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Teacher Bio
Mary Grace McNally is a Brooklyn-based dance artist originally from Massachusetts. She produced, directed, and choreographed her first full-length work, Not For Picking, which premiered at Theaterlab (NYC) in June 2018. After presenting an excerpt of this work, Mary Grace was honored to receive the 2018 Capezio A.C.E. Award. She was also announced as ADA's National Choreographer of the Year in 2016....Read more
Mary Grace McNally is a Brooklyn-based dance artist originally from Massachusetts. She produced, directed, and choreographed her first full-length work, Not For Picking, which premiered at Theaterlab (NYC) in June 2018. After presenting an excerpt of this work, Mary Grace was honored to receive the 2018 Capezio A.C.E. Award. She was also announced as ADA's National Choreographer of the Year in 2016. Her work has been presented at The Dance Gallery Festival, Dixon Place, Young Choreographer’s Festival, NewSteps Series, REVERBdance Festival, Salvatore Capezio Center, Centre National de la Danse in France, and deSingel in Belgium. She has studied with artists such as Medhi Walerski, Jesse Zaritt, Adi Salant, Jiri Pokorny, Tilman O’Donnell, and has performed the works of Doug Varone, Netta Yerushalmy, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Katie Swords-Thurman, Emma Portner and Erica Sobol. In 2017 and 2018, she was featured in March/April issues of Dance Studio Life Magazine discussing ideas around contemporary and improvisational studies in the competitive dance studio setting. Mary Grace received her BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts in 2015. Most recently, she had the opportunity to reimagine Not For Picking, which was presented as a part of Theaterlab's Fall Season this past December.
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Class Descriptions
Class begins with a guided improvisational warmup as a way to release tension in the body and mind, allowing access to new pathways of movement. Yoga, strengthening exercises, and meditation are integrated throughout. Phrase material is introduced to challenge dancers to fulfill certain shapes, energetic pathways, textures, and momentum while working inside of specific musical phrasing. With this, Mary Grace works to create a space that feels safe for exploring and for supporting one another. Leaving class with a sense of community is incredibly important to her.