Modern Contemporary – weissmann Technique
with Cora Kartmann
Tuesdays, 19:45–21:15
Intermediate
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Cora teaches an energetic, structured and technical contemporary dance class with elements of modern dance, yoga and urban dance. The structure and style of the class is based on the approach of the weissmann technique.
A grounding warm up begins to include the breath into yoga movements and creates a flow to arrive with ones mind in the body and on the dancefloor. The class continues with moving technical exercises for footwork, legs, swings and curves to strengthen and prepare the dancers body – influenced by Modern Dance techniques and combined into a contemporary approach. Further on, adding themes like directional changes, big movements through space, floor work and musicality which will create joyful moving sequences that go across the floor and culminate into a choreography at the end of the class – always with a holistic focus on clarity and precision in the movement itself. The final choreography gives the dancers room to combine the technique they’ve learned throughout the class with expression and to challenge the presented movement material.
weissmann Technique
The weissmann technique is a method of teaching and training developed by Jennifer Mann and Heidi Weiss. It provides dancers with tools that support technical precision while they engage in a continual changing flow of movement. These tools facilitate clarity in motion without sacrificing the experience of a highly physical and engaging contemporary dance class.
A weissmann technique class is based upon a holistic approach, specific movement principles and an intelligent class structure. The dancer is perceived as an interactive environment consisting of mind, body, energy and spirit. Integration of yoga and mindfulness practices draw attention to these layers which helps cultivate focus, an awareness of energy and a healthy alignment. Organic movement is consistently sourced from breath, intention and flow. Specific principles are weaved into the teaching to increase articulation such as distinct qualities, initiation points and the analyzation of one’s relationship to gravity and music. These concrete tools help to convey more definition in motion, soften technical rigidity and encourage artistic expression. The overall efficiency of the weissmann technique rests upon the framework of the class “map”. The sequences move progressively from simple towards the complex. Targeted themes overlap and build upon one another carrying the class on an energetic journey through space. weissmann technique builds strength, flexibility, mobility, coordination and enhances conditioning. It prepares a dancer for an uninhibited range of movement. Soulful music, sometimes performed live, uplifts the spirit and supports the unfolding of the entire weissmann class. It is through music that the joy of moving is celebrated and intentionally utilized as a positive influence. This balanced play between freedom and structure, precision and fluidity, enjoyment and craft, is why weissmann technique works.
Learn more about the weissmann technique here!
About Cora
Cora Kartmann is a freelance dancer, choreographer, and dance educator based in Berlin. She studied contemporary dance pedagogy at the Music and Arts University of Vienna (MUK), deepened her practice through the weissmann teacher training programme, and worked for many years with choreographer Volker Eisenach in the field of Community Dance. In 2022, she co-founded the Impala Dance Company, creating interdisciplinary projects in cultural education, while also teaching modern and contemporary dance for children, adults, and professionals.
Photo 1: Cora Kartmann, Heidi Weiss (co-founder of weissmann Technique), Octavia Barvulsky
Photo 2,3: Cora Kartmann, Credits Paul Moragiannis
