Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre is fresh off of a tour to Auburn, NY and back in NYC for regular classes! This week, NYC Director of the New York Institute of Dance & Education, Hana Ginsburg Tirosh, focused on McLeod Technique Modern, a codified dance technique based in emotional development that cultivates a vast movement range, an emotional vocabulary, and a process that inspires dancers to be happy people! Hana said she “was excited to use some of the MT material and techniques I got from Sean on our amazing weekend trip, so although I had planned to do RMF for Ballet Application to make use of the barres at DANY I decided to pivot to MT Modern!”
International Producer and President of Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre reinforces KDT Soloist Hana Ginsburg Tirosh in a parallel penché, giving her the tools to be a dancer with technical grace and an emotional signature.
On Wednesday, Hana honed in on a movement integration series that Sean taught her the week before, highlighting the physical work that goes into constructing dance that is emotionally honest. She worked one-on-one with NYC Professional Dancer Ruth Rae, who had also shared in learning the combination from Sean. Because Ruth had been in the room when Sean set the intention of this series, she had an advantage that many of the other dancers did not: information! What Ruth lacked initially in class was the courage to use that which she already knew. Sean iterates often that “if you have the correct information but you don’t use it, then you do not get the benefit of having it.” Hana quickly helped Ruth to recalibrate how to employ her pre-existing knowledge by asking Ruth to teach Hana the combination. By verbalizing the movement (and using a strong voice!), Ruth demonstrated with confidence that her wealth of information was greater than she imagined. And Ruth learned to be more formidable in the process!
International Producer and American Choreographer Sean McLeod works with NYC Professional Dancer Ruth Rae on applying the expert knowledge already in her possession.
NYC Director of the New York Institute of Dance & Education Hana Ginsburg Tirosh encouraged NYC Professional Dancer Ruth Rae to find the joy of information during a McLeod Technique Open Class in NYC. Here, the heel presses forward, the legs rotate from the top of the hip, and the face is expressive.
During the Friday morning class, Hana’s focus on emotional intention brought the class to another high point. The robust physical warm up was actually an exercise in being emotionally warm. During one portion of the class, the dancers had to ascend and descend from relevé for a good ten minutes. Their muscles were burning, but instead of giving out or giving up, the dancers looked at each other and smiled! Encouragement and inspiration started flowing in the room. Conversations between eyes and eyebrows said, “You got this! We can make it!” Such a small gesture has huge ramifications. With the Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre, who you are as a person is vital to your lifespan in the company. Every dancer in every company will endure grueling physical drills; how many of those places will leave you feeling uplifted in the process? That emotional fortitude is the netting that meshes the company together as friends and family, that catches us with grace when we fall.
Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre Company-In-Training Members Jessica Davis and Sarah Warren embrace KDT Apprentice Jill Michalsky (center), in a candid moment mid rehearsal. These are ties that bind!
We as a company are so incredibly grateful to Hana Ginsburg Tirosh for sharing her wealth of knowledge in the classes she has been teaching since January. We are excited to welcome back our sister, NYIDE Senior Associate and KDT NYC Rehearsal Director Devon McLeod, after studying and working abroad in Prague, Czech Republic this past spring! Devon, an MT master, will be at the helm of MT Open Classes as we head into the fall our 25th Anniversary Season.
NYIDE Senior Associate and NYC Rehearsal Director of KDT, Devon McLeod lives her happy happy joy joy in an MT Afro Hip Hop class in NYC.
Join Devon McLeod and the rest of Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre for MT Open Classes this week!
Wednesday, September 2: 5pm-6pm at 100 Grand Dance
Friday, September 4: 11am-12pm at Ripley Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave
Visit mcleodtechnique.com to register!
By Chelsea Blakeburn
