Outreach

We love bringing our unique groove, interaction and improvisation-driven approach to jazz, and dance learning in general, TO YOU! Our company dancers are experienced educators, and we are skilled in tailoring in-person and virtual workshops and class series’/ residencies  to the needs of any given community.

| OUR PROGRAMS ARE GREAT FOR |

  • Public Library Patrons
  • K-12 Schools & Educational Programs
  • Senior Care Facilities
  • Public Community Events
  • Professional Dance Groups
  • Others: We’re always open to working with new-to-us populations!

We’ve recently done programs for numerous Twin Cities-area libraries, a virtual teaching residency for Marcy Open Elementary in Minneapolis, performances and class series’ for Walker Methodist Homes and Lyngblomsten senior care facilities, virtual appearances for one of Children’s Hospital MN’s original closed-circuit TV programs and performances at the Minnesota State Fair.

| GENERAL SPECS |

  • Length/ Format: Most programs can be tailored to be a single 45 minute to 2 hour session in either lec-dem or more participatory formats, including as a single session dance party or multi-session class series (often 3-10 45 minute to 1 hour classes).
  • Needs: A space large enough to dance in (carpeted is fine!), chairs for observer-participants and an outlet – we bring our own sound system and come self-contained.
  • Rates: Most programs are $500.00 for a single session engagement, which covers the cost of program preparation, travel time/ mileage and engagement time for three instructors. If a series (i.e. multiple classes on the same topic) is desired, the total fee will be increased by $150.00 for each subsequent session beyond the first, which covers additional planning, travel time/ mileage and engagement time for one instructor for each session. Rates for clients 30+ miles outside of downtown Minneapolis will be calculated to include the costs of additional mileage/ travel time.

| PROGRAMS |

Groove On! Jazz Dance with Rhythmically Speaking!: 

  • Description: This interactive performance welcomes folks to learn about how groove, interaction and improvisation inspire jazz music and dance. This program is chock-full of great opportunities to learn about jazz dance and music while watching and moving with professional dancers.
  • Format: This offering is equal parts viewing and participation, with opportunities to watch the professional performers as well as chances for participants to dance themselves. This program can also be titled ‘Family Dance Jam!’ and lean more into the participatory aspect. It can also be tailored to more specific interests and outcomes – including movement-integrated learning. 
  • Objectives: 1) Building knowledge of jazz dance and music; 2) Exploring how one’s own body moves to jazz music, on it’s own and with others; 3) Developing an appreciation for dance learning in general, and jazz dance in specific.

Dancing Through American History:

  • Description: Explore different styles of American social dance, from minuet and waltz to swing to funk to hip-hop styles, through this engaging and fun offering. Students will learn the basic steps of dances from several eras, contextualizing them within American history along the way. 
  • Format: This program can be structured to focus mostly on movement or a mix of kinesthetic and lecture-discussion-based learning. Potential movement-based activities include a warm-up, learning about selected concepts and steps, and a movement combination linking them all together, with historical and sociocultural information shared along the way. Potential lecture and discussion-based sessions will include video offerings and conversation prompts, and assessment measures can be included if desired. This offering can be tailored to specific interests and outcomes – including focus on particular periods of time and/ or moments in history, and arts-integrated learning.
  • Objectives: 1) Exploring connections between one’s own body and various styles of music while sharing space and expression with others; 2) Learning about basic social dance steps and styles from several eras of American history; 3) Contextualizing these styles within the historical development of the United States.

Art in Motion – A Ballet, Jazz and Modern Dance Sampler: 

  • Description: Explore different styles of American concert dance, from ballet to jazz to modern and contemporary, through this fun and engaging offering. Students will learn basic steps from each of these dance forms, contextualizing them within American history and culture along the way. 
  • Format: This program can be structured to focus mostly on movement or a mix of kinesthetic and lecture-discussion-based learning. This offering can be structured to focus mostly on movement or a mix of kinesthetic and lecture-discussion-based learning. Potential movement-based activities include a warm-up, learning about selected concepts and steps, and a movement combination linking them all together, with historical and sociocultural information shared along the way. Potential lecture and discussion-based sessions will include video offerings and conversation prompts. If desired, this offering can be tailored to more specific interests and outcomes, and can include assessment measures.
  • Objectives: 1)Exploring connections between one’s own body and various styles of music while sharing space and expression with others; 2) Learning about basic steps from several different American concert dance styles; 3) Contextualizing these styles within the historical and cultural development of the United States.

Creative Movement with Rhythmically Speaking:

  • Description: This offering encourages participants to explore the body as an instrument for creative expression. In this fun and engaging class, students will use the BASTE dance elements (Body, Action, Space, Time and Energy) to creatively problem-solve physical tasks and use their bodies in motion as a tool of meaningful self and communal expression. 
  • Format: This movement-based offering will include a warm-up, learning about selected concepts and steps, and a movement series linking them all together. If desired, this offering can be tailored to more specific interests and outcomes, and can include assessment measures.
  • Objectives: 1) Exploring Rhythmically  Body, Action, Time, Space and Energy as tools for kinetic expression; 2) Creating embodied and expressive connections between the self and others; 3) Developing an appreciation for dance learning and creative problem solving in motion.

Experiencing Performance Dance with Rhythmically Speaking:

  • Description: This offering allows participants to experience concert dance performance as an observer and learner. Participants will move through a workshop with Rhythmically Speaking company dancers, observe a company rehearsal and experience a Rhythmically Speaking performance.
  • Format: This offering is equal parts participatory (in both movement and discussion) and viewing-based (witnessing both a rehearsal and a performance).  
  • Objectives: 1) Physically exploring Rhythmically Speaking’s unique groove, interaction and improvisation-driven approach to jazz dance; 2) Experiencing concert dance in both rehearsal and performance settings; 3) Appreciating dance as a both individual and communal expressive art.
  • Note on Rates: Rates for this program will be set according to number of participants, as this program includes event tickets.
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| HIRE US |

If you have a group of people that would benefit from experiencing jazz and/ or dance in general, drop us a line at rhythmicallyspeakingdance @ gmail.com – we’d be thrilled to discuss your needs a tailor a program just for YOU!