Clare Cook has choreographed professionally in NYC since 2008. Projects include choreography for HERE Arts Center, NY Theatre Barn’s Choreography Lab, Ars Nova, Berkshire Fringe, Planet Connections Festival (Best Choreography Award), NYU, Columbia Stages, New School for Drama, and multiple operas with Opera Slavica. Most recently, she was the choreographer for the national tour of Bullets Over Broadway, re-staging the work of Susan Stroman from the Broadway production. Past teaching work: Adjunct positions at NYU/Tisch Dance and Louisiana State University, Movement Specialist with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Dancewave Brooklyn, and serving as the Education Director for the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Her company, Clare Cook Dance Theater, finds a new creative home in Louisiana after its beginnings in New York City in 2011. The company is a project-based ensemble committed to creating original dance-theater works that merge multiple art forms through artistic collaboration, as well as fostering the aspirations and talent of young performing artists committed to pursuing a life in the arts by facilitating educational workshops and mentoring opportunities. CCDT has presented work at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Joe’s Pub as part of the DanceNOW Festival, Triskelion Arts, and most recently, Stravinsky’s Firebird with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Lafayette, La. MFA in Dance from NYU. Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. Learn more about Clare and CCDT at www.claremcook.com

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Class begins with a floor warm-up based on Bartenieff Fundamentals preparing the body from the inside out and progresses to standing exercises to coordinate basic movement fundamentals with more refined dance technique. Cook’s movement takes inspiration from from modern, ballet, and jazz styles with a diverse music playlist to challenge rhythm, personal expressivity and performance quality throughout each class section. Improvisation is woven into the class fabric bringing the power of impulse to the forefront, creating a stronger mind-body connection to carry over into the final phrase work of the class. THESIS: Bring yourself completely to the movement, dig deep to find your own personal excellence, and capture the joy of movement!

All classes from 10-1130am at Live Oak Dance (1128 Dublin St) in Riverbend. Drop-in rate is $12. Class cards are available in 10-class increments for $100.