Ballet is for everyone, and no experience is required! This beginner-friendly class is designed for adults who are new to ballet or returning after time away.
Students will learn the fundamentals of classical ballet technique in a supportive, encouraging environment. Classes focus on proper alignment, basic positions and movements, French ballet terminology, and the structure of a traditional ballet class, including barre, center work, and simple allegro exercises.
Ballet offers numerous benefits, including improved strength, flexibility, balance, posture, coordination, and confidence. Whether you’re looking for a different form of exercise, a creative outlet, a way to express yourself, or get in tune with your body and mind, this class is the perfect place to begin your ballet journey.
Karina Sturdevant Levy received her early ballet training at Des Moines Ballet and on full scholarship at Milwaukee Ballet, studying with renowned instructors including Kennet Oberly, Stephan Laurent, Martha Faesi, Basil Thompson, and Peter Pawlshyn.
During her 12-year professional performing career, Karina danced with companies in the United States and Europe, including Ballet Iowa, Milwaukee Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Rosalind Newman Dancers in New York City, and Oure Danse Kompagni in Denmark. She performed a wide range of roles in both classical ballet and modern dance and also studied theatrical ballroom dance with Gregory Day, winner of the British Open Blackpool Dance Competition.
An experienced educator, Karina has taught ballet, modern, jazz, character dance, ballroom, and other dance forms at schools throughout the United States and abroad. She specializes in the Bournonville technique and has helped students earn scholarships and acceptance to leading university dance programs and professional companies, including Ballet West and Stuttgart Ballet.
Cordelia Rose was fortunate to take her first yoga class decades ago at the Integral Yoga Centre in Manhattan, New York. The building was silent and she learned to respect the depth of yoga practice. Moving to New Mexico, Cordelia became a student of the late Rama Jyoti Vernon who practiced with Mr. Iyengar when she was a child. Hence, Cordelia teaches a wide range of poses in the Hatha Yoga tradition with an emphasis on alignment within the parameters of sweet discomfort, not pain. Cordelia offers explanations and careful adjustments.
Cordelia’s 90-minute class begins with pranayama and just sitting in the present moment. Gentle asana follow, warming up the muscles and easing the joints while keeping the mind calm. Asana vary from class to class, but follow a rhythm starting with sun salutations and continuing through seated, supine, prone and standing to inverted asana. The class winds down with pranayama, savasana with yoga nidra, and closes with hasta mudra, chanted mantra and a moment of seated stillness. OM.
