TRANS-FRIENDLY ALL-LEVELS MODERN DANCE CLASS SERIES (FREE!) With Sean Dorsey Dance company dancer Nol Simonse

COVID-19 SAFETY NOTES: LINES Dance Center’s policy is to admit only fully vaccinated & boostered people – please bring proof of vaccination/booster OR proof of exemption. San Francisco does not require masks indoors currently, but we lovingly welcome us all to wear masks to help protect others and in support of those who are immune-compromised or vulnerable.

Come to one class, or come to all three in this FREE class series! It’s FREE and by drop-in (no pre-registration required). LINES Dance Center has one all-gender bathroom that you can change in and use the bathroom in. There is an elevator for this building. More questions? See the class description and FAQ’s below!

This class is called “all-levels beginner” – but ALL levels, including TERRIFIED beginners are welcome!

ABOUT THE CLASS:

Nol Simonse (he/him) teaches a fun, engaging modern dance technique class. It includes elements of conditioning, alignment, movement vocabulary, and phrase work. It is designed to stretch and strengthen your body and mind. This is an “upright” dance class, which means we won’t spend a lot of time on the floor, and there will be no handstands. This class uses ballet and Cunningham terminology, but it’s totally fine if you don’t know what that is- it is an advanced beginning level class, so it’s great if you have some experience, but totally not necessary! Total beginners are lovingly welcome! You can take class barefoot, or in socks.

This is a judgement-free space, where all are welcome. Come move your body, in space, with other humans, to music! Deepen your breath, get a little sweaty, and hopefully find some joy. We’d love to have you.

ABOUT THE TEACHER: NOL SIMONSE

Nol Simonse has been dancing/collaborating with Sean Dorsey Dance for 15 seaons! Nol grew up in Washington, D.C., and trained at the Boston Conservatory of Music. He moved to San Francisco in 1997 and is a founding member of Kunst-Stoff, (artistic directors Tomi Paasonen and Yannis Adoniou) who he danced with for ten years. Nol has worked with Janice Garrett since the inception of her company, Janice Garrett and Dancers, in 2001, and continued with her and her partner, Charles Moulton, when they formed Garrett+Moulton Productions. He has danced, toured and taught with Sean Dorsey Dance since 2007. He is also a longtime collaborator/performer of Sue Roginski, Eric Kupers, Christy Funsch, Stephen Pelton, and Kara Davis. Nol has worked with many  Bay Area artists, including Mark Foehringer, Mary Armentrout, Todd Courage, Della Davidson, ACT director Carey Perloff and choreographer Val Caniparoli. Nol was awarded an Isadora Duncan Bay Area Dance Award  in 2011 for individual performance “for his entire season, including A.C.T.’s The Tosca Project”, and in 2009 Nol received a GOLDIE for dance (Guardian Outstanding Local Discovery) from Rita Felciano, who has called Nol “an intense artist”, and “a marvel of a dancer”. Nol was the first person to win Luna Dance Institute’s Choreofund prize, and Dance Teacher Magazine published an interview with him in the September, 2016 issue. Nol currently teaches modern at the Alonzo King’s Lines Dance Center, and Shawl-Anderson Dance Center. He has taught choreography, repertory, and performance workshops for adults and teens, and has made dances for Diablo Ballet, the Lines summer program, students at USF, Shawl-Anderson Youth Ensemble, ODC’s Dance Jam, and Dance Mission Theater’s Grrrl Brigade. Nol produced eight seasons of ‘Shared Space’ with Todd Eckert at Dance Mission Theater from 2007-2016 and has had residencies at Dance Mission and Studio 210. Nol was one of the 25 nominated artists to create a dance for the 25th anniversary season of the West Wave Dance Festival, and was a mentee of Margaret Jenkins in 2017 for her CHIME Program.

FAQ’s – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• YIKES! I’M AFRAID TO DANCE IN PUBLIC! We know that transgender, non-binary and LGBTQ people often don’t feel welcome, safe or comfortable in dance studios or classes … so please know this is truly going to be a super-friendly environment!
• WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? Wear clothing that you’re comfortable in – and that you can move freely around in (including laying on the floor). Please wear sweatpants, loose shorts, loose pants, leggings or any other comfortable bottoms and a comfortable shirt. You can dance in socks or in bare feet.
• WHERE CAN I PEE? WHERE CAN I CHANGE? LINES Dance Center has one all-gender bathroom that you can also change in.
• WILL WE WEAR SHOES? We will be dancing barefoot or in socks – your choice!
• WILL THERE BE ANY TOUCH INVOLVED? There will be no touch involved.
• CAN I WEAR LEGWARMERS AND A SPARKLY HEADBAND? Heck yeah! Let’s make our dance space as playful and fun as you want it!
• WAIT A SECOND: I’M NOT “IN SHAPE” … CAN I STILL COME? Heck yeah! This is for all levels, all bodies, all heart rates! You can sit down or rest or cheer from the sidelines at any time you need to!
• NO REALLY, I’M TERRIFIED … SHOULD I STILL COME? Heck yeah! This is a supportive, loving environment that is super supportive and welcoming of the terrified! Being really nervous or scared is a really common and normal feeling, and we understand what it feels like. Please come and join us!