BIOGRAPHY
Julia K. Gleich is a contemporary ballet choreographer and teacher. She taught Ballet and Limón techniques for 15 years at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London and was Head of Choreography at London Studio Centre for 13 years, both BA programs. She is the Artistic Director of Gleich Dances www.gleichdances.org and is the Co-Founder of the Brooklyn-based arts group Norte Maar. She was a 2014 recipient of the University of Utah Fine Arts Distinguished Alumni Award and has been on faculties of dance at Broadway Dance Center, Manhattanville College, University of Utah, and Roehampton University. Master teaching has taken her to colleges and companies in the US, the UK and Japan, and her students have gone on to dance for Wayne McGregor, Michael Clark, Richard Alston, Merce Cunningham, Hofesh Schecter, Vienna Festival Ballet, Lion King, Thriller Live, and more. Many have independent professional dance careers in Europe and the USA. Gleich's published writing on a directed-energy theory of generating and analyzing movement, "Vector Theory," is at the heart of her teaching. Alongside kinesiological principles and mental imagery she presents a holistic and joyous approach to the art form. Gleich's choreography has received critical notice in the New York Times, The New Criterion, The Brooklyn Rail, dancelog.nyc, and others.
Gleich believes that a broad and inclusive approach to dance yields the best results in art and life.
CLASS DESCRIPTION
If you've ever been curious to take a beginning ballet class in NYC, this is the one for you. I will guide you in the art of ballet in a class that is designed to inspire and motivate you to find joy in ballet. No one should ever be afraid to step into a ballet class. If you have no experience, but are curious and willing, you can learn the basics of technique through this class. I focus on building movement confidence, developing vocabulary while sharing my approaches to ballet in the 21st Century. Students should see themselves as humans first, with goals and desires, identity and nuance. Each class will cover the basics of ballet to music ranging from classical to rock to popular tunes and includes the full range of exercises from barre to center. Mondays will start with a focus on releves, ideal for any beginners on pointe and suitable or adapted for those not on pointe.