Workshops, Intensives, Master Classes, and Open Houses

Step into a gathering that brings light and movement to this turning of the season, led by our artistic director Ruby Josephine Smith. We’ll begin with a heating contemporary class that includes improv, intensive exercises and a little RJDT repertory work. From there, dancers enter a structured creation lab, exploring their own reflections around the solstice and this slower, softer time of year, creating a micro-solo. The evening closes with conversation, community, and complimentary cookies and hot cocoa.

Sunday, December 21 from 3:00-6:30pm
Location: A-Mill Artist Lofts Dance Studio
Price: $55 early bird, $65 same day and walk-ins
Register here!

Recommended for intermediate/advanced dancers, but anyone with movement experience is welcome.

Expansion: Hatch Dance Winter Workshop 2025
Sunday, December 28—Tuesday, December 30
10:00am–4:00pm
Location: St. Paul Ballet Studios
Tuition: $300
Register here!

Join Hatch Dance for Expansion: Winter Workshop—a three-day intensive designed for the next generation of dance artists, ages 14–22.

Dancers will begin the day investigating ballet with Hatch Dance Artistic Director Helen Hatch. Through a contemporary lens, Helen’s approach to ballet prioritizes the individual, inviting dancers to explore efficiency through coordination, expansion through energetic length, and precision through articulation. Students will be encouraged to take ownership of their technique and cultivate artistry through presence.

Following class, dancers will dive into phrase-work from Hatch Dance’s repertory, celebrated for its rigor, technical complexity, and musicality.

After lunch, participants will stretch their creativity with a special improvisation workshop inspired by the critically acclaimed work In-C, taught by its creators: HoneyWorks Artistic Director Berit Ahlgren and Helen Hatch. 

Dancers will end the day with restorative practices that support physical artistic longevity, including yoga and Gyrokinesis®.

Requirements: Minimum 4 years of ballet and contemporary/modern training.
Scholarships: Limited full and partial scholarships available. Email hatchdancemn@gmail.com for more information.

Friday, January 9—Sunday, January 11
Friday, 4:00-8:00pm
Saturday, 11:30am-6:00pm
Sunday, 9:30am-4:30pm

Fee: $499 + $60 materials ($549 after December 20)
In person or online.

Anatomy is the foundation of our work as movement professionals. The more you understand about how the body works, the better equipped you are to teach your clients how to move better. In Balanced Body® Anatomy for Movement Professionals, you will receive an introduction to the major tissues, joints and muscles of movement. Muscle origin, insertion and action are covered along with movement experiences to help you understand and remember not just the individual muscles, but how they work in synergy to create functional movements. The course includes a manual and video support.

Instructor: Matthew Hodge-Rice, Cari Riis Stemmler

In the 8-week Creative Movement and Drum sessions, children ages 5-7 will grow in physical awareness and build basic movement skills, balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength. Students will expand their knowledge of musical instruments and the connection between dance and music, learn basic rhythmical movement phrases, and improvise and create dance ideas that communicate an experience or theme. Creative Drum for ages 5-7 introduces students to the basic concepts of hand drumming techniques (hands and sticks), tempo, rhythm, and music theory. These concepts help students develop their physical and mental dexterity, creativity, and musicality to inspire joyful performance and improvisation.

Creative Movement for ages 5-7: Saturdays, 9:00-9:40am
Creative Drum for ages 5-7: Saturdays, 9:45-10:15am
1.25 hours/week (2 classes)

Three 8-Week Session Options (Rolling Enrollment Available)
Session 2: January 10-February 28
Session 3: March 7-May 9 (no classes March 30-April 12)

Tuition: $220

This 6-week workshop is designed for children ages 2-4 and their parent/caregiver who are interested in a shared movement experience that engages the senses of curiosity and play. Both child and caregiver will participate in developmentally appropriate movement exercises that incorporate elements such as effort, shape, and tempo. Music will play an essential role in the class as students will be asked to respond to sounds as well as make sounds themselves. Participants will be encouraged to join at their own comfort level, with the understanding that observation is often the best form of learning with younger children. This class will give children and caregivers the opportunity to learn more about themselves and one another through the art form of dance.

Session 2: March 28-May 2
Saturdays, 10:15-11:00am
Tuition: $100