9, 2024. The week-long workshop will culminate in an informal showcase of learned choreography.
PNB School + Spectrum Dance Theater Donald Byrd Workshop
Ages 12-15 | Led by PNB Company dancer Leah Terada
Ages 16-30 | Led by Spectrum Dance Theater artistic director Donald Byrd
August 5 -9, 2024 | 11:30am – 4:30pm | Francia Russell Center – Eastside
Daily Schedule: 2 hour class | 30 minute break | 2.5 hour process/repertory workshop
Click the link to register for the workshop led by Leah Terada for ages 12-15 – priority registration ended May 1st.
Click the link to register for the workshop led by Donald Byrd for ages 16-30 – priority registration ended May 1st.