Action Theater
$25-$40 sliding scale
Mindy Grossberg
Action Theater™ is a body based improvisational performance technique and practice that integrates movement, vocal sound and speech. Fundamental to the practice is an embodied presence, where the experiencing of the body informs the content of the moment – moment by moment. The exercises enhance our capacity to derive material from our entire body, offering us an opportunity to better notice, experience and respond with a wider palette of creative expression – whether that be on stage or in life. All levels of experience welcome.
Bring water and a snack, as needed, and wear comfortable clothes for barefooted movement and
floor work. (If you need to wear shoes only those never before worn outside are allowed). Contact Mindy if you have any physical restrictions so she can support and work with you. RSVP is appreciated
but walk-ins welcome! If you RSVP and then need to cancel, please reach out.
About Mindy
Mindy combines her belief in play, community building and collaborative art-making to guide her creative and socially-engaged work. Along with her Masters in Social Work, she studied Action Theater- a body based improvisational technique for over twenty years and has been teaching in the community for over fifteen years as a Certified Action Theater Teacher. Grounded in the belief that creativity in all forms is a necessary component toward individual and social transformation, Mindy uses body-based techniques to support the dismantling of the internal and external barriers that keep us separated from ourselves and from one another. This work is for performers and any creative human curious to discover how their body can guide them through new ways of showing up in their lives and in this world. And, most importantly, she loves watching her students have fun while they do this!
Barefoot Dance Fitness
$10
Beth O'Neall
Barefoot Dance Fitness is sweaty and fun with outrageously good music. As we dance, we increase strength, stamina, and mobility. Most of the class is structured as follow-the-leader while some portions are freestyle and improvisational. Everyone is encouraged to monitor themselves as they move to adjust their intensity up or down, and there’s no pressure to do the moves a certain way.
About Beth
Since 2000, I have been teaching dance classes that encourage us to connect to the sensations of our bodies and move deeply and authentically. It’s important to me to enhance community by giving us opportunities to play and share together. I want class to help us feel more resilient and able to do all the things we need in life.
Butoh
$15-$25 sliding scale
Dustin Maxwell
Butoh is a Japanese countercultural dance form that revels in the taboo, attempts to unculture the body and reveals the personal and collective subconscious through subtle but rigorous methods of training. The dancer may enter an altered state of mind that remains alert and artistically sound. The practice is a simultaneity of being moved rather than moving, while remaining acutely aware of the outside eye.
This class uses Noguchi Taiso (water body), and Butoh techniques to enter a liminal space between waking and sleeping where the dream-like internal world moves the body (either visibly or invisibly). You will be guided in simple warmups, butoh technique, and then given the opportunity to move freely with your own inner world experiences. The class is accessible to all bodies and all experience levels.
About Dustin
Dustin Maxwell is a movement-based visual artist currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born queer into a Mormon family of eight in Albuquerque where he took his first ballet class at the age of three. As a teenager he studied modern dance and Barbara Clark's somatic approach with his teacher, Joanne Emmons. In 2005 he relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he spent a decade studying dance and performing locally and internationally. From 2017 -2024 he worked in NYC primarily making his own work. He is a regular at Ponderosa – a dance co-operative in Brandenburg, Germany. He began studying butoh with Gadu Doushin in early 2012 and continued studying butoh with Vangeline in NYC. He is also a yoga instructor, thai bodyworker, and death doula.
Dancing thru the Anthropocene
$10
Leigh Scariano
Dancing Through The Anthropocene is a way to connect with yourself and the music, enjoy a workout that can be dialed up or down to fit your needs, & calm your parasympathetic nervous system. Dance is a meditative, therapeutic way to detach from the constant mental stimulation we're exposed to. It helps us cultivate presence and comfort within our earthly vessels, and literally *move* through what ails us. Repetitive, intentional choreography that uses body weight to channel "the joy of movement" is designed to get us out of our heads and into our bodies. Somatic dance often facilitates the release of emotional blocks and stagnation.
About Leigh
I started dancing the NIA technique and other modalities in 2011, practicing under my mentor Bea O'Neall. Last summer, I completed a teacher-training course with her, and with her guidance and encouragement, I feel confident as an instructor. Dance is one of many pathways to creative bliss, and I am honored to curate and share space with the beautiful community at Studio Sway
The Dance Exchange
$18
rotating instructors
The Dance Exchange is a community oriented program designed to create an ongoing praxis within modern, postmodern, and contemporary dance modalities. These classes run in 6-week series with a different instructor for each class.
Organized by Mo Gorman, Elyse Fahey and Julia Schneider-Montgomery,
The Dance Exchange is for adult dancers with a strong dance background.
Dance Exchange teachers:
Mo Gorman, Elyse Fahey, Kristin Lucero, Mark Koenig, Amy Laun,
Elana Anderson, Imelda Villalobos, Laura Orozco Garrett, Lara Segura,
Dustin Maxwell, Diana MacNeil, Gabriel Carrion-Gonzales, Jules Massa.
Downtempo & Freeform
$10/$15
Carla Genoni & Elyse Fahey
Every Wednesday evening at Studio Sway, Elyse and Carla take turns providing a chill mix of downtempo music, designed to calm and rejuvenate. This self-guided, 60 minute offering provides a contemplative space for the nervous system to settle and decompress. Join us each week for this meditative musical retreat.
Every Friday evening at Studio Sway, freestyle dance enthusiasts and music lovers Elyse and Carla take turns providing a wide variety of sounds designed to inspire and engage. Come and explore your own movement landscape through multiple music genres, moods, and themes. Unwind from your week, and let the music move you.
Cash or Venmo accepted
About Carla
Music and dancing have been vital parts of my life for the past 40 years. In the decade-plus since I have been dancing Nia religiously, they have also become actively therapeutic. Earning my White Belt in Nia in 2017 and, more recently, participating in Ecstatic Dance at Studio Sway have opened me up to the truly profound changes dance can inspire. Friday Night Freeform comes out of my desire to share more fun and moving dance experiences with others in this great community!
About Elyse
Elyse is a professional dancer and independent choreographer who took ownership of Studio Sway in 2018. She has trained extensively in multiple dance and movement disciplines for 35 years, and enjoys continued study through rigorous class-taking, teaching, and performing. Elyse is passionate about collaborating with other professional artists throughout Albuquerque to produce quality dance experiences for the community to enjoy.
Ecstatic Dance ABQ
$15
Luna Elizabeth Cervantes
Ecstatic dance is a spontaneous, expressive, and meditative movement practice. It occurs in a safe and non-judgmental environment where creative possibilities are infinite, and freedom and joy preside. Dancers move barefooted and without verbal interaction. Luna Elizabeth holds sacred space by setting a focus, and offering a poem or movement suggestion. The music sequences are crafted to take the mover on a journey and evoke spiritual connection through movement. The eclectic music gradually builds to a high energy level then winds down to a meditative, relaxing finish. Be prepared to sweat. Dance the way your body wants to—without choreography or judgement, and discover the innate body wisdom you possess. No experience is needed—just a willingness to move and be moved.
For more information, contact Luna Elizabeth Cervantes, facilitator of Ecstatic Dance ABQ at ecstaticdanceabq@gmail.com or visit the Ecstatic Dance ABQ on Facebook
Monthly Women's Ecstatic Dance
$15
Women's Ecstatic Dance is a sacred space to move, breathe, and reconnect with yourself through the healing power of free-form dance. Many of us have learned to be more concerned with how we look than how we feel, causing us to lose touch with the natural joy and freedom of movement. Ecstatic dance offers an opportunity to let go of self-consciousness, quiet the inner critic, and return to the wisdom of the body.
With no choreography and no expectations, you are free to explore movement in your own way. As you dance, you may discover greater vitality, emotional release, self-trust, and a deeper sense of connection to yourself and other women. Come dance, let go, and celebrate the freedom of being fully alive.
About Luna
Free flowing spontaneous heart centered movement is my sacred movement practice. I began teaching NIA in 2005. As my movement practice expanded, my heart was drawn to free-form movement expression, known as conscious dance. Both 5-Rhythms and Souldance served as inspiration for dance facilitation as it is expressed through me today. I began facilitating Souldance in April of 2009 and established Ecstatic Dance ABQ in 2010. If you want a safe place to move and be moved - join us.
Gong Bath
$25
Kristen Loree
A gong bath is an immersive auditory environment created with a variety of sound healing instruments in order to rebalance the body, mind and spirit. The experience begins with the participants getting comfy in their own space often with a mat, pillow, blanket and eye pillow. I will guide you in setting an intention for how you would like to be after the bath is over. During a sound bath our brainwave state shifts from the awake state, then relaxed, then dreamlike, and finally the restorative state. Sound Baths affect every person differently; some are energized and some are ready for bed. Some find that symptoms of stress, fatigue and depression are lessened or gone. At the end of the bath we slowly adjust back to the world and reflect with a cup of tea.
About Kristen
Kristen Loree, MFA, Certified Sound Healing Practitioner (Sound Healing Academy '21), Certified Shamanic Healing Practitioner (Foundation for Shamanic Studies '22), works with gongs, drums and Tibetan bowls: therapeutic sound tools that both feed and strengthen the being as a whole, rebalancing body, mind and spirit. Natural waves of unadulterated sound can help us to transcend ordinary mental consciousness, can heighten our perceptions and can help us to experience blissful states of being. Intention, combined with sympathetic resonance, creates therapeutic sounds that inherently go to where they are needed.
JourneyDance
$15
Toni Black
JourneyDance is a guided, music-driven movement experience that invites participants to explore sensation, feeling, creativity, and connection. Through a blend of structured prompts and free expression, dancers are supported in moving through a full spectrum of experience: from grounding and awakening to expression, transformation, and heart-centered connection. No dance experience is needed, just a willingness to listen to your body and move in your own way.
About Toni
Toni Black is a certified JourneyDance facilitator, Nia Black Belt, expressive arts practitioner, and licensed clinical counselor. Her work weaves movement, embodiment, and emotional awareness to support people in reconnecting with their bodies and inner wisdom. She creates welcoming, inclusive spaces that invite curiosity, self-trust, and compassionate presence.
Modern
$15
Diana MacNeil
Learn the fundamentals and essential building blocks for sound modern dance technique, from the ground up! This completely beginner level modern class is taught by former Bella Lewitzky dancer and master teacher, Diana MacNeil. Enjoy authentic modern dance in a warm and welcoming environment.
$15 drop-in (cash or check only) or contact info@biancalily.com about tuition/class cards
Bare feet, socks, or ballet flats with no rosin, please.
Sign up is required via this Ubindi link
About Diana
A California native, Diana was a long time professional modern dancer and member of the Lewitzky Dance Company. She was also the head of dance at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts and has taught and choreographed for the the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, The Cerritos Center for the Arts and the Yorke Dance Project, to name a few. Her choreography, costuming and performance skills have reaped several Horton awards. She teaches pointe and ballet as well as the occasional modern dance class and choreography workshop. We are honored and lucky to have this special legacy dancer as part of our New Mexico community!
Nia
$10
Anna Pentler, May Sagbakken, Kate Davis
The Nia Technique™ draws inspiration from dance arts, martial arts, and healing arts for a workout that is challenging and stimulating, yet easy to follow. Nia students improve strength, balance, cardiovascular stamina, flexibility, and joint mobility. Students are encouraged to pay attention to their sensations; experience the joy of movement; and fall in love with being in their bodies. A typical Nia class includes some elements of free dance in which students are encouraged to move however they please. Nia offers us the opportunity to explore, play, and get sweaty. The hour spent in class is our time to recharge, connect, let loose, and get fit.
We dance in bare feet to build strength and awareness from the ground up.
About Anna
Anna began dancing ballet at age three and has been dancing ever since. She was thrilled to find Nia as a new way of moving. She earned her White Belt in 2011, her Blue Belt in 2013, and her Green Belt in 2015. For Anna, Nia brings back a childlike, joyful, and uninhibited love of movement, and she enjoys sharing the delight of Nia with students. Her classes are athletic, playful and fun. She believes that students of all abilities, ages, and stages of fitness can benefit from Nia, and explore their body's potential. Come share the Joy of Movement!
About Kate
A dancer since childhood, Kate Davis discovered Nia in 2005, earned her White Belt certification in 2008 and started teaching soon after. Since then she has earned several belts, and has trained in various Nia programs including the 52 Moves, FreeDance and Move It. Skills learned from twenty years as an English teacher and fifteen years as a licensed professional counselor inform Kateʼs classes as does her love of play and her commitment to offering a rich, pleasurable experience grounded in the science and craft of the Nia technique. She looks forward to sharing her passion for Nia with the community and helping others discover a pathway to joy and health through movement.
Som∂lchemy Movement
$15
Erin Damour
Som∂lchemy is an inspiring, grounded, dance fitness practice that provides for safe and effective exercise fused with a hearty dose of play and a sacred deep connection to ourselves and our community.
Som∂lchemy is typically a barefoot movement program designed to increase our awareness of sensation, develop our knowledge base around “body literacy” and using that movement as a path to change and wholeness for ourselves. And we do it to great music!
The Nia Technique™, which I taught for over 17 years, is the primary group fitness format from which my work was born and from which I hold a Black Belt Certification. I also hold a certificate of “Movement for Trauma Level 1” from Jane Clapp’s Jungian Somatics program. I am also a licensed massage therapist.
Facilitating these gatherings reinforces my belief that we can find wholeness, dynamic ease, relaxation, pleasure and a sense of appreciation for life when we move and dance together.
About Erin
I enjoy guiding people to find joy in living life in a body. For 11 years, I've shared Nia with hundreds of students, including eight years as adjunct faculty in UNM's Physical Education Program. Through my work as a movement facilitator and massage therapist, I encourage people to find dynamic ease, relaxation, and a captivated sense of gratitude for their body. I hope my education and experience can nurture others' sense of curiosity and how to heal with movement. Come enjoy great music, fun and movement exploration!