September goings on!

Hello and happy September!

I'm just back from a great trip home in Ireland, so getting this out to you all a little later than usual this month. I missed you all in August! It was so lovely to see family and friends, and one in particular: I got to spend time with my dear old friend, fellow dancer and co-founder of expandance, Laurie Schneider! It's always incredible to spend time with those you creatively ''click'' with. If you haven't spent time with a creative friend recently, I highly recommend it. It's a balm to the soul.

Rachel and Laurie, expandance founders

Here's what's going on this month

We have a special free Release and Restore workshop for people living with cancer, Danceypants, another R&R workshop, AND info on my children's class at 6th Street Playhouse. Phew! Let's go!

Sarah Jenness of Bala Healing Arts

First up: Gentle Movement and Sound Therapy for Cancer Patients and Survivors

An hour of expandance movement with me, followed by  an hour of beautiful singing bowls and relaxation with Sarah Jenness of Bala Healing Arts.

"A re-treat that feels like a waterfall of nourishment" - Megan M.

Wednesday September 18th 5:30pm - 7:30pm 
At the Finley Community Center
2060 W College Ave, Santa Rosa

*** This is a free workshop *** 

Please register with the organizer Sharon by e-mailing her at Sharon.doughty@stjoe.org

Next: Danceypants

As the great Lizzo says "Growing up is acting less childish and being more child-like" and I love this quote because being child-like can bring so much openness and joy into our lives. And to me, that's a big part of what Danceypants is all about. Join me and let's be silly.

Thursday September 19th 7pm 
At SoCo Aerial Collective studio (down the hall, in the back)
7231 Healdsburg Ave, Sebastopol, CA 
$15-$20 sliding scale 

Every time someone pays $20, we add $5 to the scholarship pot, to give a scholarship place to someone who needs a bit of help coming to class

Please pay in advance if you can, it helps us greatly on the night getting everyone checked in! You can pay by PayPal to rachel@expandance.com or Cash App $ expandance

Cash only on the door - No PayPal day of

Wear comfy clothes, and bring water.

As some of you know I am part of the faculty at 6th Street Playhouse School of Drama in Santa Rosa. Our term of classes at 6th Street starts this week! I'm teaching choreography once again for Musical Theatre Songsters, which is a class for 7-12 year olds on Tuesday afternoons. If you know a young thespian who might be interested, check out the info here (it's the third class down) and sign up, or e-mail Juliet at education@6thStreetPlayhouse.com to register. I look forward to dancing with your kiddos!

And lastly, Sarah and I are teaching another Release and Restore at her studio in South Sebastopol, California at the end of September:

A two hour dive into relaxation. First we'll move from within through Rachel's expandance technique - guided movement exercises, then we'll relax into restorative poses while Sarah's singing bowls wash over us in a beautiful sound bath

Monday September 30th 2019

6:30pm - 9pm
$45 payable in advance

*** Very limited space available. Advance booking only ***

No refunds; however, payments can be exchanged for another date or transferred to another person.

TO RESERVE: PayPal rachel@expandance.com $45

You will receive a confirmation e-mail containing the studio address (South Sebastopol) and parking directions.

"Release and Restore was exactly what I needed. It is true to its name: I was gifted with the space, safety, freedom, and encouragement to listen deeply to my body, contact my inner experience, and move and release what had been stagnating within; then, I got to melt into a warm, cozy sound bath while resting in regenerative yoga poses. Really, what more could I ask for?! I have been twice already, and will go again. Every time is a different experience. As a mom of a toddler, taking this time to care for myself is invaluable (not only for me, but for my family who receives a more grounded and rejuvenated me afterward!) and worth every penny. Thank you again!" - Erin

"A beautiful healing experience! Truly love your work! Thank you!" - Nicole

No dance, yoga or meditation experience required.

SOLD OUT: A Moment of Self Care

Join us Monday January 28th 2019 

A two hour dive into relaxation. First we'll move from within through Rachel's expandance technique -  guided movement exercises, then we'll relax into restorative poses while Sarah's singing bowls wash over us in a beautiful sound bath.

"When I walked into the studio on Monday evening for ExpanDance, I didn't know quite what to expect, but I had a feeling I was going to experience something special. 

As the experience unfolded, I could feel the women in the room slowly open their hearts to the moment, the movement, and the music. Rachel's gentle and playful invitations to move with heart inspired deep surrender, and joyful expression. 

Following the vibrant dance exercises, Sarah guided us gently into a restorative yoga session - Within the first few breaths, I could feel myself relaxing deeply as Sarah played her unique array of instruments guiding us sweetly into a state of ease and bliss. It was so so lovely. We moved through three or four restorative asanas and each one was so delicious. 

The combination of dance, yoga and the sound healing was divine and I can't wait to gather with this group of women again next month."

- 

Lindsey Dyer, A Moment of Self Care, December 2018

No experience necessary. Mamas welcome! We are both mothers and have safely taught our classes to pregnant and post-partum / nursing mothers. 

South Sebastopol, California. Address upon registration.

This event has very limited space; please pre-register at rachel@expandance.com
$45 Payment reserves your space, and is non-refundable but transferable: if you cannot make it, you can give your space to someone else.

Audition June 11th 2017 Santa Rosa

Hi all! 

We have cast 80% of the dancers for our Midsummer Night's Dream adaptation "Fairy Worlds" for Shakespeare in the Cannery this summer!

We are *still looking for*
- 3 ballet dancers with strong pointe work skills
- 3 athletic male dancers for Oberon's army, preferably with tumbling skills
- 1 or 2 more contemporary dancers with strong improvisational AND floor work skills and very strong technique - especially those who have trained in Release / Horton / Limon / Low-Fly and have Acro Yoga basics

LAST AUDITION will be 

Sunday June 11th 2017

11:30am - 2pm 

In the dance studio next to 6th Street Playhouse

52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA

Please e-mail auditions@6thstreetplayhouse.com to register. Thanks. Feel free to share this post.

More info:
- No, dancers don't need to prepare anything for the audition
- Yes, your faery wings will light up. Yes, it's very cool :) 

- If you're a ballet dancer, please bring pointe shoes
- All performers are paid
- Rehearsals start mid-June for ballet dancers, and July 10th for everyone else. 1-3 evenings a week.
- Performance run is August 10th - Sept 2nd, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Please do not apply if you are unable to commit to performances.

Thanks all!
- Rachel Wynne 

Upcoming Audition April 30th

Hi everyone!

Our next (and most likely last) audition for 6th Street / Shakespeare in the Cannery summer production will be:

Next Sunday April 30th

11:30 am - 2pm

There is no need to prepare anything for the audition (unless you want to) 

Rehearsals begin July 10th

Performances run August 10th - September 2nd 

(Thurs, Fri, Sat evenings)

We have collected an awesome cast of movers so far and are looking to round it out with dancers who have strong modern, contemporary, and / or ballet technique. Ballet dancers with strong pointe work especially. Modern dancers with strong improv skills is a bonus.

To reserve a spot: auditions@6thstreetplayhouse.com

There is no need to prepare anything for the audition (unless you want to, of course).

See you there!

Rachel

Next round of auditions THIS SUNDAY April 2nd

Come one, come all! 

We're looking for modern dancers, ballet dancers (bonus if you have strong pointe work technique), and martial artists / other movers. 

6th Street Playhouse, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA

Sunday April 2nd 

E-mail auditions@6thstreetplayhouse.com to reserve a spot

Auditions this weekend at 6th Street Playhouse

A Little Night Music at 6th Street Playhouse

Dear friends,

I'm thrilled to be working on A Little Night Music at 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, California at the moment. We have a truly wonderful cast and crew for this one, led by the incredible duo of Craig Miller and Ginger Beavers. Everything about this production is stunning, from costumes to set to the sheer talent on stage.

We open in two weeks - I hope to see you there!

Tickets are now available here.

Rachel

1 spot left for DANCEYPANTS in Sebastopol, CA this week

Hi all,

We have just 1 spot left for DANCEYPANTS this week, and that's because of a cancellation - who wants it? :)


- Rachel

1 spot left for DANCEYPANTS in Sebastopol, CA this week

Hi all,

We have just 1 spot left for DANCEYPANTS this week, and that's because of a cancellation - who wants it? :)


- Rachel

Next 3 classes, Sebastopol, CA

My greatest lessons from expandance have ultimately been about fearlessness. The meditative technique goes beyond other types of sitting or moving meditation I've practiced. That is, it accesses deep awareness, calm acceptance, and loving-kindness...and also manages to make me feel like a better communicator and more confident in general. This technique has allowed me to give myself permission to take risks...at work, at play, and in my relationships with other people.

- Erica Frankel, New York

Performance this Saturday at Rivertown Revival

This Saturday: The Rivertown Revival festival in Petaluma!

Saturday July 16th 2016
McNear Peninsula, Petaluma, California
Festival runs 11am - 8pm

The Butterfly Ship, which comprises an incredibly talented group of Petaluma-based musicians, asked me to choreograph a couple of pieces for them for this festival, and we've been working on them for the last month. It's a nice festival, family friendly; there's music, food, an adult-sized see saw, art boats ... and us! It supports the work of the non-profit Friends of Petaluma River.

We're performing at the Aerial Rig at these times:

1pm

2:30pm

4pm

 

Our 20 minute sets will include dance, live original music, aerial silks, and spoken word poetry. 

How to get there:

 
The Rivertown Revival will take place on the McNear Peninsula, through the entrance of Steamer Landing Park, at D Street & Copeland St near the Petaluma River in beautiful Petaluma.

More info here. 

See you there!

Rehearsing with two of our dancers last week:

First California expandance class, and "Album Dance"

We had a lovely class this morning at Dance Underground in Petaluma, California.

Today was a sampler class - I taught 30 minutes of ''Album Dance'' (a new class I'm starting up soon) and 30 minutes of expandance technique, before heading in to consult with a local theater company on some choreography for an upcoming show of theirs. 

First California expandance class!

And so, to Album Dance. You know, one way I've come to know lots of great music over the years is by hearing it in class, or stumbling across it while looking for something to dance / choreograph / teach to. Usually in a dance class you move to a playlist of carefully selected songs compiled by your teacher, and I often hear a song and think "That's a great track, I wonder what the rest of the album is like". So I thought it might be a fun idea to teach a series of dance classes to entire albums, so if there's an album you have been meaning to hear / get into / or just love, let me know, Sonoma! 

Coming to a town near you, Spring 2016! Watch this space :-)