Core Class - Tuesday, April 7th, 10 am to 11:30 am

Tuesday, April 7th, 10 am to 11:30 am
Class Instructor: Tristan Koepke

Class Description: Contemporary Dance with Tristan Koepke | Big Boy Dance

This class explores solo phrases, dynamic partner work, and group improvisation. Dancer and choreographer Tristan Koepke, director of Big Boy Dance, draws from his broad movement experiences in somatics, contemporary dance, choreographic experimentation, and high intensity physical training to lead a class investigating momentum, flight, and physical risk. The class introduces strategies drawn from his choreographic practice that combine athletic movements, improvisational structures, and collaboration. Participants will experiment with shifting weight, shared momentum, and spatial propulsion, building playful movement phrases that emphasize clarity and curiosity. The class moves between codified material and open improvisation, inviting dancers to explore how variations in speed and connection can generate unexpected choreographic possibilities. Partner work is a foundational element of this class; please expect some amount of physical touch with others. All levels of experience with partnering are welcome.

Tristan Koepke, Photo credit MK Ford

Instructor Bio: Tristan Koepke (he/him) is a choreographer, dancer, scholar, and educator. He is an Assistant Professor at Bates College. He has performed in dance works by Chris Schlichting, Vanessa Anspaugh, luciana achugar, Cally Spooner, Doug Varone, Heidi Henderson (elephant JANE dance), Annie Kloppenberg, Matthew Cumbie, Mathew Janczewski (ARENA DANCES) Christina Robson, Kendra Portier (bandPORTIER), and was a member of Zenon Dance Company from 2011-2015 and 2017-2019. His work has been presented by SPACE Gallery, INVERSE Performance Art Festival, The Wooden Floor, CANDYBOX Dance Festival, Performance Art Initiative, The School for Contemporary Dance and Thought, Patrick’s Cabaret, Bryant Lake Bowl, Bates College, and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. He is a current Faculty Research Fellow at Jacob’s Pillow, and he holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland, College Park. He was the Associate Director of Bates Dance Festival’s Young Dancers Intensive from 2016-2025. www.tristankoepke.com

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Core Dance opens its doors to the public every weekday. Spanning multiple disciplines, morning class is led by a variety of teachers and provides a space for growth, conditioning, and exploration. Take a class with Core Dance and learn from Atlanta's best.

Directions: Our back entrance is accessible from North McDonough Street, at the intersection of Trinity Avenue and the Decatur Square. Look for the entrance between Waffle House and DeWoskin Law Firm.

Parking: The Core Dance parking lot is a paid lot. Proceeds benefit Core Dance and help to keep class fees low. If the lot is full, please find on-street parking or take MARTA when attending class. (Free on-street parking is available on Electric Ave.) MARTA’s Decatur Station will plop you down right next to us in the Decatur Square. Visit itsmarta.com for details on Decatur Station and for train and bus schedules.

NOTICE: Advance registration is required. All attendees must follow the instructions of the class leader with regards to masking. Hand sanitizer is available in the studio and each studio is equipped with a high-powered air cleaner. wear a mask in the building at all times, check temperature upon arrival, and utilize hand sanitizer. The HVAC system has also been upgraded to clean and sanitize the air.