Cora’s Adult Dance Class Return to Red Hook

April, 2016, By Mary Staub

Brooklyn, NY

(originally published in the Red Hook Star-Revue)

Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance brought a sampling of adult dance classes to locals at the group’s new studio at Red Hook Ministries on Van Dyke Street last month.  On Saturday, March 5^th, adults ranging from age 12 (members of Cora’s youth dance group) to at least 60, and from first-time dancers to professional performers, dabbled in a palette of movement styles that included yoga, hip hop, ballet, reggae/dance hall, and more.

Classes were well-attended, with 28 students cramming into a reggae/dance hall class at 11.30, the day’s most popular class. Other classes attracted about 20 students each.  The instructors, professional dancers and teachers, often with their own companies, attracted both novices and professionals by challenging participants in a playful way. Karen Ross, who led the reggae/dance hall class, kept the mood light as she engaged a wide range of participants—neighborhood moms, long-time Cora dance class participants, and young adult dancers from other Brooklyn neighborhoods. Some of Cora’s youth group dancers and members of a visiting dance troupe from Harrisonburg, Virginia, the Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre, also joined. They all had different reasons for coming and brought different skills to the classes, but teachers welcomed them all.  

“Loved it.” “Awesome.” “Really glad I came.” “Amazing class, choreographers and experience overall.” “Great group of people.” These were some of the comments participants shared after class.  “The director has an awesome spirit and her staff and kids reflect her hard work,” said another.

The classes on March 5^th served to reintroduce Cora’s adult dance classes to the community after they had gone on hiatus in November of 2014. Cora, whose main mission is their youth classes, took a break from holding adult classes 18 months ago because they lost their then-studio. They were busy moving into and renovating  this second-floor space of Red Hook Ministries throughout the summer of 2015. While the youth classes started up again last October, this adult workshop weekend marked the relaunch of Cora’s new adult classes, which are being developed based on workshop feedback.  Feedback indicated that community interest was greatest for reggae/dance hall and ballet, so this is what Cora is organizing for a class series in May and June. Classes will be drop-in, pay-what-you-can, geared towards beginner-level students, but open to more advanced levels, too.

“The classes are for any adults wanting to get out and move,” said Kelsey Kramer, Cora’s communications manager. “They are a way for people to touch upon something they might have done when they were younger. It’s a chance for adults to be part of Cora.”

Cora’s adult program extends the mission of their youth program, which is to give all children access to the arts.

“We really believe in breaking down any barriers that prevent kids from having access to the performing arts,” said Kramer.

Similarly, the adult classes give locals access to dance without having to take a bus and subway, an obstacle that can be difficult to overcome “just” for the sake of dance, as several workshop participants said.