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Classes
Classes in three main styles of contemporary dance (ñontemporary, modern/jazz, MTV-style) and additional classes connected with body work (yoga,stretching) are held regularly in accordance with the school schedule in the course of academic year.
There is about 200 students currently attending the school. The students are grouped according to their age and proficiency level into over 15 groups.
Review lessons and independent work
Review lessons are a part of the study process. The quantity of such lessons (from 1 to 4) is defined individually for each group. Review lessons are closed for public attendance and are evaluated by the teaching staff. Usually such lesson consists of two parts: the repetition of material learned in the course of study and the presentation of students’ independent work. The independent works based on the material learned in class are very important for the students as they provide a unique opportunity to try oneself out as choreographer. During a review lesson, the teaching staff defines the author of the best independent work and/or the student who proved most successful in the improvement of his skill during the study course. This student may be rewarded with tuition discount. Individual creativity development is the school’s priority task.
Video seminars
Video seminars are an important part of the study process and are aimed at the development of the students’ cultural standard and at the broadening of their outlook. Video seminars do not coincide with other lessons and are open for anyone. There is about 10 seminars organised during one academic year. Each of the seminars focuses on a certain theme, wheher it be a specific choreographer, a dance festival or a dance style. From time to time, the school hosts Video-Non-Stop weekends when feature films, videos of ballets and performances are being shown continuously throughout one weekend’s time. Such format allows to receive a fuller understanding and fling oneself into the work of a specific choreographer, theatre or stage director.
Parties
Parties are held by the school on the occasion of various holidays or Dialogue Dance specific events. Beside that, school organizes events that include informal dance classes (among those already taken place are: Red Session, Afro Party, Dance Right On party).
Dialogue Dance video-and book library
The school’s videothek and library were founded in 2003 and have since been regularly updated. Their use is free of charge for the school’s students. The book library’s collection is mainly represented by modern fiction as well as books and magazines dedicated to dance and the art of movement. The video library collection includes feature films about dance, videos of specific works of famous choreographers, as well as the Dialogue Dance company video (recitals, concerts, festivals, performances).
Demonstration lessons and open school days
Demonstration lessons do not distinguish from every day lessons other than that they are open for anyone wishing to come and watch the class as it is in reality. As for the students, such lessons give them experience of getting used to the presence of the audience, but outside the scene.
Open school day is traditionally held on the first Sunday of February. On this day, anyone interested has an opportunity to take a class on one of the dance techniques taught at the school.
Recital
School recitals are held in the end of each semester, twice during the study year (in December and in June). A recital shows the students’ progress as a result of one semester study. The best of the students’ independent works are selected by the teaching staff to be included in the recital.
Dance performances
The best dance pieces created during the last season and engaging the school’s best students along with the Company’s dancers, were shown as follows:
«Time to Be Born…» /May and September 2003, Kostroma Drama Theatre n.a. Ostrovsky
«The Movement That Speaks » /May 2004, Kostroma Drama Theatre n.a. Ostrovsky
«Stories Told by the Body» /October 2005 Kostroma Drama Theatre n.a. Ostrovsky
«The Dance Exists» /November 2006, Dialogue Dance School Hall.
«Fusion: Part 1» / March 2008, Kostroma Drama Theatre n.a. OstrovskyPhoto: Fusion Part I
«Fusion: Part 2» / October 2008, Kostroma Drama Theatre n.a. Ostrovsky Photo: Fusion Part II
Creative groups
In 2005, an experimental group was created under the direction of Evgeny Kulagin to investigate possibilities of street performance and non-scenic performance. In the group’s lifetime, the following performances were created: «Road to the Sea» (June, 2005), «Look Up» (September,9, 2005), «The Friday of Habitation» (September, 2007). Furthermore, independent work of the group participants were presented at school recitals and during art exhibitions.
Dance project “Cocoa” was created in 2005, with a focus on pop dance and jazz dance. The group’s dance pieces have been shown at school recitals, included in Dialogue Dance performances and municipal events.
Social Work
Outside its general study program, the school holds free dance and movement classes for special groups of people. In 2004 it was a dance course for five-year-olds in the framework of preschoolers’ development program. In 2005 the school organized a year-long course for people with limited physical abilities.