INSITU 2018 Community Dance Workshop Series

The month-long INSITU 2018 Community Dance Workshop Series, July 10, 2018 – August 2, 2018, is hosted by Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement, 10-25 41st Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101. This year, INSITU offers two specific workshops, one for young adults and one for 50+ adults throughout the month of July, culminating with performances in the festival on August 4 + 5. The
INSITU Young Adult Dance Workshop meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 PM on July 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 and August 2. The
INSITU 50+ Dance Workshop meets on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30 am on July 11, 18, 25 and August 1. Each workshop will culminate in a short performance at INSITU Site-Specific Dance Festival on August 4 + 5 in Queensbridge Park.
Workshops are free but advance sign-up is required on insitudancefestival.com/workshops.

The mission of INSITU is to create platforms of communal sharing and dialogue for the ethnically and economically diverse LIC community. The INSITU Community Dance Workshop is an initiative to bring people together from different LIC communities with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Inspiring dialogue and integration through dance, we invite residents to awaken their creative powers as a community. Together, they will move, dance and create a performance for the festival.

LIC is a fast-changing neighborhood and we strive to use dance as a tool to bring people together in our community, to spark a dialogue for better integration, and to encourage stronger neighborhood bonds. An important goal of the community workshop is to bridge the gap between two disparate LIC communities that are physically and often psychologically separated by the Queensboro Bridge. Less than a mile apart, one side of the bridge is experiencing an influx of new luxury high rise developments (Hunters Point, Court Square) and the other side of the bridge is home to the largest public housing community in North America (Queensbridge Houses). “Through INSITU we strive to inspire dialogue, engage both communities to dance together, explore their neighborhoods through an artistic lens and develop a creative common language.” – Svea Schneider, INSITU Founder/Artistic Director

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:

INSITU Young Adult Dance Workshop
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8 PM on July 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 and August 2 taught by INSITU 2018 choreographer Quilan “Cue” Arnold

Quilan’s class, onC.U.E, encourages each student’s sense of creativity, unity, and empowerment. Students will learn foundational techniques of house dance and hip-hop social dances by participating in numerous exercises that are inspired by hip-hop dance’s primary learning environment, the cypher. In challenging the strengths, fears and vulnerability of each student, this hip-hop class prioritizes community in conjunction with technique as a way to inspire the best from every individual.

The INSITU Young Adults Workshop is an ideal opportunity for young adults to learn more about dance and choreography while connecting with their peers. It offers them an experience to engage with a professional choreographer and perform alongside professional dance companies at the festival.

Quilan “Cue” Arnold (MFA) is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Brooklyn, New York. He was a 2018 Guest Artist at Ohio State University (OH), and Towson University (MD), a 2017 Guest Lecturer at New York University (NY), and a 2017 Artist in Residence at the University of Memphis (TN). Quilan currently serves as a faculty member at Mark Morris Dance Center (NY), and Gibney Dance Center (NY).

The INSITU 50+ Dance Workshop
Wednesday from 10-11:30 am on July 11, 18, 25 and August 1 taught by INSITU 2018 choreographer Nubian Néné

The Essence Experience, taught by Nubian Néné, is a fun and physically engaging dance class that explores the dance styles of the Disco and House eras. The workshop emphasizes freestyle improvisation to allow each participant to experience their essence and flow naturally with the music.

The INSITU 50+ Dance Workshop is an ideal opportunity for cooperative art making and camaraderie, fighting isolation and boosting mental capacity, creating opportunities for personal challenge and reducing interpersonal barriers.

Born in Montréal, Nubian Néné is known in her community for her waacking and house dance styles, as a well-versed dancer, an extraordinary and powerful choreographer, and her ability to wear many hats, such as host, judge, performer, director, producer, writer, and more. Néné’s mantra is “Let the music inspire you, get inspired by the music. Let your dance inspire and be inspired by your dance.”