Attending a Master Class?

[DTBG2]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 11:33pm

the Austrailian Dance Theatre Company's HELD troupe is coming to my state and they are hold a 1 day 2 and half hour master class...i have zero experience dancing, and i have future plans on attending theatre school..should i check out this master class? what is the purpose of master classes? is this out of my league since i am not a dancer going in? SOMEONE LEND ME SOME ADVICE, please....thanks!

[DTBG2]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 12:05am

nobody?? :*O(

[peach]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 12:19pm

Master class can mean one of two things: A special guest is coming to teach a class where said guest does not usually teach. In general, the guest is someone who is well-regarded in the industry - in this case, the HELD troupe. Other times, a master class means a special class for skills for a particular group (i.e. a master tap class for a chorus in a production, etc).

If the class you are interested in is open to the public, it's probably the first kind. Your best bet is to call the venue where the class will be taking place to find out if it is open. I encourage anyone who hasn't danced before to try new things and dance! However, the HELD stuff is physically quite demanding, so if you call first to find out if there are any precautions or modifications you should take to avoid injury and frustration.

I also suggest trying out a few ballet or beginner jazz classes in the weeks leading up to the workshop (try your local dance studio, even the YMCA sometimes has classes). This will help you get a feel for warmups, and boost your dance confidence overall. Master classes can move fast sometimes, so you'll want some basics under your belt.

Just call and ask - is this good for beginners? If it is, even if you can't do all of the steps, they may suggest you can watch and learn parts. It's also important to tell the instructor if you are new to dance.

Good luck!