Saturday- Ephraim Master Class Series

MASTER CLASS SCHEDULE- Saturday, July 27th @Ephraim Village Hall

9am- Iyengar Yoga for Anybody w/Janet Lilly

Open Level

An introduction to Iyengar yoga asanas (poses) as a mind and body practice that develops somatic (mind/body) awareness. Please bring two blankets that fold well and a yoga mat.

10:30am- Contemporary Dance and Karaoke w/Melinda Jean Myers

Intermediate/Advanced

This class will work at the pre-professional/professional level in release-based contemporary dance technique and singing/sounding (no voice training required). We will begin by playing and rolling on the floor with movement and sound improvisation to deepen our sense of weight transfer, efficiency, multi-directionality, and momentum. The second half of class will be dedicated to learning highly detailed and physical phrase work while being invited to sing, shout and make noise throughout class.

*Live musical accompaniment by Tim Russell

1pm- Embrace Your Essence: A Journey of Liberation w/Charlique Rolle

Adults, Open Level

Step into a 90-minute exploration of self-discovery and empowerment with "Embrace Your Essence." In this unique workshop, we'll delve into the transformative power of movement, photography, and journaling to uncover the beauty of our authentic selves. Journaling prompts will guide participants in reflecting on their experiences, fostering self-awareness and compassion. Together, we'll integrate movement, photography, and journaling into a creative exploration, culminating in collaborative movement pieces that reflect the richness of our individual journeys. Whether you're new to movement or an experienced practitioner, this workshop offers a welcoming space to connect with your body, creativity, and truth. Join us on this journey of self-discovery, where every movement, every image, and every word is an opportunity to embrace the essence of who you are.

*Participants are encouraged to bring journal, pen/paper

3pm- Lyrical w/Amanda List

Intermediate, 16+

This 75 minute class will consist of: 15-20 minute warm up, skills across the floor, and 45 minutes of choreography in the style of Lyrical. Come get expressive, tap into your emotions while allowing your body to tell the story through movement.

About the artists...

Janet Lilly is a former principal dancer and teacher with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and was the Director of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) from 2011-2023. Lilly joined UNCG after 15 years at the Peck School of Arts Department of Dance at the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, where she was instrumental in creating a low-residency MFA program for returning dance professionals. Awarded a 2008-09 Fulbright Lecturer Fellowship, Lilly has choreographed and taught as a guest artist and master teacher on college campuses in the United States and abroad. Lilly is a Certified Iyengar Instructor, and is a registered International Association of Yoga Therapist and Yoga Alliance instructor.

Melinda Jean Myers is a multidisciplinary artist who creates in the areas of dance and choreography, theater and storytelling, and music composition. Her research includes solo choreography and performance, and collaborations with theater artists, filmmakers, writers, music composers, media designers and dance artists. At University of Iowa, she is an Assistant Professor of Contemporary Dance and Choreography. Myers earned her MFA from University of Iowa (2012) where she received a Stanley Graduate Award for International Research and Iowa Arts Fellowship. She earned her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (2005). She was honored to perform internationally with the Trisha Brown Dance Company for four years (2006-2010) and has been privileged to re-stage repertory works. As a member of The Cambrians (Chicago, IL), her collaborative work Clover (2015) was named one of Chicago Tribune's Top 10 Dances of 2015. She also created three new works as a devising ensemble member of Lucky Plush Productions (Chicago, IL) and toured nationally with the company for ten years. (2012-2022). Her interdisciplinary dance works have been presented in South Korea, Germany, NYC, and throughout the Midwest.

Support this artist! Venmo @mindy-myers-

Charlique C. Rolle, a community and cultural design specialist, visionary multi-disciplinary creator, and storyteller seamlessly navigates the intersections of faith, arts, justice, and community development, amplifying Black and marginalized voices. As the Executive Director of Congo Square Theatre and President of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago, her impact resonates in innovative narratives. Recognized in Newcity's Players (2022, 2024), Charlique is a catalyst for change, driving transformative works that catalyze collective liberation and transformation. A Bahamas native, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Missouri Valley College, holds an MA in Ministry Leadership and a MBA from Concordia University Chicago. Charlique's commitment extends beyond artistic expression; she leverages the arts for societal change, forging partnerships committed to creative freedom, sustainability, and longevity. She is not just a storyteller but a changemaker, utilizing diverse artistic modalities to deepen stories and propel them into action, actively elevating Black voices in the cultural landscape with unwavering dedication.

Support this artist! Zelle- (312)-395-0747

Amanda List is a Dancer/Choreographer out of Green Bay Wisconsin. With a BA degree in Dance from UW Stevens Point, WI, coupled with other studies around movement, spirituality, and psychology she believes in the power of healing through movement using movement as medicine. Her classes and choreography strive to create confidence and empowerment for beginner, and intermediate level dancers. She approaches movement with great playfulness and heart. You may have seen her choreography in: LEAP-The Human Kindness Project, Unhinged 2018 & 2022, Death's Door Dance Festival 2022.

Support this artist! Donastions accepted via check

Tim Russell (he/him) lives at the confluence of the aural and the visual. He currently serves as Music Director for the University of Wisconsin Dance Program. In 2019, Tim was selected as one of the Cowles Visiting Artists at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a first for a Musician in the field of Dance. He has a vast catalogue of works specifically for choreography, most of which exist live, in collaboration with movement. His commitment to the nowness in performance led him to co-create/curate, along with choreographer Maria Gillespie, Hyperlocal MKE, a Music and Dance improvisation series that exists to this day in Milwaukee. His current curatorial project: Common Sage Arts, promotes multidisciplinary artists through carefully curated performances. Along with Tim’s long time collaboration with the Gerald Casel Dance, his audio shares the stage with choreographic artists such as: Kate Corby, Abby Crain, Danceworks, Maria Gillespie, Holly Johnston, Stephan Koplowitz, Sara Shelton Mann, Li Chiao Ping, Liz Sexe, Marlene Skog, WildSpace Dance and Jin Wen Yu, bringing Tim and his music across the world from Dock 11 in Berlin to YBCA in San Francisco. He holds an MFA in Music Improvisation from Mills College in Oakland, California, where he studied improvisation, electronic music and composition with the likes of Fred Frith, Roscoe Mitchell and Zeena Parkins. His 2020 album: “Junct”, a collection of improvisational duets with bassist Ari Smith, was included in Tone Madison’s top 20 records of 2020

Design- Charlie Stephens, Photo- xoMe studio

Photos- Hannah Long (Janet Lilly), Benjamin Wardell (Melinda Jean Myers), John R. Boehm(Charlique Rolle), Jenny Loglias(Amanda List)