Minerva Arts Center - The MAC

Promoting the importance of an arts-based education by providing high quality arts programming.

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CLICK HERE for more information about our summer 2024 workshops

3/8/14 “Hip Hop Workshops” with Nicole Rizzo and Becky Clemons

Saturday March 8th at the Williamstown Youth Center

A. Youth Session with Nicole Rizzo 10-11:30AM Ages 6 to 12
Tuition: $20

B. Teen/Adult Session with Becky Clemons 12-1:30PM Ages 12 to Adult (or 2 years’ experience)
Tuition: $20

Workshops will begin with physical stretch warm up, followed by basic movements of hip hop and ending with a dance sequence. Technique includes isolations of the body, pop and lock movements and rhythm work. Hip-Hop explores the evolution of urban jazz fused with African dance. Join Nicole and Becky for a fun, upbeat and high energy Hip Hop experience!

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Bios:

Nicole Rizzo has been studying dance and theatre since childhood, dancing with Berkshire Dance Theatre and then went on to study at Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC with a concentration in theatre and dance. In New York, Nicole danced in various theatre and dance shows which included the New York Fringe Festival where she was featured in the New York Times. She later moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career and was asked to choreograph The Pointer Sister at the Henry Fonda Theatre for the City of Hope Foundation. Nicole currently choreographs, directs and performs in her own cabaret troupe in addition to teaching. She has taught dance and movement workshops for the renowned Wanderlust Festival, Bang on a Can at MASS MoCA, and teaches musical theatre, dance and acting programs at Minerva Arts Center and Berkshire Dance Theatre. Nicole is also a certified yoga teacher.

Becky Clemons currently works as an instructor at Berkshire Dance Theatre, and is one of the founders of a community dance crew called dysFUNKcrew, which has performed at the African American Gather-In and numerous venues throughout Berkshire County. Becky has choreographed a Flash Mob and presented numerous other pieces of choreography at the world renowned MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA. The time and dedication that she has invested into her craft, shows through in her passion for teaching Hip Hop.

Filed Under: Spring 2014, Workshops

3/15/14 “Find Your Voice Workshops” with Teresa Lorenco

Saturday March 15th First Congregational Church of Williamstown

A. Youth Session 10-12PM Ages 8 to 12
Tuition: $25 Limited to 10 students

B. Teen/Adult Session 1-3PM Ages 12 to Adult
Tuition: $25 Limited to 10 students

Everyone is a singer, and music is the universal language. In this workshop, learn techniques to improve your sound, breath, and articulation of your voice. Learn how to support your singing, and have a great presence for audition or performance. Workshop will include vocal warm up techniques, range, and exploration of a vocal selection.

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Bio:

Teresa Lorenco has been acting, singing and dancing since childhood, and is a child of musical artists, growing up backstage at the Boston Opera Company. While residing in Vermont, Teresa performed in The Vagina Monologues, An American Machine, and worked with Spielpalast Cabaret, a home grown group of cabaret performers in Burlington. More recently in Massachusetts, Teresa worked with the Majestic Theater in the production Piecemeal, and then played “Mary Magdelene” in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Academy of Music in Northampton. Teresa is and songwriter and is currently working on a CD. Teresa performs throughout the Pioneer Valley in a duet band Spunk N’ Sass with her husband John.

Filed Under: Spring 2014, Workshops

3/22/14 Rhythm Tap Workshops with Stefanie Weber

Saturday March 22th at the Williamstown Youth Center

A. Youth Session 10-12PM Ages 8 to 12
Tuition: $25 (includes tap shoes) Limited to 15 students

B. Teen/Adult Session 1-3PM Ages 12 to Adult (or 2 years’ experience)
Tuition: $25 (includes tap shoes) Limited to 15 students

Youth Session: Bring along your favorite song and learn how to Tap Dance with it like a pro. Pick up some new tricks and tools to express yourself. Explore new ideas for making cool and cutting-edge Tap Dances alone or with your friends.

Teen/Adult Session: What is that song that gets stuck in your head these days? Bring it to this workshop and learn how to get it out of your head and into your feet using your entire body.

REGISTER for this Workshop

Bio:

Stefanie Weber is an action-based dance artist who specializes in creative choreography and leading communities to dance. Tap Dancing since the age of 8, Weber discovered the wonderful world of Jazz & Rhythm Tap in her 20’s and has been in love with it ever since. Having studied with legends of the form, she enjoys passing on the lessons learned while also adding her own unique flair in order to help evolve the form and keep it alive and growing.

www.fertileuniverse.com

Filed Under: Spring 2014, Workshops

3/29/14 Bollywood and Belly Dancing Workshops with Nicole Rizzo and Joslyn Robinson

Saturday March 29th at the Williamstown Youth Center

A. Bollywood Workshop with Nicole Rizzo
Youth Session 10-12PM Ages 8 to12
Tuition: $20

B. Belly Dancing Workshop with Joslyn Robinson
Teen/Adult Session 1-3PM Ages 12 to Adult
Tuition: $20 (includes coin belts)

Bollywood Workshop – This workshop is a fusion of Bollywood, Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk, Contemporary and Bhangra choreographed to some of the latest and greatest Bollywood sounds. The class focuses on posture, dance technique, coordination, isolations, across the floor work, and quality of movement through choreography.

REGISTER for this Workshop

Belly Dancing Workshop – Modern tribal belly dance pulls from ancient traditions and from a vast range of cultures. This workshop is an accessible, energizing, fun, and freeing improvisational class. It is designed for all shapes, ages and dance experiences. Belly dance improves spinal health, posture, ease of movement, body image, self-confidence and much more! Class includes warm ups, some instruction, improvisational dance, and cool down.

REGISTER for this Workshop

Bios:

Nicole Rizzo has been studying dance and theatre since childhood, dancing with Berkshire Dance Theatre and then went on to study at Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC with a concentration in theatre and dance. In New York, Nicole danced in various theatre and dance shows which included the New York Fringe Festival where she was featured in the New York Times. She later moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career and was asked to choreograph The Pointer Sister at the Henry Fonda Theatre for the City of Hope Foundation. Nicole currently choreographs, directs and performs in her own cabaret troupe in addition to teaching. She has taught dance and movement workshops for the renowned Wanderlust Festival, Bang on a Can at MASS MoCA, and teaches musical theatre, dance and acting programs at Minerva Arts Center and Berkshire Dance Theatre. Nicole is also a certified yoga teacher.

Joslyn Robinson has been teaching and performing Tribal Style Bellydance in the Bennington area since 1999. She is the creator and founder of Sisters of the Shawl and co-creator of Bennington Beledi. She has also been casually referred to by professional Bellydance troupes in the Burlington area as “the woman who brought American Tribal Style Bellydance to Vermont”. She is a massage therapist at Green Mountain Oasis where she specializes in Ayurvedic Massage and Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation. Joslyn is currently completing an MFAW in Creative Writing at Goddard College.

Filed Under: Spring 2014, Workshops

Tori Wonderlick

Tori Wonderlick (Rosencrantz/Ensemble)

Filed Under: Actors and Staff

Todd Hamilton

Todd Hamilton (Polonius/Ensemble)

Filed Under: Actors and Staff

Thalia Rossitter

Thalia Rossitter (Horatio/Ensemble) makes her Minerva Stage debut with this production. A rising senior at Mt. Greylock Regional High School, she has appeared four times in the Shakespeare & Company Fall Festival. She has also appeared in Mt. Greylock productions of Singin’ in the Rain and Brigadoon. In past summers she has been involevd with Starlight Stage in Williamstown as well as Riotous Youth at Shakespeare and Company. Thalia studies Jazz, Acrobatics, and Ballet.

Filed Under: Actors and Staff

Dylan LeSage

Dylan LeSage (Riff Raff) is a Junior at Taconic High School in Pittsfield. He is psyched to be playing Riff Raff in his first production at the MAC. Favorite roles have included Jack, Into the Woods, Horton,Seussical, and Baby John, West Side Story. This one’s for you, Chelsea. LEHGO.

Filed Under: Actors and Staff

Jesse Lee Egan Poirier

Jesse Lee Egan Poirier (Rocky) is a recent MCLA graduate, having majored in theatre. Jess rocked the living daylights out of some Shakespeare while studying Theatre. And he loves the MAC!

Filed Under: Actors and Staff

Mark Winnie

Mark Winnie (Phantom) has been acting since age 9 with the Greylock Theater Project through the Wiliamstown Theater Festival. He has also participated in chorus from elementary to middle school. He was a member of a rock band as a middle school student at the Pine Cobble School. He was also in the production Alice in Wonderland and played OZ in The Wizard of Oz. He was part of a staged reading of No Questions Asked as Lafayette. Mark loves to dance and is a wonderful rapper he aspires to be the first good gay/bisexual rapper to make it in the big time. He would also like to someday appear in films and would like to be part of a TV series. Mark would also like to try his hand at underwear modeling. He had no idea what Rocky Horror was when he auditioned with his rendition of the song Happy Birthday!

Filed Under: Actors and Staff

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