Philip McDermott

Classes

Minimum age: 16

Friday : Partnering & Lifts Foundations

• Time: 18:00 – 19:00
• Level: General level
• Fee: £13

Friday: Cunningham Technique

• Time: 16:00 – 17:30
• Level: General Level
• Fee: £13

Classes bookable HERE from one week ahead.

Biography

Philip’s practice encompasses his diverse training, his own life experiences, his network of professional connections, and a dynamic performance style. He is a neurodiverse dance artist who works with the daily challenges of dyslexia and auditory processing disorder. In, 2014, he was accepted into The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Against the ongoing challenges of dyslexia, ADHD and Central Auditory Processing Disorder, he successfully graduated from the school in 2017. Repertoire works include those by: Massimo Agostinelli, Kate Alton, Paul -André Fortier, Peggy Baker, Marc Boivin, Danny Grossman, Allen Kaeja, James Kudelka, Sharon B. Moore, Julia Sasso, and Darryl Tracy. In 2018 he continued his education in the form of a mentorship with Paul André Fortier in Montreal, and as a guest student with Nederlands Dans Theater.

Class Description

Partnering & Lifts Foundations

This class delivers an approach to partnering where participants from all experience levels are on an equal playing field. Momentum, anchoring, and the architectural structure of the body allow participants of all genders to soar through the air, defying expectations and moving beyond the limitations of typical partner work. Skills to be developed include multi-level movement, articulate and sophisticated response to the point of contact, lofting through propulsion, and weight transfer. The technique you will be learning is called kaeja elevations that originates from Canada from Karen and Allen kaeja.

You are not required to bring a partner. Feel free to join the class solo.

Cunningham technique

This class is focused on the fundamentals of modern technique. It is suitable for those with dance experience and etiquette. This class will take you through cardio, technicality and through your own artistry, working specific movements of strengthening, physicality of the spine and engagement of the core. Also playing with rhythm and its dynamics to enhance the dancers performance. This class will give you all the skills you need for performance while having fun and researching the fundamentals of its technique. Participants from all experience levels are welcome, as this is a general level class. Let’s learn the foundations and more.