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Ohio Contemporary Ballet

Live@Noon with Joshua L. Peugh

By Performances, News

Live@Noon with Joshua L. Peugh

New ballet by Joshua L. Peugh coming February 2022

Live@Noon: Inside the creative process

February 11, 2022 12:00pm ET

Verb Ballets will present a working rehearsal with choreographer by Joshua L. Peugh in its new commission, Romeo & Juliet. Joshua L. Peugh, an award-winning choreographer, has been named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” Watch rehearsal and ask questions as this new work comes together on the company.  This event will be held virtually to keep everyone safe.

LIVE@NOON DETAILS

February 11, 2022 12:00pm

THEATRE

Virtually online

TICKETS

Tickets $15

Choreographer

Joshua L. Peugh

Joshua L. Peugh is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and Co-founder of Fair Assembly. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he has created work for festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America, winning awards for his choreography in South Korea, Japan, Canada, and the USA. He was the recipient of the Grand Prize at the McCallum Theatre’s 18th Annual Choreography Festival and was chosen as one of Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch.” Joshua served as choreographer for legendary soprano Kathleen Battle’s concert Underground Railroad – A Spiritual Journey and was the 2018 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence.

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Our heartfelt thanks

By News

This past year was one-of-a-kind. We delivered dance to our audience by transforming our studio into a production space for virtual showings and offered educational opportunities to students by adapting our outreach programming to the virtual platform. Without leaving the Verb studios, the company reached thousands around the globe. We keep on dancing, thanks to the generosity of individuals like YOU!

Donate Now

Your donation helps sustain our Verb Ballets performances, education programs, and community activities. All gifts are fully tax deductible.

Need help? For details on how to arrange monthly pledges please contact Spring Healy at 216-397-375ext 2.

Check donations may be sent to our Verb Ballets office:
Verb Ballets
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

Learn more about other ways to support Verb Ballets including pledges, securities, or stock gifts.

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Romeo and Juliet

By Performances

Romeo and Juliet

New ballet by by Joshua L. Peugh coming February 2022

Previews at Cleveland Public Theatre

February 17-19, 2022 7:00pm

Be the first to see Romeo and Juliet  in preparation for the world premiere. Verb Ballets has commissioned award-winning choreographer Joshua L. Peugh, of New Mexico, to create a contemporized version using the plot and structure of Shakespeare’s play. He will reflect poignant issues of our current political and social reality in this new ballet. DanceWorks will allow the choreographer and artists to work through the new production on stage before the world premiere. This show may change every night as a work in progress! The world premiere is at E.J. Thomas Hall on February 26, 2022.

CPT COVID-19 Safety Protocols

All staff, volunteers, artists, and audience members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who cannot be vaccinated will be required to provide proof of a negative test result received from a completed lab-certified antigen COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours prior to entering the theatre or a negative test result received from a completed PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the theatre. At-home tests will not be accepted. See details here.

PREVIEWS DETAILS

February 17-19, 2022 7:00pm

THEATRE

Cleveland Public Theatre
6415 Detroit Theatre
Cleveland, OH 44102

TICKETS

Choose What You Pay
Tickets call 216-631-2727 x501

GET TICKETS

World Premiere at EJ Thomas Hall

February 26, 2022 7:30pm

Verb Ballets presents its world premiere of recently commissioned Romeo and Juliet with choreography by Joshua L. Peugh. Peugh, and award-winning choreographer, has been named as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” In this new contemporary ballet, the plot and structure of Shakespeare’s play work alongside the mythology of the story and characters themselves with live music by distinguished pianist, Nathan Carterette. Peugh takes adventurous approach to exploring the intersecting themes of freedom and mortality, while reflecting poignant issues of our current political and social reality. The ballet moves audiences to understand movement as a universal language⁠—accessible to all. Through his work, Peugh aims for audiences to connect, interact, and react to one another in the depths of our humanness.

EJ Thomas COVID-19 Safety Protocols

This production the auditorium will be sold at half capacity to allow for social distancing. All guests are required to wear masks in the theatre regardless of vaccination status. See details here.

SHOW DETAILS

February 26, 2022 7:30pm

THEATRE

E.J. Thomas Hall
198 Hill St Akron, OH 44325

TICKETS

$30/ $10
Ticket fees apply

Call the E. J. Box Office at 330-972-7570
10AM – 4PM Monday-Friday

Order online through Ticketmaster

GET TICKETS
Choreographer

Joshua L. Peugh

Joshua L. Peugh is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and Co-founder of Fair Assembly. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he has created work for festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America, winning awards for his choreography in South Korea, Japan, Canada, and the USA. He was the recipient of the Grand Prize at the McCallum Theatre’s 18th Annual Choreography Festival and was chosen as one of Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch.” Joshua served as choreographer for legendary soprano Kathleen Battle’s concert Underground Railroad – A Spiritual Journey and was the 2018 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence.

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Antigone

By Performances

April 9, 2022

Verb presents a powerful new work based on the Ancient Greek tragedy Antigone with choreography by Philadelphia-based artist Tommie-Waheed Evans. Evans, an award-winning choreographer, was recently selected as a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in choreography and is a recipient of a Princess Grace Foundation Award. Using his driving urban contemporary ballet movement aesthetic, Evans will synthesize the current political climate with the classical world of Antigone. The new work, entitled Anti/gone, will situate these ancient archetypes in the contemporary world, ultimately challenging the status quo. The tension between action and fate will come to life with an electrifying, original score by composer Greg Smith, and complemented by costumes created by runway designer Philista Marie Mills.

Learn more about the World premiere at the Spring Gala here.

SHOW DETAILS

April 9, 2022 7:00pm
LaSalle Theatre
823 E. 185th St.
Cleveland, OH 44119

TICKETS

$35 Preferred Seating includes drink ticket
$28 Stage seating
$20 First Balcony
$10 Second Balcony
All seating is general admission

TICKETS

Ticket Levels

$35 Preferred Seating includes a drink ticket
$28 Stage Level
$20 First Balcony
$10 Second Balcony

Tommie-Waheed Evans

Choreographer

2021 Guggenheim Fellow Tommie-Waheed Evans is a queer black dance maker, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, amidst racial divide, gang warfare, and earthquakes. His work explores blackness, spirituality, queerness and liberation. He began his formal training with Karen McDonald before receiving a fellowship at the Ailey School, and a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University. He has toured and performed nationally and internationally as a company member of Lula Washington Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Philadanco. Since 2004, he has created more than 50 original dance works that range widely in scope, length, tone and subject matter. waheedworks, his Philadelphia based dance company, is the primary vehicle for his creative research. The company’s mission is to create a radically collaborative body of work that speaks to the human condition. His work brings together urban street dance styles and contemporary dance vocabulary through bold and raw movements propelled by gospel music and polyrhythmic sounds.

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Verbiculture October 2021

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Verbiculture magazine is back… be the first to know what is in store for the season! Read about new choreographers, news about the dancers, educational projects, and more. Hit to read in fullscreen with the button in lower right corner. The magazine can be download to your device or viewed utilizing the Issuu app.

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The Akron Nutcracker

By Performances, News

The Akron Nutcracker

December 16 & 17, 2021 7:30pm

The Dance Institute at The University of Akron will present the world premiere of The Akron Nutcracker in collaboration with Verb Ballets and the Akron Symphony on December 16 & 17, 2021 at E.J. Thomas Hall. The magic of Akron will once again come to life, with this twist on the traditional Nutcracker featuring all new stunning sets and costumes augmented by video projections. Envision an idyllic walk down Main Street, visiting Polsky’s Department Store, and spending Christmas Eve with the Seiberling family at Stan Hywet. Dancers with The University of Akron’s Dance Institute and Dance Program will join the stage alongside the Verb Ballets company dancers for these holiday performances. This production is one of the few in Ohio that feature live orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s beloved score conducted by Maestro Christopher Wilkins.

The artistic vision for this new production is led by Verb Ballets’ Dr. Margaret Carlson and is produced by the Dance Institute at The University of Akron. A team of local choreographers have been engaged to celebrate diversity that reflects the rich composition of Akron’s community. This major collaboration gives young students the opportunity to perform side by side with professional dancers and musicians. Rounding out the many local collaborators of this production is the Firestone High School Choir and ArtSparks. This holiday tradition will bring families the joy of The Nutcracker and showcase Akron’s many assets.

All guests are required to wear masks in the theatre regardless of vaccination status.

Performance in collaboration with:

SHOW DETAILS

December 16 & 17, 2021 7:30PM

THEATRE

E.J. Thomas Hall
198 Hill St
Akron, OH 44325

TICKETS

$20 Adults / $15 Youth
Ticket fees apply

Call the E. J. Box Office at 330-972-7570
10AM – 4PM Monday-Friday

Order online through Ticketmaster

TICKETS

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Pivot and Perseverance

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It is hard to fathom how the pandemic has shaken our industry. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish, shifting to virtual programming and exploring new ways of presenting dance. As the governor has begun to allow theatres to open with limited audiences, we are happy to participate in the experiment of a socially distanced audiences. It is a strange new norm, but I am grateful to continue to bring dance to our audiences.

Thank you for your patience and continued support. The history and strength of this organization has always been in its creativity. This season is experimental in nature as we find new approaches to do what we do best – dance. Although it was challenging, this past season has given us the opportunity to reach far beyond Northeast Ohio and welcome in audiences from across the globe. We are thankful for the support of our audience members and patrons.

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One Dark Night… 2021

By Performances

Neil Zaza's One Dark Night...

October 29, 2021 8:00pm

Rock maestro Neil Zaza presents One Dark Night…, A Rock Symphony of the Macabre, on Friday, October 29, 2021 at 8:00pm at the Akron Civic Theatre. This production is a terrifying orchestral exploration of all things evil and dark from the world’s greatest composers reimagined through the guitar of rock maestro Neil Zaza. Verb Ballets will make a guest appearance on the program in this fierce collaboration to experience the technical fury of dance and rock reimagined. Choreographer Antonio Morillo will conjure the supernatural to lead the dancers on a journey through things evil and dark through the performance. Never before has Halloween and the season of the supernatural come to life like this on stage!

All guests are required to wear masks in the theatre– regardless of vaccination status.

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg

SHOW DETAILS

October 29, 2021 8:00pm

THEATRE

Akron Civic Theatre
182 S Main St.
Akron, OH 44308

TICKETS

$25/ $35 /VIP $75
Call 330-253-2488
10AM – 4PM Monday-Friday

TICKETS

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OAPN Booking

By Uncategorized

Verb Ballets is a contemporary ballet company that presents bold works and builds community through dance

The professional company is comprised of 13 dancers from across the nation and globe. In addition to touring regionally, the company has toured internationally in Cuba and Taiwan and has built lasting partnerships that provide opportunities for cultural exchange.  Building community and offering opportunities to learn through dance are at the core of Verb’s mission.

Visit us at the OAPN Conference at Booth #30 and watch our showcase at Playhouse Square on Wednesday at 2:25pm

About the Company

Verb Ballets is a contemporary ballet company that presents bold works and builds community through dance. The company honors the roots of pioneer ballet companies in the rustbelt region. Today, the company is under the leadership of Dr. Margaret Carlson, former principal dancer for Cleveland Ballet, and Richard Dickinson, MFA, former Ohio Ballet dancer. The company strives to commission choreographers that elevate marginalized voices and reflect our times. Building community and offering opportunities to learn through dance are at the core of Verb’s mission. Verb aims to bring programs out to the public, meeting people where they live, work, and learn. The company’s children’s programs explore topics such as arts appreciation, literacy, STEM, and cultural diversity. Verb also offers programs for seniors that emphasize movement to encourage socialization and wellness. The professional company is comprised of 13 dancers from across the nation and globe. In addition to touring regionally, the company has toured internationally in Cuba and Taiwan and has built lasting partnerships that provide opportunities for cultural exchange. Verb Ballets aims to support art that is reflective of our current societal landscape and relevant to our dancers, communities, and dance enthusiasts in Ohio and abroad.

Offering

  • Performances
  • Children’s Ballets
  • Community Outreach
  • Residencies
  • Master Classes
  • Senior Movement Workshops
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Industry Experience Field Trips

Enough Talk, Let's Work Together

Booking New Full Length Ballets

World premieres coming Spring 2022. Now available for booking.

Choreographed by Joshua L. Peugh

Romeo & Juliet

Verb Ballets has commissioned award-winning choreographer Joshua L. Peugh, of New Mexico, to create a contemporized version of Romeo and Juliet. Using the plot and structure of Shakespeare’s play along with the mythology of the story and characters themselves, this new ballet will take an adventurous approach to exploring the intersecting themes of freedom and mortality while reflecting poignant issues of our current political and social reality. Peugh moves audiences to understand movement as a universal language, accessible to all.

Work Features
  • Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Number of dancers: 12-14
  • Running time: 80 minutes one act
  • Feature abstract modern set design

His nuanced style, combines humor, nostalgia and ratified theater with his idiosyncratic movement vocabulary to make dances that anyone can enjoy.

Nancy WoznyARTS + CULTURE TEXAS

Joshua L. Peugh

Joshua L. Peugh is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and Co-founder of Fair Assembly. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he has created work for festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America, winning awards for his choreography in South Korea, Japan, Canada, and the USA. He was the recipient of the Grand Prize at the McCallum Theatre’s 18th Annual Choreography Festival and was chosen as one of Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch.” Joshua served as choreographer for legendary soprano Kathleen Battle’s concert Underground Railroad – A Spiritual Journey and was the 2018 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence.

Awards
  • Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch”
  • Grand Prize at the McCallum Theatre’s 18th Annual Choreography Festival
  • 2018 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence
  • International awards for choreography in South Korea, Japan, Canada

Joshua L. Peugh has created over 40 new works nationally and internationally

Choreographed by Tommie-Waheed Evans

Antigone

Verb Ballets and Philadelphia-based choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans will join forces again to create a powerful new work based on the Ancient Greek tragedy Antigone. Using his driving urban contemporary ballet movement aesthetic Evans will synthesize the current political climate with the classical world of Antigone. By placing these ancient archetypes into the contemporary world, the tension between action and fate will be met with a dynamic, classically driven score.

Work Features
  • Number of dancers: 12
  • Running time: 60 minute vignette
  • Can be adapted to non traditional stage venues
  • Music: commissioned score by industrial electronica composer Greg Smith

the work is a nonstop tour-de-force - great athleticism and complexity in what could be described as a radical urban style.

Mark SatolaTHE PLAIN DEALER

Tommie-Waheed Evans

2021 Guggenheim Fellow Tommie-Waheed Evans is a queer black dance maker, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, amidst racial divide, gang warfare, and earthquakes. His work explores blackness, spirituality, queerness and liberation. He began his formal training with Karen McDonald before receiving a fellowship at the Ailey School, and a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University. He has toured and performed nationally and internationally as a company member of Lula Washington Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Philadanco. Since 2004, he has created more than 50 original dance works that range widely in scope, length, tone and subject matter. waheedworks, his Philadelphia based dance company, is the primary vehicle for his creative research. The company’s mission is to create a radically collaborative body of work that speaks to the human condition. His work brings together urban street dance styles and contemporary dance vocabulary through bold and raw movements propelled by gospel music and polyrhythmic sounds.

Awards
  • 2019 Princess Grace Honoraria Award in Choreography
  • 2019 Joffrey Ballet Winning Works
  • 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in choreography
  • 2021 Jerome Robbins Dance Research Fellow

Tommie-Waheed Evans has created over 50 original dance works nationally

Full Repertory Samples

Touring programs can be custom built to fit time and format. Included below, you will find a selection of past repertory. Verb Ballets will help you select pieces for your program and venue to created a memorable performance.


Triptych (1988)
Choreography: Heinz Poll
Music: Felix Mendelssohn, Piano Concerto #2
Company Premiere: June 26, 2021
Number of dancers: 11
Running time: 27:40 minutes

World of Another (2021)
Choreography: Stephanie Martinez
Music: Vivaldi, All Skate, Sheep Balls
Company Premiere: May 14, 2021
Number of dancers: 14
Running time: 18:00 minutes

Dances for Isadora (Five Evocations of Isadora Duncan) (1971)
Choreography: José Limón
Music: Frédéric Chopin
Company Premiere:
Premiere: December 10, 1971 by the José Limón Dance Company
Number of dancers: 5
Running time: 24:42 minutes

Love is… (2010)
Choreography: Christopher Huggins
Music: Michael Galasso, ITMFL I,II, Angkor Wat Theme, Shigeru Umebayashi, Yumej’s Theme
Company Premiere: May 14, 2021
Number of dancers: 14
Running time: 15:00 minutes

KL3668 (2020)
Choreography: Richard Dickinson
Music: Ravel, Sonata for Violin and Cello
Premiere: October 9, 2020
Number of dancers: 12
Running time: 21:20 minutes

Dark Matter (2013)
Choreography: Tommie-Waheed Evans
Music: Greg Smith, composer, and Johann Sebastian Bach, Toccota and Fugue in D Minor
Company Premiere: June 2013
Number of dancers: 11
Running time: 17:40 minutes

To inquire about booking Verb Ballets please submit the form below or contact Dr. Margaret Carlson directly at mcarlson@verbballets.org or 216-577-0494.

Contact 

Name

Dance for Youth Free Trial Week

By News, Dance Classes

Verb Ballets welcomes students back in studio this fall to find a love of movement with quality instruction by professional dancers. Try any youth class the week of September 13-16, 2021 for free. The school is now enrolling for Fall Session running September 14, 2021 – December 9, 2021. The studio is conveniently located in Shaker Heights, one block south of the intersection of Lee Rd and Chagrin, and is home to Verb’s professional ballet company. This fall we want to dance together while maintaining a safe environment. Masks are required for all who enter the studio regardless of vaccination status and classes will be limited to 12 in-person students. All instructors have been vaccinated.

Register for Free Trial Class
PreBallet (ages 4-6) Tues 4:15pm
Ballet I (ages 6-8) Thurs 4:15pm
Ballet II/III (ages 8-14) Tues and Thurs 4:15pm
Youth Jazz (ages 8+) Thurs 5:30pm
PreProfessional Ballet (ages 14+) Mon 4:15pm

For questions about class placement please email Christina Lindhout, School Coordinator of our Dance For Everyone & Dance For Youth Programs, at school@verbballets.org.

Register in Advance

Meet the Faculty

Andrea McCormick

Andrea McCormick is a Performing and Teaching Artist from Cleveland with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Studies, emphasizing in Dance and Applied Voice, from Wright State University. Andrea teaches various dance, theater acting, and musical theater to all ages and abilities with theaters and companies around Northeast Ohio, including but not limited to Playhouse Square, Dancing Wheels, Cleveland Play House, and DANCECleveland. Under the stage name Andrea Belser, she also continuously works on and off stage as an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, stage manager, and dresser.

Ashley Forché

Originally from Pickerington, Ohio, Ashley received her dance training from BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. She has trained with several other companies including Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Festival Ballet Providence, Orlando Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and BalletMet. In December 2019, Ashley graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business from Belmont University. Professional experience includes traineeships with Nashville Ballet and Oklahoma City Ballet. Works she has performed include The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Ashley joined Verb Ballets as a trainee in 2019 and was promoted to intern in 2021.

Kenya Woods

Kenya Woods holds more than 20 years of experience in dance performance, choreography, teaching, and leadership.  She holds a degree in Dance from Tennessee State University. Some of her dance education credits include Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Dance New Amsterdam, and North Coast Ballet Theater. She has worked nationally and internationally at regional dance companies, universities and school systems as an educator, performer, and choreographer.

Kia Jimmy

Kia Jimmy is of the Canadian Thunderchild First Nation which is of the Plains Cree Tribe and is equally proud of her Japanese heritage. She began her dance training at the age of seven and has done many summer intensives including Royal Winnipeg Ballet. At age 16 she was accepted to Alberta Ballet School’s Professional Division and continued her training in their Post-Graduate Program under the direction of Murray Kilgour, Janet Tait and Edmund Stripe. Following graduation in 2019, Kia joined US International Ballet as a trainee for two seasons where she had the opportunity to perform Giselle and Alice in Wonderland. Kia is excited to join Verb Ballets 2021-2022 season as an apprentice.

Frequently asked questions

Verb Ballets has developed a Health and Safety Policy is to keep students, guests, dancers and staff of the Verb Ballets Center for Dance safe, healthy and to encourage confidence to return to our programs. All individuals including guests and teachers who enter will be required to wear masks at all times. Every student is also required to complete a contact tracing form prior to entering the studio. Click <a href=”https://ocballet.org/health-and-saftey-policy/”>here</a> to read all the safety measure in place at the studio.

Classes will be offered in-studio for small socially spaced groups of twelve students. All students must wear a mask. Classes also will be offered via Zoom. Students will need an internet connection, camera enabled device and access to zoom.com.

Yes, we ask that all students enroll for the fall session.

Fall Session: September 14, 2021 – December 9, 2021

Verb Ballets does offer a payment plan of three equal installments over the course of the semester. A valid credit card saved on file is required to set up a payment plan. Scheduled automatic payments (charged to the credit card on file) will be made on the day you sign up, then on October 4th, and on November 1st, 2021. Receipts for each payment will be sent to the email you provide upon registration. To set up a payment plan, please call our front desk at 216-397-3757, option 1, or email school@verbballets.org and we will be happy to help!

Yes, for all level Ballet I and up we ask the girls wear a black leotard with tights and ballet slippers. Hair must be secured off the face and in a bun. Boys are asked to wear gym shorts and a white shirt and ballet slippers.

In The Dealership at 3558 Lee Road in Shaker Heights.

In order to allow for social distancing we ask that parents drop students at the door and the teacher will walk them to class. The teacher will walk them to the door for pick up.

Tuition will not be prorated to accommodate for missed classes for any reason, and no make-up classes will be issued in the event your student misses a class. Verb Ballets will allow each class ONE snow day/cancellation per semester. If class is cancelled by Verb Ballets or the instructor for any reason (beyond the one allowed snow day/cancellation mentioned above), a make-up class will be scheduled.

YES! Having water on hand is encouraged during every class you take with us. Feel free to keep your water bottle next to you in the studio for a quick sip whenever you need it!

Still have a question? Shoot us an email and we’ll get back to you!