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Calen Kurka

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Teacher Bio

Raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, Calen Kurka started his training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Modern, and Chinese Dance. He then later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, furthering his training competitively.

As an instructor Calen has taught across Canada, the U.S. and Japan, and more recently in Ireland at Dublin's Dance Jam '07. He is currently instructing for Dance Masters of America as one of their Master Faculty, and is also on faculty with...read more

Raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, Calen Kurka started his training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Modern, and Chinese Dance. He then later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, furthering his training competitively.

As an instructor Calen has taught across Canada, the U.S. and Japan, and more recently in Ireland at Dublin's Dance Jam '07. He is currently instructing for Dance Masters of America as one of their Master Faculty, and is also on faculty with Dance Educators of America. His choreography has been recognized as outstanding at many competitions throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has been the recipient of many awards. In addition to teaching in and around New York he's also assistant to choreographer, director, instructor, Michele Assaf.

Calen's performing credits include being an original member of the first national tour of Jeff Amsden's widely acclaimed A Few Good Men Dancin', and performing with recording artist Carmella in a tribute concert to Cher. He's also worked closely with choreographer/instructor Chris Hale. As a featured performer, Calen's stage credits include having spent a year on contract with Tokyo Disney as a Main Stage performer, and taking on such leading roles as Capt. Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors in regional stage productions. In addition he can be seen in The Live! at Broadway Dance Center video series Turns and Turn Combos, dancing with choreographer Danny Herman, and Floor Work with Calen Kurka and Chris Hale: A new addition to the "Live at BDC" collection.

As founder and Artistic Director of :pushing progress a company, Calen hopes to continue his journey as an artist, instructor and choreographer. He wishes to inspire, and be continually inspired by those who so honestly give of their talent and themselves. He continues, with his company, to create work pushing new movement, strong technique, honesty, emotional commitment, and growth. It is an evolutionary journey with no boundaries, no limits, no ends.

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Class Descriptions

Contemporary

This advanced level class focuses on the quality, progress, and improvement of ones movement. Starting with warm-up, we work on warming the core then moving to the outer limbs. The warm-up focuses on a good solid stretch and, working strength and proper alignment throughout the body. This is sometimes followed by an across the floor which focuses on anything from simple technique to complicated movement, or exercise in traveling and improvisation.

Center combination combines advanced technique, and contemporary movement focusing on style and commitment to an idea. This is used to pull dancers out of their shell emotionally, and technically, and push them physically. Our goal is to work more freely through expression while keeping conventional technique and body awareness as the underlying foundation for all movement.

Jumps and Turns

From the beginning to advanced level, this class focuses on proper technique and execution of all jumps and turns. Every step is learned as it’s own separate entity across the floor, and is then put into short traveling combinations incorporating movement at the advanced level. The warm-up focuses on a good solid stretch, working strength and proper alignment throughout the body. From beginning to end we make technique and proper work ethic our main priority.