No Class Because of Coronavirus? Here's Where You Can Train Online
Just because “social distancing” means your classes got canceled, your training doesn’t need to stop. Some studios are livestreaming their classes to students. Some dancers are giving themselves kitchen-counter barre. But there are also several online classes that can keep your technique sharp from home. Check out these seven options:
Universal Ballet Competition
Universal Ballet Competition
is gathering world-class ballet stars every weekend for a lineup of interactive classes over Zoom in which students can receive real-time corrections and take part in a Q&A after class. Teachers include major dance names like Francesca Hayward, Isabella Boylston and Desmond Richardson. The intermediate/advanced level classes span ballet technique, pointe barre, men’s class, contemporary and variations. $25/class.
Veyette Virtual Ballet School
For interactive personal ballet coaching, check out Veyette Virtual Ballet School. It was recently launched by Miami City Ballet principal soloist Lauren Fadeley and her husband, former Pennsylvania Ballet principal Francis Veyette. Their one-on-one lessons via Skype focus on proper technique and a healthy mindset. Veyette and Fadeley also offer small group lessons for studios and competition coaching, plus mentoring sessions for both students and parents. Private lessons are $100/hour.
Training Pointe
This brand-new online training platform offers ballet classes that promise more personalized attention, including one-on-one sessions, as well as state of the art technology. Class sizes are small (12 students or less), and faculty includes Michele Gifford, Debra Austin, Deborah Wingert and Zhong-Jing Fang. Training Pointe is also offering a summer intensive. From $20/class.
Ballet Academy East/Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
The two renowned ballet schools have teamed up to offer open online classes during the pandemic, taught by the faculties of both schools, for $10/class.
Dancio
Dancio
, a ballet-focused online training platform that also offers contemporary and modern classes, is offering academic institutions a free, two-week subscription right now. Or you can rent individual classes for a 48-hour period, for $4.99. Teachers include everyone from ballet stars, like Julie Kent and Wendy Whelan, to Martha Graham Dance Company’s Blakely White-McGuire and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Khalia Campbell.
Founder Caitlin Trainer asks those interested in accessing the free, two-week trial to email [email protected]. To arrange longer-term group subscriptions, email [email protected].
MYSENSEI
Dancewear brand Zarély has launched MYSENSEI to provide one-on-one training and mentoring with a variety of current and former professional ballet dancers, like Jurgita Dronina, Pascal Molat and Sona Kharatian. Classes range from $60 to $150 per class, depending on the teacher.
1on1 Ballet
Famed National Ballet of Canada star Svetlana Lunkina is behind the app 1on1 Ballet. AI technology records your movement—such as the position of your body in space, speed, angles, angular velocity—and compares it to a professional ballet dancer executing the same exercises, to help you analyze and correct your work. The app currently offers 59 different exercises. It’s available on Google Play and the Apple Store, with in-app purchases.
CLI Studios
CLI Studios
partners directly with dance studios to offer live or prerecorded master classes as well as continuing education for faculty members and competition choreography. The program was co-founded by a group of commercial stars including tWitch, Allison Holker and Teddy Forance, and the roster of faculty members reads like a Who’s Who of the industry. There are currently more than 150 hours of training available online. Starts at $100/month.
ARC Dance Master Class series
Seattle-based ARC Dance Company is offering remote master classes from dancers from Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, American Ballet Theatre and more. Offered through a virtual meeting platform, Campaign COVID 1+9=10 Remote Master Class Series begins Monday, April 6, with former Pacific Northwest Ballet star Carla Korbes. The one-hour classes are small in size so that dancers can receive real-time corrections. $10 a class; click here to find out how to register.
My Online Dance Teacher
Studio owners can sign up to send free videos to their students through My Online Dance Teacher. New content is added every week.
Take class from ballet stars
Many ballet dancers are hosting their own classes through platforms like Instagram and Facebook live.
The Ballet Spot
New York City and Los Angeles fitness studio The Ballet Spot hires professional dancers to teach all of its classes. Right now, the studio is streaming all of its dance-based cardio workout classes for $5.
The Dancer’s Workout®
For the next few weeks, The Dancer’s Workout® is offering a free one-hour online class at 11:45 am Eastern every day. Taught by UNCSA ballet alum Jules Szabo, the fitness classes combine ballet, jazz, contemporary dance and toning exercises for a conditioning workout. Registration is required.
Gaga NYC Online
Gaga NYC
is offering three live Gaga classes every day, open to anyone, from anywhere in the world, via Zoom. A $5 donation is suggested—it goes directly to the teachers.
Broadway Dance Center
In addition to free daily dance videos on Instagram, the legendary NYC institution is offering daily 60-minute livestream classes in a variety of styles, led by its A-list faculty, for $12 each.
STEEZY
STEEZY
focuses on various urban dance styles like house, dancehall, krump, breaking, whacking and heels. The interface allows you to view the instructor from multiple angles, slow down the speed, loop a particular step or watch yourself dancing on the screen right alongside the instructor so you can compare your technique. After a seven-day, free trial, plans are offered on a monthly or annual basis. $19.99/month or $99.99/year.
Operation: Tap
Tap stars Anthony Morigerato, Ayodele Casel and Mike Minery founded Operation: Tap to offer online classes for beginners through advanced professional tap dancers. A subscription comes with fun bonuses, like technique challenges every Tuesday and videos of original tap productions—along with behind-the-scenes footage. $15–$40/month.
Of course, you’ll also want to make sure you’ve got a solid tap floor at home before ripping up your hardwood. Check out these options from Stagestep and Harlequin.
Learntodance.com
If you want to try a new style while stuck at home, Learntodance.com offers free online step-by-step tutorials in everything from tango to Irish step dancing. Or you can purchase a full course for more advanced instruction, from $37–$147.
DancePlug
Learn new choreography with easy-to-follow tutorials on DancePlug. There are combinations and technique exercises in classic styles like theater dance, lyrical, contemporary, ballet and jazz. The site also offers strength and conditioning workouts. Plans start at $29/month.
Navatman Spring Reality: Virtual Mini Riyaaz (Practice) Camp
For a deep dive into classical Indian dance forms like Kathak and Bharatanatyam, Navatman is hosting a week-long online intensive this week. Anyone interested is invited to join for the whole thing, or to drop in for just a single class via Zoom.
