educational Program
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The School of Dance maintains a rigorous and challenging dance atmosphere, through dance training of the highest caliber, with an emphasis on building the strong technical foundations necessary for today’s professional dance world. Students are trained in Ballet and Contemporary techniques with an emphasis on understanding and embodying the roles technical expertise and artistic expression play in the professional dancer. Daily classes in ballet technique are geared toward developing a greater comprehension and continued awareness of how strong ballet training is an essential component in developing the full potential of the professional contemporary dancer and performer. In addition to their daily training, students will be able to experience dance styles and techniques not emphasized in the curriculum through classes with master guest teachers. |
Students are pushed daily with an emphasis on training, discipline, and etiquette. This process makes visible to the students the connection between dance and life and life and dance. The knowledge, discipline, and serious nature of OSA’s School of Dance, is intended to arm students with the strong technical foundation, confidence, and self-discipline that allow them to advance their education in conservatories, universities, and colleges, to prepare for careers in dance, or to aspire to achieve any future they envision for themselves.
GAME CHANGERS: SAVAGE dance PASSING THE TORCH
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For the young black men who study dance with Artistic Director/Choreographer Reginald Ray-Savage at Oakland School for the Arts, the experience offers a rare and unique discipline in not only creative movement and performance but how to be in the world. Check out this micro-documentary by Game Changers Fellow Shaka Jamal Redmond about the amazing work of Reginald Ray-Savage! |
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SJDC's osa school of dance PARTNERSHIP
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SJDC Apprentices and Dance Artists
From The OSA School of Dance |
OSA’s School of Dance has a proud reputation of excellence, built upon caring yet highly demanding expectations for student effort, that is held closely by its student, alumni, and the professional artists who make up its faculty. Savage Jazz Dance Company (SJDC) partners with The School of Dance at OSA to provide multiple opportunities to students including: • Professional instruction, workshops, and masterclasses provided through regular faculty as well as guest teachers and choreographers, through SJDC's connections with the greater dance community • SJDC's After School Program, providing discounted dance classes to the OSA Community and beyond • Opportunities to perform in the community, afforded to select OSA School of Dance students through SJDC's connections and reputation in and around the Bay Area • Opportunities to apprentice and perform professionally with Savage Jazz Dance Company for select students demonstrating talent, drive, hunger, and professionalism |
Through Savage Jazz Dance Company's professional connection and partnership with OSA's School of Dance, School of Dance students form real-life connections to working professional artists, helping to reinforce and make tangible the professional standards, conduct, and approaches to their craft that is expected of them. Over the years, OSA's connection with SJDC has proven to be an invaluable driving force for the students: being a point of inspiration, offering real-life applications to their practice, and being a source of pride that has allowed students to grow as people and as young dance artists. Savage Jazz Dance Company has been a professional organization that the students have used not only as a point of entry into the professional dance world, but also as a source of growth to become young people whom parents, Oakland School for the Arts, and the City of Oakland can be proud of.