Kanopy offers students an exceptional dance experience based on the Martha Graham technique and the fundamental components of modern dance. Also part of the curriculum are techniques by Merce Cunningham, Erick Hawkins, Lester Horton, Doris Humphrey, Anna Sokolow and other leading practitioners of modern and contemporary dance. Curriculum includes modern dance techniques, choreography/improvisation, ballet, contemporary, masterwork repertory, creative modern/ballet for our youngest dancers, and more.

A hallmark of Kanopy’s program is the teaching of improvisation, choreography and creative process, giving creative voice to each individual to create their own dances that are their own expression and vision. Students learn to give constructive criticism, talk about their own dances and work together in groups to come to common ground in the creative process. Students move beyond the classroom to learn repertory from the great dances of our time. Pedagogy training begins to prepare the pre-professional dancer for teaching.

Children and adults who study at Kanopy gain a diverse set of skills including artistry, creativity, discipline, confidence, life learning, and a chance to make friends.

Our annual Kanopy 2 & Academy Showcase at the Overture Center and Kanopy’s holiday production, Winter Fantasia, provide students a rare opportunity to perform on a professional stage.

Kanopy 2 is our pre-professional company and  training program. These dancers are introduced to an intense vocabulary of classic modern forms and study with national luminaries shaping the future of modern contemporary dance. Each year Kanopy 2 performs and presents original choreography in our season ending mainstage show at the Overture Center. Numerous Kanopy 2 alumni have forged professional dance careers or earned success in other careers of their choosing. Auditions and Info.

The Academy offers classes from September to May and for all ages and levels. In Summer we offer Dance Intensives for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Dancers, and weekly classes as well.

Acclaimed teachers, from around the globe, join Kanopy’s artistic directors and faculty to teach and inspire. Train in Masters such as Martha Graham, Humphrey/Weidman, Jose Limon, Anna Sokolow, Lester Horton, Erik Hawkins techniques; European Physical Theater, Corporeal Mime, and more. These teachers, former principal dancers or directors from these major companies train you not only in the technique and skill, but the aesthetic and philosophy behind the dance style in focus.

Registration & Tuition

Go to the Summer Programs or School Year web pages and choose your level and number of classes you wish to take. Find the appropriate Register Now button and click it. Fill out the form and press the Submit button. Pay immediately with PayPal, set up auto payments, or mail a check to Kanopy. Tuition is not refundable. Tuition must be received to secure placement in class. In-person class size limited. You may not attend until tuition is received.

School Year  Summer Programs  Guest Artist Faculty   Kanopy 2

Class Offerings

• Kanopy 2: Pre-Professional company training program ages 14-26. By audition or invite.
• Level 6: Advanced: modern techniques, repertory, ballet, choreography, improvisation. Age 14-adult.
• Level 4-5: Intermediate/Advanced-Intermediate: modern techniques, repertory, ballet, choreography, improvisation. Age 10-18.
• Level 3: Beginner/Advanced-Beginner :modern techniques, ballet, choreography and improvisation. Ages 8-13.
• Level 1-2: Beginning creative modern and ballet. Ages 5-8.
• Adult Beginning/Continuing: modern techniques and ballet.
• Kanopy Company Classes: Open to Adult students and Kanopy2 students.

Graham Modern Dance (Levels 3,4,5, 6 and Kanopy2, adults): Movement stemming from the breath including contraction, release, spiral, shift of weight. A vocabulary of movement that would “increase the emotional activity of the dancer’s body”; and create foundation for the highest technical and expressive artistry. 

Cunningham Modern Dance (levels 6, K2, adults): The technique emphasizes clarity of form, coordination of torso and legwork, rhythmic accuracy, spatial     awareness and virtuosity.

Humphrey Modern Dance (Levels, 4,5,6, Kanopy2, adults): “Fall and Recovery”. Movement exists in the range between motionless balance and falling Imbalance incapable of recovery. Suspension and fluidity.

Sokolow Modern Dance (Levels 4-5): To free the dancer/actor from their self-consciousness and cliché. To find honesty and humanity in the dance.

Horton Modern Dance (Levels 4-5,): “Fortifications, Projections, Locomotions, Improvisations, Preludes, and Rhythms” to train the body to dance. 

Hawkins Modern Dance (Levels 6, Kanopy 2, adults): “Normative Theory of Movement”. The body movement is free, simple, and natural–unforced. Strong core with limbs as ‘tassels.’

Contemporary (Levels 4-5): Using energy, emotions, thought, and time to develop authentic movement.

Ballet (Levels 4,5,6, Kanopy2, adults): Created during the Italian Renaissance, our focus is on Russian & Cecchetti schools of training. Focus on alignment, core fundamentals of training for the dancer.

Choreography/Improvisation (Levels 3,4,5,6, Kanopy2): Learn and deepen the tools of the craft to create your own dances. Hone your skills. Explore new ways of dance and the art of movement. Observe, Investigate, explore, invent. We will work on Group and Solo dances. We will give feedback to each other in class increasing connection and flow of ideas. We will learn about costumes and music choices and their impact on what the audience ‘sees’, methods to create costumes, music choices, video projects, additional creative projects, watching dance videos, and history and dance history lessons to facilitate and generate ideas and learning.

Creative Modern /Ballet (Levels 1,2): Joy of Dance for the young dancer- beginning dance skills, dance games, exploration, and creation of students very own dances. Fundamental dance skills.