Where: Greenwich Dance Academy
When: 30th August – 2nd September 2011
Teacher: Fernanda Prata
Graduated in Performances Arts Theatre at Laranjeiras Arts Center (Brazil) and a BA in Contemporary Dance at Angel Vianna University (Brazil). Background in Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance and Aerial work.
Born in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro has been working as a Professional Dancer, Deviser and Teacher for over 17 years. Finalizing a Yoga teacher training at Triyoga in London.
She has worked widely in Brazil with companies including “Quasar”, “Dani Lima” and since has come to London has worked in theatre and dance with main companies like, “Protein”, ”PunchDrunk”, “Jasmin Vardimon”, “Vincent Dance Theatre”, “Stan Wont Dance”, “Sarah Crow”, “The Globe Theatre”, “National Theatre”, “Theatre Rites”.
The class: Fernanda’s class is a Release based Class, working on the efficiency of movement, with an emphasis on weight , gravity, joints and spirals of the body using the center as the starting point. It is a very physical class with a focus on floor work, developing ways of getting in and out of the floor and integrating the breathing with movement.
The class utilizes simple movement patterns that involve breathing, speed and the release of energy throughout the body in order to activate the relationship between the center and the joints, moving in and out of the ground more efficiently.
My verdict: Prata is attentive, knowledgeable and aware of the dancers in her class. Having just finished her yoga teaching training, half of the class was comprised of yoga, the other involving simple movement combinations.
The yoga was intense for my body. It invigorating to to revisit yoga sequences and time seemed to pass quickly. The movement phrases, though simple, had a quality about them that I really appreciate – flowing, energetic and somatically aware.
It seems repetition is the food of dance-love.