. . . a note from our founder and director, Lucille L. Dyer
I sometimes have the privilege and honor to speak with some of the most progressive and far-seeing individuals, and during these conversations I feel my inspiration for opening this studio like a fresh breeze filling me with the gently persistent energy needed to guide this vision toward its full expression: Of creating a space for developing a richly expressive and harmonious way of life, from the inside out.
The aim of our Burlington Dances Studio is to advance dance education centered in the arts by providing a safe, nurturing, and good humored environment where students of all ages and levels of interest and abilities can engage in self-enrichment through the practice of dance, creative expression, and healthy movement.
The vision for our studio is to be a place where artists, both teachers and students may come to develop dance literacy: understanding the meaning of dance as an art form, and the chance to experience positive transformation.
Non-verbal literacy is universal - the foundations for language of movement may be understood by people of all kinds, all over the world. Certainly there are regional and cultural signals, habits, and there are artistic styles and customs whereby a certain gesture means something to those who know what it is. What we do here at Burlington dances is to invite the International Community to learn, share, and express, and to find the common denominators that connect us all in the meaning, function, and expression of movement for art, industry, relationships, and health.
There is something remarkable that can happen during dance making that helps to connect us to our true selves. It is a very simple, subtle, and beautiful experience, and, I think, takes both dancer and audience to a higher (and I think better) place. This 'remarkable something' is a rightness that goes beyond dance technique. It is something that cannot always be taught, but can most certainly be taught out of those who are innately connected to their true inner selves. This unfortunately results in random acts of movement or highly technical feats of bravado that are mistakenly identified as art.
The lucky among us have been witness to those 'moments' when, on stage, a dancer is positively transformed, and we are transformed with them. As a choreographer and performing artist, I have experienced these moments, and, from the audience responses for years after the performances, have positively impressed many others. Those who have worked intensively with me know about my gentle guidance, through questions, toward dancing from the inside out, finding ways to shape the expression into a meaningful context, and noticing, within oneself, the transformation.
Since my first inspiration for this mission in 1987, what I am now seeing is that an education based in foundations for creative expression through the practices we now offer, that people of all ages and abilities are experiencing these moments, and transforming their lives.
More and more, people are asking questions about dance - not so much 'how can I be a better dancer?' but 'How is it that some dance is fun and entertaining, and other dance takes me to a new (and sometimes better) place? Why is it that when I go to see a dance concert that I guess I am enjoying it but don't understand what they are doing on stage? What is the meaning of my movement, and how can I dance so that I am transformed? ' These are marvelous questions, and the answer begins with non-verbal literacy.
I invite you and your family to support the quality of your life and health as well as the local economy by attending dance, wellness, and fitness classes in our studio, and encourage you to talk to artists about their work so they better understand what it is they are communicating through their work.
I welcome conversation, exploration, debate, and discussion about meaning and transformation in dance, arts literacy, and the economy, so please feel free to come in and talk, and, better, move, dance, breathe, and exercise your whole self through practices we now offer at Burlington Dances Studio.
Very truly yours,
Lucillle L. Dyer
Modern Dance
Since its inception more than 100 years ago, "Modern Dance" has been in constant flux, exploring movement as an artistic process that does not have a predictable outcome.
Dances that have evolved out of the pioneering inquiries of Isadora Duncan, Francois Delsarte, and Rudolph Laban — and all of us who came after them — range from "free dances" in nature, silent witnessing of motionless stasis, to the current and rapid fusing of ever-changing technologies with social networking.
The best dance teachers today are body smart. The legacy of teachings by Bartenieff, Feldenkrais, Alexander, Dowd, and Sweigard have infused the practice of dance with an intelligence that integrates the physical, mental, and often spiritual aspects of movement into the creative process.
At Burlington Dances we offer students of all ages the foundations upon which Modern Dance was conceived, along with the practical skills and abilities to develop the body, mind, and spirit. The training and experience of each member of our teaching staff is evidence of the influence of the original innovators of Modern Dance. They speak the language of Duncan and Laban, they call up the images and teaching practices of Lewitsky, Nikolais, Graham, Humphrey... a rich legacy of words and movement. Through diligent personal investigation, our teachers have developed the skill to teach — not just copy given steps or style — how to recognize, honor, develop, and express our often complex, beautiful, inquisitive, and creative inner self.
Come in for classes, workshops, and private sessions designed for beginning students as well as those seeking to refine or re-define the mastery of their art.
Develop and practice this perpetually contemporary art form with a focus on awareness, easeful movement, true creative self-expression, relaxation, and joy ... in a warm and inviting studio.
Art of Motion
Ballet and Modern Dance classes provide you with the foundations of strength, coordination, musicality, and flexibility to say what cannot be said in words or other forms of artistic expression.
Perhaps you have always wanted to move gracefully, with poise and confidence, or cultivate your expressive spirit in a safe, creative atmosphere.
Experience elegance, personal growth and fun while shaping, toning, and aligning your body to move with ease and grace. Perfect for beginning-level students, our classes draw upon the wisdom, traditions, and the feeling of inner beauty of classical dance for good health and a balanced physique. Experienced dancers welcome too!
These classes offer students guidance and instruction about how to practice ballet barre and center adagio with awareness, balance, and coordination, reducing the chance of injury when moving on to more advanced classes. Small classes, individual instruction. Ballet or soft jazz shoes recommended.
Taught by Lucille Dyer and guest teachers, including Julie Peoples-Clark and Betsy Walkerman, our classes may include combinations of Pilates and somatic awareness practices geared toward the adult body - mostly ballet barre, with some center practice.