🌐 June Dance Web 🕸️
How do you want to dance this summer?
Expansion followed by contraction. Inhale - exhale. Dreaming into clarifying.
Ever since I started working for myself doing bodywork and teaching dance, it’s become apparent that Bellingham’s culture is driven by the seasons. It’s obvious why—look around! Every summer, my students and clients disappear and in the fall they flood back in. I don’t blame folks, I want to be outside more too! So, I’m learning to accept and plan for it, but I can’t help but wonder if there are ways to shift what I’m offering to keep more people dancing over the summer. In case it’s helpful for other teachers, I thought we’d all take a poll! And yes, I’m thinking about teaching a class outside. :)
As much as I embrace seasonality, this feels like a difficult summer to accept the natural ebb and flow of participation. The National Endowment of the Arts has rescinded funding for many dance organizations (including local ones like On the Boards in Seattle), all three dance administrators at the NDA resigned, and as a result, we will see less dance over the next few years (at least). Washington state has a massive budget shortfall, and because of this they are trying to cut dance at Whatcom Community College (see Calls for Connection for how to help). Arts resources can’t be taken as a given at this time.
So what can we do? Honestly, I’m at bit of a loss. I’m exhausted from the fight to keep dance at WCC and am looking forward to a bit of a break over the summer. Yet, the fear under the exhaustion is that there won’t be opportunities to come back to if I step away.
What’s happening in the world right now is unspeakably intense, and I know we need dance as a resource for self and community care. I think of how Kelsey Maloney and Monika Denise are offering a space to dance with grief—what a resource! But we can’t provide opportunities for somatic togetherness if we don’t have students, audiences, and funding.
This summer, absolutely go play outside, touch grass, take a break, plus I invite you to think about how to keep a thread of connection intact to the dance resources you value. What ideas do you have for how to support dance artists right now? Dance artists, what kind of support do you need? Feel free to reply to this or drop me a line at bodyswells@gmail.com and I may share your thoughts next issue.
A note about studios.
Wow, I’ve learned a lot about the volume of dance offerings in Bellingham during these first few month of the dance web! This is awesome, but it has also led me to clarify what goes where in this newsletter so that the information stays digestible.
The workshops and weekly classes section will be reserved for independent artists and collectives offering classes unaffiliated with the studio where they are taught. Occasionally there’s some gray area, but in general, if you are a studio reaching out with your class schedule, then it will be linked in the extended web. This is to keep the independent offerings visible amongst the many classes in our rich dance community.
Studios, I would still love to promote your performances, share when you have auditions, fundraisers, or other calls for connection, and I’d be happy to share a highlight about what you offer. In the extended web this month you’ll get a glimpse of the many offerings in June at Cabaret Atelier!
Starting this newsletter has been a process of dreaming, discovery, and clarification that has taken some trial and error. I’m a little embarrassed to draw boundaries right after my note on making space for everyone in the last issue. The hope is that if you are a dance artist employed at a dance studio, that studio is offering exposure for your classes, and I will have those studios linked in the extended web. If you are an independent artist or collective, keep sharing everything you have going on!
Thank you to everyone who has shown interest and value in this newsletter. It means so much when I hear from dance teachers, dance makers, class-takers, and audience members!
~ Soleil
Events
WWU Graduating BFA student showcase
Graduating seniors of Western Washington's Dance BFA program will showcase three group pieces as well as their senior solos in an hour and a half long show. These pieces reflect their experience and growth as dancers and choreographers in the program. Tickets are available on the WWU Theatre and Dance website.
June 6th at 7:30pm in PAC Choir Room 16
June 7th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm in PAC Choir Room 16
Symbols Key
🌱 - Beginners Welcome
👣 - Includes Choreography
🌀 - Includes Improvisation
👐 - Includes Physical Contact
( ) - May include
Workshops
Daylong Contact Improvisation Practice | What CI 🌀 👐
May 31st | Hello Friends of CI. We would like to invite you to practice Contact Improvisation. PLEASE only sign up if you are comfortable improvising and familiar with the form. A note: the Monday night contact jam with be on break from June til end of August.
SHAPES OF GRIEF: An Introduction to Embodied Grief | Monika Denise & Kelsey Maloney 🌱 🌀
Thursday June 26, 6-9pm | Presence Studio | Register Online $35-$85, sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
Weekly Classes
Independent artists and collectives offering adult dance classes. Follow the links to find class descriptions, more information, and contact information to answer your questions.
Sundays
Open Ballet | Amy Guerra 👣
10-11:30am | Opus Performing Arts | drop-in $15
Open Floor Dance | Jenny Macke 🌱 🌀
10:30am-12pm | Presence Studio | drop-in $15
Advanced Contemporary Dance | Bellingham Repertory Dance 👣 🌀 (👐)
12-1:30pm | Firehouse Arts & Events Center | drop-in $10-25
Mondays
Beginning Ballet | Emmy Gockel 🌱 👣
10:45am-12pm | Firehouse Arts & Events Center drop-in $15
Intermediate Tap | Damian Cade 🌱 👣 🌀
6-7pm | Opus Performing Arts | drop-in $15
Monday Night Dance | Bellingham Embodiment Collective 🌱 🌀
6:30-8pm | The Majestic Ballroom | drop-in | $15-25
Tuesdays
Brazilian Beats | Adriane Rodrigues Every Other Tuesday 🌱 👣
5:15-6:15pm | Firehouse Arts & Events Center | drop-in $18/$10 student
Taster Tuesdays hip hop/house | Ranae 🌱 👣
6-6:50p | Lost Giants Cider Co | pre-register (drop-in; space limited) $10-$15 | Ages 21+
interDANCE - Intermediate Contemporary Dance | Soleil Chappelle 👣 🌀(👐)
7-8:30pm | Aikido Peace Education Center | (no class 6/17) drop-in $20
Lindy at the Leo | Bham Hop 🌱 👣 🌀 👐
7-9:30pm | Hotel Leo Crystal Ballroom | 7-8pm intro and main lesson register online $15 | 8-9:30pm social dance drop-in $8-10
Wednesdays
Open Intermediate Ballet | Cher Carnell 👣
9:30-11am | Firehouse Arts & Events Center | drop-in $10
foundDANCE - Foundations in Contemporary Dance \ Soleil Chappelle 🌱 👣 🌀
6:30-8pm | Presence Studio | drop-in in June! (no class 6/18) $20
Groov3 cardio funk | Christine Engelfried 🌱 👣
7:15-8:05pm | Focal Point Pilates & Movement | register online $18
Thursdays
Dance for people with Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological disorders | Pam Kuntz accompanied by Eric Chappelle 🌱 👣 (🌀)
11am-12pm | Firehouse Arts & Events Center | FREE
Fridays
Brain Dance for Mobility and Balance | Ingrid Hurlen accompanied by Eric Chappelle 🌱 👣 🌀
11:15am-12:15pm | Dancing for Joy | Drop-in FREE
Advanced Contemporary | Canvas Dance Company 👣 (👐)
6-7:15pm | Dancing for Joy | Register Online | Drop-in $25, 4-Week Series $93.75 | Ages 18+
Saturdays
Open Intermediate Ballet | Cher Carnell 👣
9:30-11am | Firehouse Arts & Events Center | drop-in $10
Sunset Silent Disco | Dana Carr 🌱 🌀
Sunset | Zuanich Point Park | drop-in FREE
Extended Web
dance studios offering adult dance classes + additional resources
Bellingham Aerial and Dance - aerial dance classes and more
Bellingham Circus Guild - circus private coaching
Cabaret Atelier - cabaret dance classes and more
Opus Performing Arts - drop-in ballet & tap
Unique Technique - pop, jazz & hip hop based classes
Social Dance - subscribe to The Hamster Wheel to find many social dance offerings under “Participatory Dance”
Calls for Connection
Need dancers for opera production in October 2025
Pacific Northwest Opera is looking for 4-6 experienced dancers to play the roles of the Furies and other mythical characters in our production of Handel's baroque opera Rinaldo in October 2025 at McIntyre Hall Mount Vernon.
Performances are October 19, 24th, 26 with rehearsals starting approximately October 13.
We are offering $375 ($125 per performance) and can provide transportation to and from the theater for rehearsals and performance.
Please send resume and inquiries to mkahn@PNOpera.org
🕸️
Save Dance at Whatcom Community College
Dance at WCC is slated to be eliminated in fall 2025 due to budget cuts. If you value dance and the arts at WCC, please tell us how dance has impacted you. Anyone in the community can fill out this short survey. Responses are anonymous and will be shared with WCC administration.
July Submissions
Submission deadline is Monday, June 23 for the July Dance Web.
Each edition will be sent out at about a week before the 1st to give enough notice for events that happen early in the month.
For classes and workshops, be sure to include:
Class Name (including style and level) | Teacher
which symbols to include 🌱-beginners welcome 👣-choreography 🌀-improvisation 👐-physical contact (in parenthesis for may include/optionally includes)
Time | Location | how to register and price | link or contact
The workshops and weekly classes section is reserved for independent artists and collectives offering classes unaffiliated with the studio where it is taught.
Each month will include community highlights while there is space. If you would like to feature your offering, submit a photo with one or two short paragraphs. Any dance related announcements or inquiries are welcome under Calls for Connection!
Email bodyswells@gmail.com to submit.