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Announcing RMCF Master Classes!

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Exciting Announcement: Introducing Master Classes at the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival!

Dear dance enthusiasts,

We’re thrilled to unveil a spectacular addition to this year’s Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival – Master Classes! As part of our commitment to nurturing talent and providing unparalleled opportunities for growth, we’re bringing you an exclusive chance to learn from the best in the field.

Master Class Instructors: Get ready to be inspired by the incredible artistry of two choreographers who are participating in the festival but have also left an indelible mark on the world of dance. Alongside them, one of our distinguished judges will share their expertise and insights, creating a unique learning experience.

The Master Classes will be March 2nd. The festival runs from March 1st through March 2nd. March 1st will be the festival performance for the judges, as well as our audience “People’s Choice” voting. The festival performance on March 2nd is another chance to perform the choreographers wonderful works, with the award ceremony following the performance immediately on stage.

👏 Why Attend Master Classes?

  • Learn from the Pros: Benefit from the expertise of choreographers who have wowed audiences with their creativity.
  • Hands-On Experience: Dive deep into the intricacies of choreography with practical, hands-on sessions.
  • Insider Tips: Gain valuable insights and tips on perfecting your craft from our seasoned judge.
  • Ticket to the Show: Each Master Class registration comes with a ticket to the performance on March 2nd. An unbeatable bonus!

Grand Prize – Sponsored Show at Peery’s Egyptian Theater: The stakes have never been higher! The first-place winner of the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival will not only receive well-deserved recognition but also the incredible opportunity to showcase their winning piece at the historic Peery’s Egyptian Theater the following October. This is your chance to take a class from a possible festival winner!

Mark your calendars for the festival, where you can witness breathtaking choreography, participate in enriching Master Classes, and cheer for the talented dancers who will compete for the coveted prize.

Don’t miss out on this golden opportunity to elevate your dance skills and be a part of an unforgettable celebration of choreography. Stay tuned for more details, and get ready to dance your heart out at the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival!

Call Imagine Ballet Theatre at 801-393-5000 to register for the classes!

First Master Class: Ballet with Jenny Mair March 2nd 10:00 – 11:30

As a passionate interdisciplinary international dance artist, Jenny pursues her artistry through choreography, teaching, and dance film professionally and educationally at UT. She received an M.F.A. in Dance, UH Manoa and is the faculty leader for UT Florence Italy Dance Study Abroad, in its 4th year. She was a finalist ‘Distinguished Instructor Award’ (2022), completed a choreographic residency at Santa Barbara City College (2022), and had directed Red Rock ScreenDance Film Festival for three years (2021-23). Choreographic recognition: Opening Gala Museo dell’Aria dello Spazio (2023), International OnStage Dance Festival in Florence,
Italy Tuscany Hall (2022), Red Rock Dance Festival Gala Selection (2019), Asian Pacific Dance Festival Hawaii (2015), and Festival À Corps Poitiers, France (2014). Recent published dance films: Controversial Convergence, FLICKFAIR International Film Festival (2022), 2nd place Concorso Danza Onstage Florence, Italy (2021) Desertscape International Film Festival (2021).
www.jennymair.com

Second Master Class: Jazz with Janell Burgess March 2nd 12:00 – 1:30

Janell’s passion for the arts began at a very young age with her commitment to the study of dance guiding her to professional training with focused studies in the Ballet Pacifica School, DeFore Foundation of the Arts, and Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Giordano Dance Chicago, and Limon School. She is the recipient of the Tremaine Scholarship, Giordano Merit Scholarship, and the American Legion Award for her advocacy and commitment to arts education in the Southern California schools districts. She has been a professional choreographer and performing artist for over 20 years, teaching, choreographing, and performing worldwide. Janell has worked with top artists and companies including the KC & The Sunshine Band, The Jackson Family, Paul Oakenfold, Gene Simmons, Holly Madison, Universal Studios, Ceasar’s Entertainment, Disneyland, Fercos Brothers Circus, Brockus Project Dance, LA Contemporary Dance Company, and Louise Reichlin & Dancers, and has served as resident choreographer for the Sands Hotel in Macau, China. Her film & television credits include: The Travel Channel, The View, PBS, AXS TV, and 4 years on West Africa’s longest-running dance reality television show, “Maltina Dance All” which focused on bringing families together thru through dance. She is also an accomplished theatrical actress, puppeteer, and aerial artist, of for which she won was awarded the Paragon International Doubles Championship in 2014 for her performance & choreography.
As an educator, Janell’s teaching career, spanning over the last 3 decades, has included holding faculty positions at the Debbie Reynolds Dance Center, ABT Gillespie School, StarQuest Dance International, Jimmie DeFore Foundation for the Arts, LA Choreographers & Dancers, Newport Mesa Unified School District, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has also served as an Educator for ArtsTeach thru through the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center, and as a guest speaker at Orange Coast College and UCLA. As a certified Zena Rommett Floor Barre Instructor, Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Food’nSport Fitness Instructor, and Holistic Healthcare Practitioner, Janell brings a strong focus to body alignment, physical health, and mental wellness to the classes she teaches and the dancers she educates. Her choreography has been featured on by the Disney Channel, Atlantic City Hotels, Southern California Dance Invitational, LA Dance Invitational, Orange County Dance Festival, Inland Empire Dance Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and most recently the Southern California Dance & Choreography Invitational where she won an award for Best Choreography for her work “Treat”. Through the pandemic, Ms. Burgess choreographed and produced the short dance film “Chameleon”, which premiered live at Global Pushfest San Francisco in 2020 and continued to tour the film festival circuit winning multiple awards for Best Choreography and Best Original Score. She also produced 3 online and in-person full dance concerts which featured Jazz Spectrum Dance Company and Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre. Ms. Burgess Janell currently serves on the board of Jazz Spectrum Dance Company, holds the position of Artistic Director, and is the Owner of Spectrum Dance Center in Lake Forest, California which houses a professional studies program for college students, youth conservatory, and adult dance program. Janell continues to tour with the legendary KC & The Sunshine Band where she serves as dance captain and maintenance choreographer. Her mission is to help develop artists and projects that will inspire healing, bridge cultures, create unity, and ignite a passion for life!

Third and Final Master Class: Contemporary with Natalie Jean Desch

Natalie Desch, a BFA graduate of the Juilliard School and an MFA graduate of the University of Washington, performed for five seasons with the LimĂłn Dance Company and eleven seasons with Doug Varone and Dancers in NYC. She additionally danced in various productions at the Metropolitan Opera and other regional opera companies–Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Palm Beach Opera, Longleaf Opera (NC), Lincoln Center Institute (NYC). From 2005-2012 she taught at Hunter College (City University of New York) and has also been a visiting faculty member at Weber State University (UT), University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Beijing Dance Academy. Additionally, she has taught for the following summer festivals: Doug Varone and Dancers, the LimĂłn Dance Company, UNCSA, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the Bates Dance Festival, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theater, among others. Natalie has restaged the works of JosĂ© LimĂłn, Doug Varone, JirĂ­ KyliĂĄn, and Daniel Charon on performing groups around the world, and her choreography has been presented at venues throughout the US. In 2014 Natalie relocated to Salt Lake City, UT, and began teaching at Ballet West Academy, Westminster College, Utah Valley University, and Salt Lake Community College. Natalie joined the University of Utah’s School of Dance as an Assistant Professor in the fall of 2019.

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