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Having taught at conventions, dance studios, and universities, Jamal Story brings a wealth of experience to his classes. Based in strong technique in several disciplines, Jamal’s classes help dancers marry physical aptitude with performance and storytelling goals.
...Read moreHaving taught at conventions, dance studios, and universities, Jamal Story brings a wealth of experience to his classes. Based in strong technique in several disciplines, Jamal’s classes help dancers marry physical aptitude with performance and storytelling goals.
Still known for a wide-ranging physical skill set that includes Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Gymnastics, Jamal continues to teach not only by instruction, but by example. Recently a dancer on Cher’s Dressed to Kill Tour, Jamal has also worked with Madonna, Complexions, and Donald Byrd/the Group. He performed on Broadway in the original casts of both The Color Purple and Motown: the Musical.
An advocate for arts education, Jamal serves on the SAG-AFTRA New York Board and co-chairs the National Committee for Dance in this newly merged union. With two degrees from Southern Methodist University, Jamal incorporates a firm basis in pedagogy and kinesiology in his teaching. Between gigs, he maintains his affiliation with LA Dance Magic and with the University of Missouri Kansas City, where he taught for the Division of Dance as a full-time, ad interim professor. He was the Assistant Choreographer for Senor Discretion, Himself at the Arena Stage in DC, and worked with Doriana Sanchez on creating disco material for her numbers on So You Think You Can Dance.
Learn more by visiting his website www.JamalStory.com.
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Class Descriptions
Warm-ups for all of Jamal’s classes focus on fully engaging the center and lengthening the spine for maximum balance of pliability and strength during movement. A short abdominal workout gets it going, along with a series of roll downs designed to keep blood flowing, begin to lengthen the hamstrings.
Center work builds on exercises established in Horton, Graham and ballet techniques, modifying each class with respect to whatever style the combination fits into (i.e., Modern Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Swing, Broadway, etc.). Arm/leg coordination for turns and balances, stretching, and a progression of dance across the floor are all integral to Jamal’s paradigm.
Class culminates with a combination designed to give dancers an opportunity to utilize the efficiency and placement gained earlier to avail their bodies to a wider range of artistic choices. The goal is to explore different ways of making meaning of movement.