Giant Steps dance lab
a regular dance course
seeking for contemporary jazz movement language
seeking for contemporary jazz movement language
Giant Steps dance lab
a regular dance course
looking for contemporary jazz movement language
a regular dance course
looking for contemporary jazz movement language
join the course
What is Giant Steps Lab?
it is an education platform founded by Alina Sokulska and Giant Steps Dance Group, creating space for workshops, intensives and regular dance sessions to reveal that contemporary "jazz" music is very danceable and enjoyable when danced ;)
it is a space free of genres, tags and cliches. Here we appreciate dance cultures and educate our body and mind to respect music-movement connection, working with intertexts of blues, swing, bebop and UK jazz, putting them into a perspective of contemporaneity. We learn and relearn the ways to move, create and improvise to contemporary what is called "jazz" music.
it is a space free of genres, tags and cliches. Here we appreciate dance cultures and educate our body and mind to respect music-movement connection, working with intertexts of blues, swing, bebop and UK jazz, putting them into a perspective of contemporaneity. We learn and relearn the ways to move, create and improvise to contemporary what is called "jazz" music.
What do we research on our sessions?
Movement
learn dance techniques: body isolations, UK jazz & swing vocabulary, fast footwork, armwork, groove.
Music
is as important on our classes as dance: some aspects of music theory useful for dancers, tools how to listen to jazz music and interact with it dancing.
Culture
dances we learn come from underground dancefloors, communities and environments that often had a powerful social & political message. we dive into history of jazz dance and what surrounded it.
Individuality
finding your voice respecting the traditions of the dances we learn. learn the techniques to improvise to jazz music, using your body as means of musical expression. make the steps "yours".
what you will get from the course:
jazz dance vocabulary
just after 1 course you will be able to express your movement using classic UK Jazz (fusion, bebop) and swing steps.
strong & fast footwork technique
we are practicing a mixed technique of jazz dances from slow to fast tempos, so by the end of the course you'll find your feet flying fast (if you also practice hehe)
tools to improve your body awareness
body isolation warm-up complex will help you to better feel every part of your body, bringing the joy of a conscious and orthopedically correct movement mechanics.
knowledge of music
listen and hear "complicated jazz music", find the form and rhythm of musical composition. learn the ways to interprete jazz music through dance. and of course... discover lots of new music of premium quality and taste ;)
knowledge of dance cultures
learning a step, there is always a story behind it, a story of a community, a country, an era and its individuals and dance pioneers. on our lab, historical notes about a dance are intertwined with an explanation of a step <3
tools to improve your stamina
2 hour session with fast music is quite a challenge! that will make you stronger physically and will definitely improve your endurance.
improvisation skills
even on a start level of jazz dance you will learn enough material to be able to express your dance following guided improvisation sections of our sessions.
When?
Thursdays, 19:15 - 21:15
(April 22 - May 20)
+ 3 two hour sessions of intensive training on
Saturdays, 15:00 - 17:00 (May 15, 22, 29)
(April 22 - May 20)
+ 3 two hour sessions of intensive training on
Saturdays, 15:00 - 17:00 (May 15, 22, 29)
Where?
at Casa Lazar, Poblenou, Barcelona and in ZOOM!
How long is the course?
the next one is April 22 - May 29!
What do you need for offline classes
yourself! on time!
we start puntual, and the room is open for your access 15 min before the class (19:00). be on time!
a mask
our classes are COVID safe, so a sanitary mask is obligatory to access a presential session.
comfortable clothes
that do not restraint your movement. jazz shoes, sneakers or socks (barefoot also ok!)
What do you need for online classes
Stable Internet access
you connect via Zoom link we provide before each class. you need your camera so the teacher could see you dancing!
enough space for moving
The minimum space in which you can put a laptop or smartphone and move freely and comfortably.
comfortable clothes
that do not restraint your movement. jazz shoes, sneakers or socks (barefoot also ok!)
Alina Sokulska
your teacher!
international instructor, performer, choreographer of Giant Steps dance group, PhD researcher at the University of Barcelona, lecturer and founded of education platform and festival Evolution Solo Weekend. in the community of swing dance, Alina was one of the first ones to mix techniques of American and UK jazz bringing it to the light of contemporary "jazz" music.
a student of her inspirer and mentor Irven Lewis (Brothers-In-Jazz), originator of UK Bebop style, Alina has been developing UK jazz dance in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain), bringing her fresh visions on social and scenic dance.
a student of her inspirer and mentor Irven Lewis (Brothers-In-Jazz), originator of UK Bebop style, Alina has been developing UK jazz dance in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain), bringing her fresh visions on social and scenic dance.
Alina Sokulska
your teacher!
international instructor, performer, choreographer of Giant Steps dance group, PhD researcher at the University of Barcelona, lecturer and founded of education platform and festival Evolution Solo Weekend. in the community of swing dance, Alina was one of the first ones to mix techniques of American and UK jazz bringing it to the light of contemporary "jazz" music.
a student of her inspirer and mentor Irven Lewis (Brothers-In-Jazz), originator of UK Bebop style, Alina has been developing UK jazz dance in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain), bringing her fresh visions on social and scenic dance.
a student of her inspirer and mentor Irven Lewis (Brothers-In-Jazz), originator of UK Bebop style, Alina has been developing UK jazz dance in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain), bringing her fresh visions on social and scenic dance.
Alina Sokulska
your teacher!
international instructor, performer, choreographer of Giant Steps dance group, PhD researcher at the University of Barcelona, lecturer and founded of education platform and festival Evolution Solo Weekend. in the community of swing dance, Alina was one of the first ones to mix techniques of American and UK jazz bringing it to the light of contemporary "jazz" music.
as a student of her inspirer and mentor Irven Lewis (Brothers-In-Jazz, originator of UK Bebop style), Alina has been developing UK jazz dance in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain), bringing her fresh visions on social and scenic dance.
as a student of her inspirer and mentor Irven Lewis (Brothers-In-Jazz, originator of UK Bebop style), Alina has been developing UK jazz dance in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain), bringing her fresh visions on social and scenic dance.
COVID safety for offline classes
mask
our presential sessions are strictly mask-on classes
limited capacity
to provide you with more space on class we restricted offline presence to small group of 6 people, so... hurry up to book your spot!
hands
we provide gel on spot, so please don't forget to sanitize your hands before, during and after the class!
community care
if you don't feel well or tested positive, we appreciate that you notify us.
any questions?
no problem, contact us and we will be glad to answer them!
also, follow us on social media to be updated with the latest news!
also, follow us on social media to be updated with the latest news!
© Alina Sokulska: Dance, Performance, Choreography and Instruction.
Website art & design - Daria Koshkina. Photos - Gregor Hoffbauer, Tommaso Quintini, JM photos, Alex Johnstone, Darja Iva. All rights reserved, 2016
Website art & design - Daria Koshkina. Photos - Gregor Hoffbauer, Tommaso Quintini, JM photos, Alex Johnstone, Darja Iva. All rights reserved, 2016
