Stephen Petronio Company has taught worldwide at every level from primary school to professional. Each educational initiative is based in a rigorous and intelligent movement practice that encourages creativity and discovery.
The foundation of Petronio movement is the conscious direction of energy through the body and out into space. Technique class begins with a somatic warmup that focuses on skeletal connectivity and initiation from the far edges of the body. Across-the-floor movement expands on ideas of spatial awareness, rhythm, and sequencing through the spine. Class is rooted in an energetic, rather than “shape-based,” approach. Each student is encouraged to find a healthy, open, and fearless mobility within their own body.
Repertory workshops give students firsthand experience with Stephen Petronio’s acclaimed body of work. Complex phrasework is broken down into accessible components, and rebuilt with an emphasis on dynamism, rhythmic precision, and speed. This unpacking of the choreographic process gives students a host of tools for their own work as dancers and dance makers.
The Company is available for master classes, guest teaching, and restaging on students. Contact Education Director, Tess Montoya, for more information.