Links Hall Open House 2023
Celebrate the start of the season at Links with a day of free workshops. Try a new style or return to a favorite with classes in Release-based Modern, West African, Vogue, House, and Burlesque. Need a new promo photo? Sign up for a session with William Frederking Photography.
This event is FREE. Pre-registration is encouraged.
From left to right: Kara Brody, Zenzile Fatou, Fabulous Freddie, Tre Daniels, and Tila Von Twirl
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
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This class offers movers an embodied practice rooted in floor work, release-based technique, and somatic practices. This low-stakes space explores an accumulation of sequences progressing from the floor to standing, building practical skills to move more efficiently in the body and in space.
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Experience the rhythms of West Africa in our introductory dance class. Learn dynamic moves, embrace cultural stories, and feel the energy as you connect with the spirit of the continent. No experience necessary – just come ready to DANCE!
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In this workshop Fabulous Freddie will go over the five elements of vogue femme.
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In this movement-based workshop learn about house dance and culture as Tre Daniels breaks down foundational movements to help dancers expand and explore their movement and understanding of house dance.
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In Chair Play - Exploring Burlesque, students will learn how to navigate and incorporate chair dance and chair balance. We will focus on appropriate warm up, basic dance and prop incorporation, fun tricks, creating what works for you and, most importantly, safety!
PHOTO SESSIONS:
9:00am-3:00pm | Movement Portraits with William Frederking Photography
We have twelve 30 minute spots available on a first come, first serve basis.
To RSVP for a free dance photo session, sign up here:
Movement Portraits by William Frederking Photography
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP LEADERS:
Kara Brody (she/her) is a movement based performer, educator, administrator, and collaborator. With a community-driven practice, her work is grounded by a desire to create connection. Recent projects include Knockout, a collaboration with Erin Kilmurray; work around, a dance series curation at Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre; as well as works with Faye Driscoll, Danceable Projects, The Fly Honey Show, and The Cambrians.
Zenzile Fatou Pearson (she/her) is a multi-talented individual hailing from the southside of Chicago, excelling as a teacher, performer, choreographer, and scholar. With over 20 years of dedicated study and a lifelong passion for African culture and folklore, Zenzile has made it her mission to synergize her scholarship, artistic expertise, and public health background to research and promote health and well-being within African-American communities. She is also a fervent advocate for racial equity and social justice. Leveraging over six years of experience in the field, she serves as a lecturer on vital subjects like medical racism, diversity and inclusion, self-awareness, and cultural identity. Her captivating lectures continuously inspire and challenge audiences to critically assess the impact of systemic racism in their daily lives, empowering them to contribute actively to the creation of a more just and equitable society.
Frederick “Fabulous Freddie ” Leroy (he/him/she/her) is a Voguer/Bboy in the community. He has been dancing for 12+ years, starting with breaking in high school. Throughout his career, Freddie has learned to grow and adapt with who he is as a dancemaker, experimenting with femininity and masculinity in the artist’s own lexicon of movement.
Tre Daniels (any with respect - he/she/they) is a Chicago-based artist whose primary focus is house dance and house culture. He is the co-founder of jus.be house collective and the organizer of Chicago’s Body House dance summit. Tre has traveled across the US competing in competitions, granting him the opportunity to judge for hip-hop and house dance competitions such as Red Bull Dance Your Style Chicago and Styles Defined Battle League. Tre has performed for Former President Barack Obama as well as danced for artists such as Chance the Rapper, Ric Wilson, Mike Dunn, & Shaun Christopher over his twelve-year dance career. Currently, Tre is helping to cultivate dance-centered “Safe spaces” within the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, teaching, instructing, mentoring, DJing, and advocating against racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.
Specializing in acrobatic chair dance, feather fan dancing, and camp, Tila Von Twirl/M Haines (they/them) is one third of The Amazing Bendable Poseable Dolls of Doom, a core member of Fringe Factor Dance and one half of the power duo, Lando Blaze and Narcissa. Most recently, Tila has delighted in producing and hosting, on occasion, the weekly show PeekEasy at Newport Theater in Chicago, IL. Tila is also producer, curator and host of the queer forward, interactive variety show, Embodiment.