Romanee and Company
ROMANEE & CO.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Romanee & Co. has an eclectic curriculum. Performance training, workshops, camps, artist collaborations. Other customized training formats include pageant talent/coaching, music direction/arrangement and classes for students with emotional disturbances/learning disablilties. Ongoing and seasonal classes offered in all areas for adult and children. Group and privates sessions follow the NY public school calendar. Inquire for information on schedule, fees and booking.
Rhythm and Grace
This course is an exploration of Indian dance that serves as the embodiment of past traditions, history of a people, and a means of transforming and transmitting culture. Kathak, a classical dance form of North Indian, is a Hindu-Muslim origin and encompasses strength, grace, expression, and technical virtuosity. Students will learn rhythmic sequences and storytelling using movement vocabulary and improvisational dance making.
Creative Kathak
Students learn classical Indian dance using Laban movement analysis and motif description. This course explores dance literacy as a tool for creativity, freedom of expression, memorization, choreography and individual body awareness. Spontaneous individual and group creation is explored using fun symbols and dance tools.
Dance and Culture
Dance and Culture is an interactive course which emphasizes both academic and experiential learning. The concept of dance as a storehouse and reflector of history and culture is the premise in learning through choreographic experiences in addition to substantial academic research. This course provides an introduction and exploration of various dance forms from India, the Indo-Caribbean diaspora and Puerto Rico: Kathak, Indian Film dance, Rajdhar, Chutney, Plena and Bomba and discusses “interculturalism” in relation to these specific forms and a more “universal” artistic connectedness. The styles of dance serve as an example or springboard to questions pertaining to the importance of world culture on a whole. It includes dance viewings and music analysis from socio-historical, religious, structural, technical standpoints. Discussion and debate over issues of cultural preservation, artistic modernization, artist/audience role, performance technique, classical vs. folk arts, the future of traditional and contemporary dance forms and production are fundamental to the life of this course. Readings, viewings, presentations, and performance are included. No previous dance experience necessary.
Indo- Caribbean Dance
Students are introduced Indo-Caribbean dance through themes of plantation life, weddings, and ritual ceremonies present at the heart of the Bhojpuri/ Hindi lyrics and Kathak dance, its main foundation. of Indo-Caribbean dance forms nuances. In-class freestyle and choreography is developed with distinct dance characteristics of three main Indo-Caribbean cultures: Guyana (Rajdhar dance/ Tan Sangeet music), Suriname (Baithak Ki Gana) and Trinidad (Chutney). Students will be acquainted with musical and dance terms to take their dance to the next level.
What are we really saying?
This course explores everyday movements and scenarios as the basis of facial expression and body language of classical Indian dance. This detailed look at the non-verbal person to person, person to environment, person to self connection is relevant to acting technique, public speaking, and day to day interaction bringing awareness to what we are we want to say verses what our expression is really saying.