Contemporary

GET YOUR ASS TO CLASS! This hour is designed for us to break a sweat, test our space + our aliveness, and practice with movement styles that straddle contemporary / modern forms with jazz + pop aesthetics.

Class will be interactive - there is space for questions, demonstration requests + brief post-dance chats. To start, I will lead us in an abbreviated warm up, building up to phrase work that moves in and out of the floor --- highlighting effort, athleticism, and musicality always with a strong soundtrack.

Artist BIo

Erin Kilmurray is a genre-straddling dance artist drawing on practices found in nightlife fulture, live performances, and space-making. Her work challenges the traditional relationships between performer and spectator through elctric, pop-fringe works that enlivens the body and its environment. Through facilitating her various dance practices, she is committed to relentlessly amplifying women, queer folks, the underground and the underdog.

She is a Links Hall Fellow (2022-2023), recognized on Newcity magazine’s 50 People Who Really Perform For Chicago (2023), and a Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist (2021-2020).

Erin is the director/choreographer of The Fly Honey Show — Called ‘Chicago Institution' by the Chicago Reader. Her current work, The Function, will premiere at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Fall 2022.

Choreography

Exploring several basics of hip-hop and application through intermediate/advanced-level choreography.

Artist BIo

Taryn Cheng is a dancer, choreographer, and creative director born and raised in Los Angeles. She is currently a choreographer for GRV. She always had a deep love for the arts from a very young age but became heavily involved with the dance community when she joined Gravy Babies in 2013. As her love for dance continued to grow, she began to choreograph and teach at studios across Los Angeles. Since then, she has traveled across the U.S. and the world to teach in multiple countries including China, Singapore, and Australia. In addition to teaching at studios such as Sinostage, Kinjaz Dojo, Soundbox Studios, and Crewplayers Dance Complex, Taryn has choreographed for artists such as KSHMR and also performed with BTS. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California, class of 2019, with a B.S. in Music Industry and a minor in Culture, Media, and Entertainment.

Contemporary Fusion

Diana's class will explore the dynamic fusion of controlled musicality and raw human expression. The class will begin with a guided warm-up, followed by the exploration of a choreographed phrase. Throughout the class, the students will have the opportunity to develop their own artistic voices while honing in on specific musicality and details. This class will provide an opportunity to move with others within the community, near and far, sharing in passion, dance, and expression.

ARTIST BIO

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Diana Schoenfield is a choreographer, dancer, and educator currently based in Los Angeles, California. Through a dynamic fusion of contemporary dance styles, her work explores human connection, vulnerability, and emotional tension. This past December, Diana danced in the world premier of Cirque du Soleil’s ’Twas the Night Before Holiday Spectacular in Chicago and New York, choreographed by Vinh Nguyen. Diana has recently performed with pop artist Sofia Reyes, as well as toured throughout Europe with German artist Helene Fischer. She is an ninth-year member of Entity Contemporary Dance, directed by Marissa Osato and Will Johnston. Graduating from the University of California, Irvine, she earned her B.F.A. in Dance Choreography and a B.F.A. in Dance Performance. During her undergraduate years, she worked with Modern Dance legend Donald McKayle, as a member of his repertory company Etude Ensemble. After graduating, Diana joined Hip Hop Dance company Culture Shock LA, performing in urban dance productions throughout the west coast. She has choreographed for French artist Johnny Hallyday, as well as American artists Niki and Gabi Demartino, Shane Dawson, Trisha Paytas, Joey Graceffa, Luke Conard, and Jake Coco. Diana has also presented original works in the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, McCallum Choreography Festival, TEDxOrange Coast,TEDxUCSD, Capezio A.C.E. Awards, and Arena Dance Competition LA. She currently teaches at Movement Lifestyle and Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. As her immense passion for teaching continues, Diana is dedicated to spreading positivity, empowerment, and creativity through dance education.

Contemporary

Artist BIo

Rudy Abreu is originally from Miami, FL, where he received his early dance training under the direction of Manny and Lory Castro. Rudy went on to perform on various reality TV shows including Paula Abdul’s “Live to Dance”, “America’s Got Talent”, and at the age of 18, after placing in the top 8 of the hit tv show, “So You Think You Can Dance”, performed on a 77 city tour around the US and Canada with the “So You Think You Can Dance” tour. 

Rudy immediately relocated to LA and began his professional career. Some of Rudy’s dance and choreography credits include Jennifer Lopez, Derek and Julianne Hough, Bebe Rexha,  Ben Platt, Camilla Cabello, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, Jacky Cheung and Jolin Tsai. Rudy founded and is currently directing both his all male company “Embodiment The Collective” and all female company “RAdiance Dance Company” which have both been featured on NBC’s “World of Dance” and just recently premiered their first ever full length work entitled “The Overthinker”. 

Rudy continues to educate and connect with dancers all over the country touring with BTF’s JUMP dance convention. Abreu also teaches at several professional studios in Los Angeles including Millennium Dance Complex, Edge Performing Arts Center and Movement Lifestyle. 

Choreography

This class is an intermediate/advanced urban-choreography based class.

Artist BIo

Hugh Aparente was born in the Philippines and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-hop. He's worked with choreographers like Ian Eastwood, Kyle Hanagami, Keone and Mari Madrid, Nappytabs. He has worked with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Pretty Much, Billie Eillish, Jolin Tsai, NSYNC and performed for the American Music Awards, Radio Disney Music Awards, Coachella, and the Ugly Beauty Tour overseas. He teaches at Snowglobe Perspective and Kinjaz Dojo.

Contemporary

Brandon’s contemporary class will start with a 20 minute warm up and finish with 40 minutes of phrase work. Brandons class utilizes large and expansive movement (for small spaces) and emphasizes the importance of dynamics and musicality.

Artist BIo

BRANDON COLEMAN is a NYC based performer from Katy, TX and is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where he received his BFA in Dance and BA in Communication with a minor in Arts Administration.

Formerly a member of Visceral Dance Chicago, Coleman has also worked with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a guest artist for their 2017 Summer Series. Since moving to NYC in 2017, Brandon has danced with KEIGWIN + COMPANY, the Metropolitan Opera ballet, VIM VIGOR Dance Company and is currently a performer at SLEEP NO MORE.

As a teacher, Brandon has taught across the country in major cities such as NYC, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Brandon has been on faculty with Visceral Dance Center in Chicago, IL and Inspire School of Dance in Naperville, IL but is a regular guest teacher at Hubbard Street Dance Center, Millennium Dance Complex LV, and METdance Center. Brandon now teaches a regular Contemporary Forms class at Gibney Dance Center in NYC. Currently working as a guest teacher for a variety workshops and intensives across North America, Brandon's class revolves around movement quality and a positive learning environment. Find more about Brandon at www.BrandonColemanDance.com or on instagram @itsBrandonColeman

Contemporary Fusion

This choreography driven class is focused on the intersection of classical and urban vocabulary. We'll begin with a warm up consisting of cardio and dynamic stretching, and proceed to learn a short phrase through which we'll explore different textures and qualities of movement. We'll have a chance to practice the movement and also observe fellow class takers. Dance experience is highly encouraged!

Artist BIo

Karen Chuang is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Los Angeles, CA. As a professional dancer Karen has appeared in a variety of television shows, live events, and toured with artists including Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, and Lady Gaga. Karen is represented by Clear Talent Group, and has been a proud member of Entity Contemporary Dance since 2009. As a choreographer, Karen meshes her different experiences in the urban, commercial, and contemporary dance worlds. She’s presented original works at TEDxUCSD, the Capezio A.C.E. Awards in New York, and the McCallum Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, CA. Recently, Karen was a contributing choreographer for Carly Rae Jepsen’s, “The Dedicated Tour”, and was awarded Favorite Convention Teacher at the 2018 Industry Dance Awards. She’s taught internationally in countries including Mexico, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Currently, Karen teaches regularly at Edge Performing Arts Center and is on faculty for Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention.