Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance (RCD) has announced that they are offering a series of virtual masterclasses to raise awareness, support, and donations to benefit BLACK LIVES MATTER.
Guest artists teach Latin Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Contemporary Master Classes.
Open to all dancers age 11+ in the community. The cost is $30/class and profits will be donated to the official campaign for justice.
Register at ridgefielddance.org.
About the instructors
ABDIEL JACOBSEN, LATIN BALLROOM: 2-3 PM on June 27
Abdiel Jacobsen, is former Principal Dancer of the Martha Graham Dance Company. He has been a guest artist with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Buglisi Dance Theater, and Cecilia Marta Dance Company. He received a B.F.A. DAnce from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and is a Professional Champion of the Competitive Smooth Ballroom and Latin/Rhythm dance division acquiring over 10 years of experience as an instructor/coach certified by Arthur Murray Dance International. In 2019, Abdiel and his dance partner Kristine became Disco America’s National 1st place Champions in Hustle for the Professional Dance Off Division and made history becoming AMERICA’s FIRST… Professional male-female ballroom duo to compete in DanceSport as a GENDER NEUTRAL COUPLE both equally exchanging roles of lead and follow within all 5 American Rhythm dances. They have taught their gender neutral approach to social and competitive partner dance at The Julliard School, Gibney Dance Center, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and various dance congresses all over the world. Abdiel is a Fulbright Specialist Recipient with the US Department of State's Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Global Learning, with a 3-year tenure. He was also a Guest Lecturer in Modern Dance at the University of California Irvine where he had taught Graham Technique for Level II, III, IV and Graduate class.
EXCEL GARNER, HOP HOP: 2-3:30 PM on July 11
Born and raised in the Hollis section of Queens, Excel Garner has come a long way from being a barber in his neighborhood. At the tender age of 15, Excel began cutting hair and dancing. After graduating from high school at 18, Excel and three of his closest friends formed the dance group “Kwietstorm”. Kwietstorm brought their own street, funk, and hip-hop dance styles from Queens to the world. His unique dance moves incorporates a mixture of hip-hop and club styles that constantly keeps heads turning. As a major advocate of hip-hop dance, this artistic and renowned choreographer not only dances for pleasure, but also has love and passion for the art. From coast to coast, Excel has performed with some of the industry’s biggest artists such as Robin S, and the Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B, Ashanti. Excel also appeared in music videos with Whitney Houston, Zhane, Vicious, Quad City Dj’s, PMD of multi-platinum rap group “EPMD”. Among these accomplishments, Excel appeared in commercials from MCI to Boss clothing apparel. Excel toured on the Nike Play tour and Budweiser Super Fest tour with legendary Heavy D. To add, Excel performed in the opening act choreographed by TwiTch and Mandy Moore at Capeizo’s 125 th Gala. An appearance in the Sanaa Lathan & Taye Diggs film “Brown Sugar” as a break dancer and has had a recurring appearance on Russell Simmon’s “Def Comedy Jam” for 4 years. Recently, Excel has become a member D.M.A (Dance Masters of America). Excel also choreographs and directs company and conducts weekly hip-hop dance classes around the NY/Tri-State Area. Last but not least, Excel has added director to his list of titles. He has recently directed first music video with longtime friend “Stix Bones” and produces, films edits and directs his own concept videos featuring his tailor made choreography. Excel mentors and encourages young dancers far and wide and constantly instills in every last one of them to “Dance Hard Or Don’t Dance At All!!
Marlon Mayers discovered his passion for dance at the age of 14 where he began his dance training when accepted into Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. While attending Frank Sinatra, he also attended Ballet Hispanico, The Abrons Arts Center and The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Graduating from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in 2009, Marlon attended Marymount Manhattan College as a B.F.A dance major. Marlon has landed wonderful opportunities that allowed him to work with a wide range of choreographers from different styles of dance such as Jessica Lang, Laurie-Ann Gibson, Daniel Catanach, and Larry Keigwin, just to name a few. Since then he has been a Principal Dancer with the Abrons Arts Center Dance Ensemble, a Corp de Ballet dancer with Urban Ballet Theater and a freelancer with small modern dance companies based in New York City. Although Marlon loves performing, he has a passion for teaching. He has had the opportunity to choreograph on the graduating class at Frank Sinatra school of the Arts as well as teach and be a mentor for the underclassmen. He has also presented his own choreography with the American Ballet Theater’s “Make a Ballet” and has submitted and showcased his works to numerous arts festivals. When not rehearsing and staging his own works, Marlon spends his time in a studio teaching and sharing great life lessons to students throughout the greater New York area.