BBA™ Adult Ballet Classes

Bayer Ballet Academy™ is pleased to offer Adult Ballet Classes with Linda Hurkmans beginning Fall 2013!

Linda Hurkmans, M.A. has taught ballet dancers and Pilates students for 18 years. She is known for her high standards and providing a supportive and professional atmosphere for dancers to reach those standards. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, Cum Laude, with an emphasis in Ballet Performance, from the University of Utah, a Masters Degree in Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University, and full certifications in Pilates Mat and Apparatus from Turning Point Studios and The PhysicalMind Institute. Linda has taught at SpinOff Danseskole in Norway, Stanford University, Western Ballet, San Jose Dance Theatre, De Anza College, and Santa Clara University, where she was also the Ballet Choreographer and helped found the university’s Pilates program for dancers and athletes. Linda received scholarships to dance at Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet School, and at the age of 16, received a full scholarship to the University of Utah’s Ballet Dept. and became the leading dancer of Utah Ballet. She also danced professionally with the Norwegian Andanse Ballet, Zahkraz Dance, and as a guest of The Royal Danish Ballet and The Norwegian National Ballet in conjunction with The Year of Dance in Norway and the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Linda competed in the ITI International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland, and appeared in the CBS Mini-Series “At Mother’s Request” starring Stefanie Powers. Linda’s choreography has been performed by the Norwegian State Ballet, Western Ballet, Zohco Dance Company, and Santa Clara University. In 2004, Linda completed the CD “Ballet Music with Linda Hurkmans & Pianist Luba Kardontchik”.

Class Descriptions:

Beginning Ballet 1.5 hours

No prior dance training is required. This is a class that thoroughly introduces proper alignment, use of turn out, positions of the arms, legs, and head, basic movements and sequences of ballet from the “barre” to “center work”. Students are also taught how to safely and properly stretch as well as use some “floor barre” and Pilates exercises to improve their strength, flexibility and dancing. More advanced dancers are welcome to join us to further clean their ballet technique, or to get back into shape after a break, or to take the class on pointe shoes.

Beginning Intermediate Ballet 1.5 hours

Ongoing training for students with previous ballet experience. This class continues to stress proper alignment, use of turn out and correct and safe ballet technique in a progression towards the intermediate and advanced ballet. Use of “epaulement” (the head and arms working together), musicality, and artistry are encouraged in all dancers along with progressing “barre” and “center work”. Semi-professional and professional dancers sometimes grace our class.

Pointe/Choreography 1.0 hour

Students have a choice of taking this class on pointe or not. Exercises to strengthen the foot and improve the aesthetic line of the foot for ballet will be given via Pilates theraband and Floor Barre exercises, as well as work at the ballet barre and center. Students will also have an opportunity to learn solo variations from classical ballets and learn original choreography from Linda Hurkmans.  It is advised that students take at least 2 weekly ballet classes from Linda Hurkmans in addition to this class.

Friends and Family Showings during class time 1.5 hours

Students who attend on a regular basis will have the opportunity to invite their friends and family to a free, informal, in studio showing during class time. Showings will occur in Winter, Spring and Summer each year to show progress of the ballet technique work. Students who regularly attend the Pointe/Choreography class will show material learned from classical ballet and original choreography from Linda Hurkmans. Please do not perform Linda Hurkmans’ choreography in other performances without her consent. It is completely the student's choice if s/he would like to perform in the in-class showings.

Schedule:

Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am

Beginning Intermediate Ballet

Tuesdays 11:45am-12:45pm

Pointe/Variations/Choreography

Thursdays 10:00-11:30am

Beginning Intermediate Ballet

Friday 10:00-11:30am

Beginning Intermediate Ballet

Friday 11:45am-1:15pm

Beginning Ballet

Cost: $17 Drop in Rate, $10 Professional Rate ($160 for 10 classes if purchased in advance and used within 45 days of purchase) No Refunds or Credits