celebrating Dancing Legacy founders and iconic teachers
Carolyn Adams and Julie Adams Strandberg
Carolyn Adams and Julie Adams Strandberg
Join us for a stimulating week of masterclasses, discussions, showings, and hands-on learning!
MiniFest 2025: INHERITANCE highlights Carolyn and Julie’s shared philosophy that dance is a treasured cultural birthright that every person has a right to inherit. Programming for MiniFest week will center around their unique approaches to teaching dance, transmitting wisdom to students, and structuring classes that are deeply impactful, expertly crafted, and widely loved. The events are offered in hybrid formats with options to participate online or in-person in Rhode Island.
EVENT DESCRIPTIONS
Classes
(Discounts for multiple classes)
(Discounts for multiple classes)
Masterclass with Julie Adams Strandberg
Monday, March 10 - 7:15-8:30pm EDT [In-person at Fusionworks Dance Center (Lincoln, RI), $20 or Zoom, $15]
Experience Julie’s signature class that many of us know and love but with a twist! Class will be co-taught from the perspective of her longtime demonstrator, Hayley Kenney, who will share her take on Julie's class and infuse her own areas of expertise. Class will culminate with learning an excerpt from Julie's seminal work, Dimensions, co-taught by Laura Bennett, and then viewing archival footage of Julie dancing in the piece. Julie will be in conversation with Hayley and Laura as they offer their own unique perspectives of Julie’s methodology and artistic approach which they have inherited, embodied, and now share with others in their own dance teaching.
Monday, March 10 - 7:15-8:30pm EDT [In-person at Fusionworks Dance Center (Lincoln, RI), $20 or Zoom, $15]
Experience Julie’s signature class that many of us know and love but with a twist! Class will be co-taught from the perspective of her longtime demonstrator, Hayley Kenney, who will share her take on Julie's class and infuse her own areas of expertise. Class will culminate with learning an excerpt from Julie's seminal work, Dimensions, co-taught by Laura Bennett, and then viewing archival footage of Julie dancing in the piece. Julie will be in conversation with Hayley and Laura as they offer their own unique perspectives of Julie’s methodology and artistic approach which they have inherited, embodied, and now share with others in their own dance teaching.
Register for MiniFest (Included for Plus Members)
Modern Class with Laura Bennett
Thursday, March 13 - 6:00-7:30pm EDT [In-person at Fusionworks Dance Center (Lincoln, RI), $20 or Zoom, $15]
Laura has spent decades deeply embodying the classes and choreography of Carolyn and Julie (her aunt and mother respectively). Join her as she integrates both of their classes into a single experience with her own unique inflection. The class will culminate by learning repertory from a seminal collaborative work of Carolyn and Julie’s from the early days of their careers.
Thursday, March 13 - 6:00-7:30pm EDT [In-person at Fusionworks Dance Center (Lincoln, RI), $20 or Zoom, $15]
Laura has spent decades deeply embodying the classes and choreography of Carolyn and Julie (her aunt and mother respectively). Join her as she integrates both of their classes into a single experience with her own unique inflection. The class will culminate by learning repertory from a seminal collaborative work of Carolyn and Julie’s from the early days of their careers.
Masterclass with Carolyn Adams
Saturday, March 15 - 3:00-4:30pm EDT [In-person at Phoenix Rising Yoga & Wellness (Smithfield, RI), $20 or Zoom, $15]
Enjoy Carolyn’s signature class that draws from the Taylor tradition in a masterfully constructed sequence that has stood the test of time. Carolyn coalesces a lifetime of unparalleled dance experience into a class that is rigorous yet accessible, technical yet expressive. The class will be accompanied by Rhode Island percussionist Michael DeQuattro.
Saturday, March 15 - 3:00-4:30pm EDT [In-person at Phoenix Rising Yoga & Wellness (Smithfield, RI), $20 or Zoom, $15]
Enjoy Carolyn’s signature class that draws from the Taylor tradition in a masterfully constructed sequence that has stood the test of time. Carolyn coalesces a lifetime of unparalleled dance experience into a class that is rigorous yet accessible, technical yet expressive. The class will be accompanied by Rhode Island percussionist Michael DeQuattro.
Workshops and Discussions
DAPpers Workshop and Open Rehearsal with Rachel Balaban
Tuesday, March 11 - 10:00-11:15am EDT [In-person at BalletRI (Providence, RI) or Zoom, Pay as you wish]
Come enjoy a Dance for All People (DAPpers) multigenerational dance class designed for people with movement challenges and ageing bodies led by Rachel Balaban. The class will be followed by an open rehearsal of DAPpers Rep and Dancing Legacy Ensemble working on a new combined version of a Repertory Etude.
Tuesday, March 11 - 10:00-11:15am EDT [In-person at BalletRI (Providence, RI) or Zoom, Pay as you wish]
Come enjoy a Dance for All People (DAPpers) multigenerational dance class designed for people with movement challenges and ageing bodies led by Rachel Balaban. The class will be followed by an open rehearsal of DAPpers Rep and Dancing Legacy Ensemble working on a new combined version of a Repertory Etude.
Floor Conditioning Workshop with the Carolyn/Julie Class Team
Wednesday, March 12 - 11:15am-12:30pm EDT [Zoom, $15]
Dig into the floor-based exercises of Carolyn and Julie’s classes featuring dance conditioning and expressive seated, prone, and supine combinations. The class will include full breakdowns and explanations of each floor exercise using both imagery and precise anatomical description to deepen students' understanding of their own body mechanics. The workshop will be team-taught by members of Carolyn/Julie Class Team -- those who have been working closely in developing the Pedagogy Preservation Project.
Wednesday, March 12 - 11:15am-12:30pm EDT [Zoom, $15]
Dig into the floor-based exercises of Carolyn and Julie’s classes featuring dance conditioning and expressive seated, prone, and supine combinations. The class will include full breakdowns and explanations of each floor exercise using both imagery and precise anatomical description to deepen students' understanding of their own body mechanics. The workshop will be team-taught by members of Carolyn/Julie Class Team -- those who have been working closely in developing the Pedagogy Preservation Project.
Legacy Chat: Teacher/Demonstrator Dialogue
Friday, March 14 - 7:00-8:30pm EDT [Zoom, $15]
Join Carolyn and Julie with their longtime demonstrators as they discuss their unique relationships. They will delve into the ways that those two roles form a synergistic union, engaged constantly in an ongoing act of both giving and receiving.
Friday, March 14 - 7:00-8:30pm EDT [Zoom, $15]
Join Carolyn and Julie with their longtime demonstrators as they discuss their unique relationships. They will delve into the ways that those two roles form a synergistic union, engaged constantly in an ongoing act of both giving and receiving.
Register for MiniFest (Included for All Members)
Inheritance Showcase
Saturday March 15, 7:00pm EDT
YouTube Livestream
Pay as you wish
YouTube Livestream
Pay as you wish
Dancing Legacy Ensemble in Strandberg's "Interlude" - Photo Credit: Deanna Camputaro
Witness Dancing Legacy and our extended network in action! Join us for an evening of sharing new endeavors, works-in-process, video screenings, and more. Get a sneak peak at what is next on the Dancing Legacy horizon, and learn about Dancing Legacy’s latest endeavor, the Pedagogy Preservation Project. This project is all about passing on Carolyn and Julie’s classes, methodologies, and artistic philosophies to the next generation of dancers and teachers. It is very exciting, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
Fusionworks Class Demos
Fusionworks Dance Center (Lincoln, RI)
Free
Free
Experience Fusionworks Dance Center -- our school, training ground, and laboratory -- in action! At Fusionworks, through Julie and Carolyn's approach, the next generation of dance students are nurtured to become direct heirs to America’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. The MiniFest demos include student demonstrations in the studio with the teachers offering an overview of the curriculum and sharing the students' progress. The events end with snacks and time to chat with our community members.
Upper Level Ballet, Pointe, and Modern
Tuesday, March 11 - 6:00-7:00pm EDT
Highlighting our upper level ballet and modern classes and our pointe and pre-pointe class, this demo offers a glimpse into the students' hard work and a preview of their year-end performance pieces.
Tuesday, March 11 - 6:00-7:00pm EDT
Highlighting our upper level ballet and modern classes and our pointe and pre-pointe class, this demo offers a glimpse into the students' hard work and a preview of their year-end performance pieces.
All Levels Jazz and Tap
Wednesday, March 12 - 6:00-7:00pm EDT
Spotlighting all of our jazz and tap classes, this demo showcases the students' dedication and progress in their technique throughout the year.
Wednesday, March 12 - 6:00-7:00pm EDT
Spotlighting all of our jazz and tap classes, this demo showcases the students' dedication and progress in their technique throughout the year.
Creative Movement | Introductory Level Ballet and Modern | Fusionworks Youth Ensemble
Saturday, March 15 - 10:30-11:30am EDT
Featuring our youngest dancers in our creative movement class, as well as our introductory ballet and modern classes, this demo culminates with a special performance by our Fusionworks Youth Ensemble.
Saturday, March 15 - 10:30-11:30am EDT
Featuring our youngest dancers in our creative movement class, as well as our introductory ballet and modern classes, this demo culminates with a special performance by our Fusionworks Youth Ensemble.
Register for MiniFest
Fusionworks Photo Credits: Mike Nyman Photography
Fusionworks Photo Credits: Mike Nyman Photography