by Kathryn Padberg, e-Marketing & Design Associate

Dance New Amsterdam brings back Luis Lara Malvacias-Venezuelan choreographer/performer to their “Guest Artist” series this week (through March 14). His classes infuse a thorough and precise warm up with luscious phrase work marked with cultural nuances and innuendos. With the influence of Barbara Mahler and Susan Klein technique, his experience with Jeremy Miller and more recently with the anatomical explorations of Alexander technique, the investigative nature of the class allows the dancer to take moments and locate his or her individual structure and fine tune the thousands of connections existing within the body. Be prepared to hang upside down – tail bone reaching to the ceiling, palms resting on the wood floor. At first, this activity can feel odd, but the methodical exactitude of the material can almost seem like coming home into your own body—a means to begin your own discourse with it; a way to find your full length and an airy, yet weighted sensation of your physical structure.

Malvacias is at DNA Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am -12pm through March 14.

Other March Classes:

John Jasperse at Movement Research Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 12 though March 27

Alexandra Bellar at 100 Grand Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 12 though March 27

Keith Thompson at 100 Grand Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am to 12 through April 4

Cori Olinghouse at Trisha Brown Studio, March 17 and 24 6:30-8:30pm