CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
About Contemporary
Class Description:
Contemporary dance originated from Europe and America in the 19th and 20th century with various styles of expressive dance that combines modern, ballet, lyrical jazz and today, other forms of street dance movement. In this class you will begin center floor with a full body warm up into a loner and more intense class combo. Your class goals are to strive to connect the mind and body through fluid dance movements.
Suggested Footwear:
Socks, Barefoot, or Foot Paws
Suggested Experience Needed:
Up to 1 year of experience or more. Dancers should have a more than basic understanding of dance technique and terminology (i.e. pirouettes, chanies, jetes,).
Related Classes:
Modern, Jumps & Turns, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet
Prerequisite:
6-8 months or more of Beg. Contemporary or related dance classes. Must understand basic dance terminology, and musicality.
Meet Sonya
Instagram: @sonyashankur_
YouTube: https://youtu.be/RSkS1t6imR8
Sonya Shankar (she/her) was born and raised in Fremont, California, where she trained at Yoko’s Dance and Performing Arts Academy for over twelve years in styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and more. She competed at both regional/national competitions and conventions (such as Showstopper, KAR, Nuvo, 24/7, Tremaine) from age 8 up until 17, receiving numerous high-score placements and scholarships amongst these events. In addition to her years at Yoko’s, Sonya has trained under Chehon Wespi-Tschopp’s IAF Mentorship, Complexions Contemporary Ballet hosted by USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, and the Brea Space.
Sonya currently attends the University of California, Berkeley, studying cognitive science with a minor in data science and dance. She has been on UC Berkeley’s premier contemporary dance organization, Thrive Dance Company, for the past four years- in which she has choreographed pieces ranging from 5-9 dancers on a semesterly basis. Sonya’s love for choreography blossomed there, creating pieces to popular songs including JP Saxe’s If the World Was Ending, Britney Spears’ Circus, Adele’s Skyfall, and more. She currently resides in Berkeley and continues to be an active member/choreographer on Thrive Dance Company.
Sonya hopes to create a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere for dancers to discover themselves both as artists and individuals- to explore and enhance their movement quality and self-expression. She strives to open her own dance company in the future, to travel the world, and share her choreography among individuals of all different backgrounds. Dance has been Sonya’s safe space for as long as she can remember, and she is ecstatic to share her passion here with everyone at Rae Studios.