// Intro to Dance Series //
“I didn’t believe I could dance before. I thought dancing was for super-humans. I’m immeasurably excited about the rest of my life now that dance is a part of it.”
— Intro to Dance participant
“I’ve already recommended this class to friends.”
— Intro to Dance participant
2019 FALL SCHEDULE
INTRO TO DANCE: HIP-HOP with Jaret Hughes
TUES / 8-9:30PM
Velocity 1621 12th Ave, Suite 100 – Kawasaki Studio
$90 for the 6-week series
SERIES I – Aug 20, Aug 27, Sept 3, Sept 10, Sept 17, Sept 24
REGISTER>>
SERIES II – Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct, 15, Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5
REGISTER>>
SERIES III – Nov 12, Nov 19, Nov 26, Dec 3, Dec 10, Dec 17
REGISTER>>
INTRO TO DANCE: HIP-HOP with Michael O’Neal
SAT / 10:30AM-NOON
Velocity 1621 12th Ave, Suite 100 – Kawasaki Studio
$90 for the 6-week series
$60 for the 4-week series
SUMMER MINI-SERIES I – July 6, 13, 20, 27
REGISTER>>
SUMMER MINI-SERIES II – August 10, 17, 24, 31
REGISTER>>
SERIES I – Sept 7, Sept 15, Sept 22, Sept 29, Oct 5, Oct 12
REGISTER>>
SERIES II – Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16, Nov 23
REGISTER>>
INTRO TO DANCE: HIP HOP with Michael O’Neal
WEDS / 8- 9:30PM
Velocity 1621 12th Ave, Suite 100 – Founders
$90 for the 6-week series
$60 for the 4-week series
SUMMER MINI-SERIES I – Aug 7, Aug 14, Aug 21, Aug 28
REGISTER>>
SERIES I – Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25,Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 16
REGISTER>>
SERIES II – Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov, 20, Nov 27
REGISTER>>
INTRO TO DANCE: HOUSE with Michael O’Neal
SUN / 10:30AM-NOON
Velocity 1621 12th Ave, Suite 100 – Founders Studio
$90 for the 6-week series
SERIES I – Sept 8, Sept 15, Sept 22, Sept 29, Oct 6, Oct 13
REGISTER>>
SERIES II – Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 24
REGISTER>>
INTRO TO DANCE: MODERN with Maya Soto
WED / 6-7:30PM
Velocity 1621 12th Ave, Suite 100 – Founders Studio
$90 for the 6-week series
SERIES I – Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25,Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 16
REGISTER>>
SERIES II – Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, Nov 27
REGISTER>>
If registration for the series you want to take is full, please call 206.325.8773 or email operations@velocitydancecenter.org to be added to the wait list.
ABOUT THE TEACHING ARTISTS
KJ DYE
KJ is an educator, performer, and truth seeker who lives by one life rule, momentum. Originally from the mountains of Maryland, KJ graduated magna cum laude from Slippery Rock University of PA with a BA in Dance. She has had the privilege of performing the works of Doug Varone, Robert Battle, Chad Hall, Jennifer Keller, Ursula Payne, Ellie Sandstrom, Marlo Martin and Paige Barnes, among others. KJ’s work has been presented in San Francisco, La Rouche College (PA), The BOOST Dance Festival (SEA), and the National American College Dance Festival at the JFK Center for Performing Arts (DC). KJ has danced for Seattle based companies The Three Yells and Badmarmar Dance, and currently creates with Michele Miller/Catapult Dance and Maya Soto and Nico Tower’s recent project, Beautiful Carcass. KJ takes deep pride in being a dance educator, as she fosters empowerment and develops artistic agency in her classroom. She currently teaches a range of levels and styles at Bainbridge Dance Center, Dance Fremont and Velocity Dance Center, where she also assists as a Stage and House Manager for local artists.
Website: kaitlyndye.weebly.com
Facebook: /kaitlynjane.dye
Instagram: @kjanee15
Vimeo: kaitlyndye
JARET HUGHES
Jaret Hughes has 14 years of dance experience, with Hip Hop being his specialty along with training in Modern, Jazz, Ballet and African. Jaret has 11 years of choreographing and teaching experience with all ages, including 8 years at Elizabeth’s Dance Dimensions in Bellevue, Washington. Jaret’s choreography credits include the L.A. Clippers Spirit Dance Team (guest choreographer), Seattle Supersonics Dance Team for 5 years, founder of 2wisted Elegance from Seattle and LA’s debut of 2wisted Elegance with the help of his good friend Joey Cooper, Modazz Competition Teams at Elizabeth’s Dance Dimensions, co-choreographer and dancer for EVE in LA, and assistant choreographer / assistant Artistic Director for the “Invitation Feedback” video contest submission for Janet Jackson. Jaret Competed on Destination Stardom in Hawaii. Jaret’s performances include: Seattle’s Kube 93’s Summer Jam for 3 years with Twisted Elegance, which included sharing the main stage with artists such as Destiny’s Child, Ginuwine, Busta Rhymes, Blackstreet, Naughty By Nature and many more; various Hip Hop shows throughout Seattle including Daniel Cruz’s Battle of Seattle Remix 3 and 4 and, most recently while living in LA for 2 1/2 years, performances with Breed OCLA for numerous dance competitions and guest performances for the DVD Release Party for “Step Up 2: The Streets”. Jaret has shared his choreography expertise with various high school and college dance teams throughout Washington, California and Idaho.
MICHAEL O’NEAL JR.
Michael O’Neal Jr. (Majinn) is an African American professional dance artist and teacher who utilizes his training in both street and classical dance styles to find and express his whole self. Through his art Majinn hopes to inspire those he can, to follow their dreams and continue to grow in everyday life. One of Majinn’s biggest goals in dance is to try and bridge the gap between the classical and street dance worlds and build a stronger dance community in his own city and a far. Majinn is a part of both Chapter1NE and Beat Hippies dance crews as well as he is a co-founder of Seattle’s Au Collective. / Photo by Chris Lee Hill
Instagram: @majinn_mike
Twitter: @Majinn_Mike
YouTube: youtube.com/user/Choreomike
MAYA SOTO
Maya Soto is a choreographer, performer and award winning arts educator. Her work includes concert performance, movement installations, dance for theater and film. Maya brings together classical dance training and a sense of imaginative play. She has created 6 evening length works including Inner Galactic (2015) which was supported by creative residencies at 10 degrees in partnership with Velocity Dance Center (SEA), Exit Space (SEA) and Higher Ground (OR). Her choreography has been commissioned by numerous West Coast festivals and venues including On the Boards (SEA) and Conduit’s Dance+ Festival (PDX). As a performer, she has worked with many notable artists including Amy O’Neal, Sandstrommovement and KT Neihoff. Currently, she dances for Michele Miller/Catapult Dance. Maya is a passionate advocate for arts education. She teaches dance at Velocity Dance Center, the Northwest School, Seattle Theatre Group – Disney Musicals in Schools and the EMP Museum. For 10 years, she has worked extensively as a teaching artist in the public school system and developed several successful youth dance programs. In 2014, she received a Velocity Dance Champion Award for significant contribution to Seattle dance. Maya holds a BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts and a Washington State Professional Teaching Certificate.
Website: mayasotodance.com
Class Descriptions
INTRO TO DANCE: HIP-HOP with Jaret Hughes
Learn the basic fundamentals of hip hop which includes warm-up, conditioning, movements across the floor and choreography mixed with old and new skool moves.
INTRO TO DANCE: CONTEMPORARY MODERN with Maya Soto
Are you interested in dance but not sure where to start? Have you taken a beginning ballet or modern class and wondered if there was a MORE beginning level? Are you intimidated to drop into an ongoing class? This 8-week series is for you! Learn basic dance vocabulary used in Velocity’s ongoing ballet and modern classes with other students who have no previous dance experience. You will learn basic class etiquette and modern dance technique while developing body awareness and comfort dancing in a group. We will also explore tactics to remember choreography by learning and building on phrases each week. Intro to dance sets you up to continue exploring contemporary dance classes, other dance forms, and to simply feel more comfortable on any dance floor.
INTRO TO DANCE: HIP-HOP with Michael O’Neal Jr.
Hip Hop Culture and Dance started in the 1970’s in the Bronx New York, both the culture and dances were created by marginalized communities, those of Black and Latinx youth. This culture was created out of resistance against what these communities were dealing with at the time and continue to deal with, including being treated poorly, violence, drugs, gangs. Hip Hop culture was made to give youth a chance to still be happy and feel community despite what they were going through. Hip-hop social dancing (party dancing) began when Hip Hop musical artists started to release songs with an accompanying dances but has a history longer than Hip Hop with dances like the “Mashed Potatoes” from James Brown and has history of social dances from from resistance like the Charleston.
This class draws movement and inspiration from Street/Club styles Majinn has trained in or been influenced by (Breaking, Popping, Locking, House, Waacking etc.) but will be primarily focused in Hip Hop Social Dances and some beginner Breaking. This class will help others learn some history of Hip Hop dance as well as gain a larger vocabulary in Hip Hop dance and have fun. Class movement is heavily influenced by the beats, tone and lyrics of the music used while still allowing for students to add their own personal individuality to the choreography. Every three weeks will combine new party moves and choreography with new music, which will vary in movement and feeling. Warm up consists of dynamic stability exercises, isolations, rocking, bouncing, freestyling, and learning to feel the music physically and hopefully emotionally. Come ready to be yourself, have of fun, and challenge yourself! This class is a safe space and is welcoming of all people
Notable Hip Hop Dancers to look up are those in Elite Force Dance Crew and Mop Tops Dance crew.
INTRO TO DANCE: HOUSE with Michael O’Neal Jr.
House Dance is known as a club/street style and is a social dance. House originated in the late 70’s and early 80’s from underground gay clubs in New York. The style was influenced by many types of movement, including Tap, African dance, Latin dance, and martial arts. House Dance is about freedom, improvisation, and feeling the music. It is usually danced to House music but was born out of disco. Main elements of House dance include “Footwork”, “Jacking”, and “Lofting” House is often improvised and emphasizes fast footwork steps combined with fluid movements in the torso and can also include floorwork but can borrow from other styles as well.
In this Class we will focus on drilling foundational steps, feeling the music, freestyling and learning choreography. This class will help others learn some history of House dance as well as gain a larger vocabulary in House dance and have fun. Class movement is heavily influenced by the beats, tone and lyrics of the music used while still allowing for students to add their own personal individuality to the choreography. Every three weeks will be a new House foundation and choreography to new music which will vary in movement and feeling. Warm up consists of dynamic stability exercises, isolations, rocking, bouncing, freestyling, and learning to feel the music physically and hopefully emotionally. Come ready to be yourself, have of fun, and challenge yourself! This class is a safe space and is welcoming of all people
Some of the dancers that helped progress House Dance to what it is today From is New York roots are Ejoe Wilson, Brian “Footwork” Green, Tony McGregor, Marjory Smarth, Caleaf “Big Leaf” Sellers, “Brooklyn” Terry Wright, Kim D. Holmes, Shannon Mabra, Tony “Sekou Heru” Williams, Shannon “Shan S” Selby, and Voodoo Ray.
