Acclaimed Artistic Director Sonia Plumb is leaping into the fall dance season with a new space, new instructors, and a renewed sense of purpose after an 18-month coronavirus closure. The School of SPDC was set to launch in March of 2020 and put on hold due to the pandemic. To celebrate the return of in-person instruction, the School of Sonia Plumb Dance Company (SPDC) invites everyone to experience the joy of dance at a series of FREE classes outdoors on the Old State House lawn in Hartford. Participants of all ages can move and groove while learning about the renowned contemporary dance company.
"We wanted to bring the community together in a collective expression of creative movement as we welcome students back to the studio," said Plumb, SPDC Founder, instructor and award-winning choreographer. "Our mission has always been to offer people from all cultures, age groups, abilities and income levels the opportunity to learn how to dance, appreciate dance and incorporate dance into their lives, and these events are the ideal introduction."
As a lifelong dancer, Plumb seeks to nurture young performers while inspiring adults to continue or engage in dance for the first time. Therefore, the first free class is for adults on Tuesday morning, September 28, 2021, (rain date September 30) starting at 9am with a faculty meet & greet, followed by Core Conditioning from 9:15 to 10am and SPDC Contemporary Modern from 10 to 11am.
Kids can join the fun on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 (rain date September 30) with a faculty meet & greet from 4 to 4:15pm, followed by a Mini Class for ages three to five from 4:15 to 4:35pm, a Mini Class for ages five to seven from 4:35 to 5pm, ending with a Modern/Creative Mini Class for ages eight to ten from 5 to 5:25pm.
"My team of incredible instructors is eager to start teaching again, particularly at our new facility," explained Plumb. "Although some of them are new to the staff, they all boast impressive résumés as accomplished dancers, choreographers and instructors."
In her role as Director of Education and faculty member, Julianne Guarnieri is delighted to rejoin the SPDC family, where she was a performing member from 2012 to 2014. In addition to her 15 years of teaching experience in the Hartford area, Guarnieri has had the pleasure of sharing her love for dance education as a pedagogy mentor at the University of Hartford's Hartt School Dance Department.
Instructor Rachel Calabrese graduated in May 2020 from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with a BFA in Dance. She has trained and worked with a variety of prestigious choreographers and most recently, she performed as a company member with the Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company.
Savana Jones is a Hartford native joining the staff. She has studied jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, and social dancing. She graduated from The Hartford Conservatory in 2009. She is a well-known dance instructor and choreographer with five years of working with the youth of all ages and abilities.
Plumb has led the SPDC since 1990 and choreographed 50+ dances during her career. "I attribute my artistic style to a morphing of ideas with dance, constantly seeking to observe, learn, question, and collaborate." She is a three-time recipient of the Connecticut Office of the Arts Fellowship for Artistic Excellence, received a SURDNA National Teaching Fellowship (2013), and was one of only nine artists nationwide to receive a Community Legacy Project award in 2015.
The School of Sonia Plumb Dance Company offers a myriad of classes for children, family and adults. Classes include multi-levels of Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Creative, and Cultural Infusion. Dancers can take electives in addition to the core classes such as FloorBarre Conditioning, Wellness Workshops and Digital Dance. Class sizes are limited so sign up early! Most classes are offered both in-person and virtually. View the extensive selection of courses and register online at https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/index.php?account_id=22162.
Dance artists from beginner to professional level are invited to utilize the training programs led by SPDC and our team of interdisciplinary collaborators. Operating in radial circles, the organization offers arts integration programs for grades pK-8 with Hartford Public Schools, pre-professional level classes and training through School of Sonia Plumb Dance, high-level training through residencies and intensive workshops, while also running a touring professional company of dancers.
As a non-profit, performing arts organization, SPDC relies upon the generous donations of the community to help sustain it. Donations can be made by visiting https://soniaplumbdance.org/support/.
"Whether you're a novice dancer, seasoned professional, or simply seeking exercise and a creative outlet, you're sure to learn and grow when you enroll at SPDC, where passion meets purpose," concludes Plumb.
About Sonia Plumb Dance Company
Since 1990, Sonia Plumb Dance Company has been exciting audiences with contemporary modern dance performances that boast stunning visuals, vivid choreography, and compelling storytelling. Its global collaborations with musicians, composers, videographers, poets, professors and puppeteers have engaged thousands of audiences both young and old alike. From the main stage to the school classroom to the public park, the critically acclaimed, contemporary dance company is known for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion – making the art of dance available and accessible to all.
Founded and led by lifelong dancer and Artistic Director Sonia Plumb, SPDC is a 501(c)(3) organization offering dance instruction classes, professional apprenticeships, arts integration programs, and community outreach that serves more than 8,000 constituents throughout the Northeast and connects humanity through the world of dance. The studio office is located at 960 Main Street, Suite #555B, Hartford, CT 06103. For more information call 860.370.2057 or visit www.SoniaPlumbDance.org.