Dance

“Academy dance students are committed, focused, enthusiastic, and passionate.”  Denise Vale, Senior Artistic Associate - Martha Graham Dance Company.  Ms. Vale visited the Academy on September 30, 2009 to teach a Master Class.

The dance program at St. Johnsbury Academy is lead by Marianne Handy Hraibi (Dance, Senior Capstone)

Ms. Handy Hraibi is a professional dancer trained by Martha  Graham.  She graduated from the Boston Conservatory and has a Masters degree in Globalization from Dartmouth College.  Professional associations include the dance companies of Paul Taylor, Yuriko, and Richard Englund.  Teaching credits include professional dance studios in NYC, Skidmore College, Ballet Iowa, the St. Paul’s School,  Kimball Union Academy and Burklyn Ballet Theatre.   International credits include performing, teaching and choreographing in Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain as a “guest” of the governments.

Martha Graham Dance Company to perform September 29, 2009 sponsored by Ned & Sarah Handy Fund for Dance and St Johnbsury Academy in collaboration with Catamount Arts and Lyndon State College.

Acts of Light: Martha Graham in the Twenty-first Century (Hardcover) by NAN DEANE CANO (Author), JOHN DEANE (Photographer)--On sale at the event with a book signing at the event.

6 April '09-- THE DARTMOUTH
9 April '09--NYTIMES: "Dance Review: Paul Taylor"

Click here for a link of how physics is part of dance.

Academy Dance News!

Silvia Nevjinsky Goncalves, formerly of the Paul Taylor Dance Company and currently faculty at the Paul Taylor Studio in NYC, is returning to teach the Paul TaylorTechnique at SJA from March 29-April 11, 2009.   SJA students will be attending the Paul Taylor Dance Company performances at Dartmouth College April 8, 2009 and participating in the Taylor master class at Dartmouth.  Ms. Goncalves will join Ms. Hraibi in accompanying the SJA students to the Taylor events at Dartmouth.

Christine Dakin, former principal dancer and artistic director for the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company, presented a free performance in St. Johnsbury Academy’s Fuller Hall May 3, 2007. The performance was sponsored by the Ned & Sarah Handy Fund for Dance and its contributors.  In addition to her free performance, Dakin conducted lessons for Academy Dance students.


Dakin is the third world-class dancer hosted by the Handy Fund and the Academy during the 2007-08 school year. In December 2007, the Academy welcomed Martha Graham principal dancer Miki Orihara and Stephen Pier, a member of the ballet faculty at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan.

Additional information about the Handy Fund and Academy dance programs is available at www.stjohnsburyacademy.org or by contacting Marianne Handy Hraibi, the Academy’s dance instructor at mhraibi@stjacademy.org.

St. Johnsbury Academy welcomed Martha Graham Dance Company Principal, Miki Orihara and Stephen Pier, Ballet Faculty at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan, as guest artists for its Annual December 2007 Dance Concerts. Ms. Orihara’s and Mr. Pier’s association with the St. Johnsbury Academy Dance Department includes guest performances in the 2004 and 2005 annual concerts.

Dance Magazine's Lynn Garafola recently reviewed the Martha Graham Dance Company and described Miki Orihari as "the Company's senior artist, she inhabits Graham's imaginative universe like her own skin."  Click here to read the entire article (with permission from Dance Magazine).

John was the photographer for the acclaimed book Acts of Light, a photographic history of the Martha Graham Dance Company featuring Miki Orihana and other dancers from the company.   John collaborated with his sister Nan Deane Cano who wrote the text.   

Dance

The curricular dance offerings at the Academy focus on the modern dance technique of Martha Graham, and provide students with a background in the technique appropriate for those who wish to pursue the serious study of dance in any genre. Extracurricular clubs allow students to explore other dance styles, including jazz, Middle Eastern, and African dance.

 Introduction to Dance (Standard)

1 Credit (8831)

No prerequisite. Introduction to Dance can be taken multiple times for credit

The modern dance technique of Martha Graham is the basis of this class, which progresses carefully from a basic and thorough introduction to an energetic, challenging, and healthful movement experience. Classes are exciting, intense, rigorous, and challenging as they focus on correct technique as well as proper body conditioning and toning. The course is appropriate for novice dancers, as well as experienced dancers who are unfamiliar with Graham technique. Athletes in any sport can benefit dramatically from this course. Some evening and afternoon attendance at dance performances and rehearsals will be required.

Completion of one credit of dance results in the waiver of one credit of physical education, but may not be substituted for Introduction to Physical Education.  

Introduction to Popular Dance

1 Credit (8830)

No prerequisite.

Introduction to Popular Dance is a survey course on dance trends that reflect styles and popular moves of different cultures and times.  Students will be introduced to various dance idioms that have evolved over the centuries:  including Tango, Waltz, Square Dancing, Salsa, Jazz, Hip Hop, etc.  Students will examine the roots of these styles in popular, ritual, and social evolutionary patterns.  Students will gain insights into the physicality and mechanics of movement, moving through space, and partnering. Introduction to Popular Dance does not result in the waiver of one credit of physical education

Advanced Dance  (Accelerated)

1 Credit (8833)

Prerequisite: by permission. Advanced Dance can be taken multiple times for credit

Advanced Dance builds on the ideas presented in Introduction to Dance, and is appropriate for dancers familiar with the ideas of Martha Graham and who have mastered introductory skills. An emphasis is placed on the recognition of familiar body patterns, and executing them with the precision of the professional dancer or athlete. Some evening and afternoon attendance at dance performances and rehearsals will be required.

Completion of one credit of dance results in the waiver of one credit of physical education, but may not be substituted for Introduction to Physical Education.  

Dance in History (Standard)

1 Credit (8824)

Prerequisite: none

The course will conduct a general survey of dance, tracing its origins from social dancing, evolving into specialized concert dance. The course will begin with the prehistoric origins of dance, explore the evolution of dance from the Greeks to the highly refined classical Ballet and including innovations of jazz and modern dance. Dance incorporates so many accompanying art forms (music, design, sculpture, literature, etc.), the survey will review trends that affected the total art climate throughout these time periods.