Equal parts rigor and silliness, Ani Taj (Artistic Director and Choreographer of ONTHEFLOOR)’s class is a high-energy, physically-demanding 90 minutes including an upbeat warm-up, hot conditioning, brief improvisation, and substantial choreography sequences from The Dance Cartel’s repertory. Designed to challenge both trained dancers and enthusiastic novices, the class fuses technical elements from jazz/contemporary with hype energy and a low center of gravity. Technical precision and energetic intent are given equal priority, encouraging students to heighten their expressivity and dynamics as well as stretch their physical ability.
The music will be loud, and will sometimes have dirty words. You will probably sweat. Expect to get your heart rate up, and bring a clean shirt if you need to look cute after class. Sense of play and humor are encouraged, but only if you want to have a good time.
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The Dance Cartel is after a new brand of dance experience. Taking note of a dance community that often serves a niche audience, TDC creates dances that are VIBRANT, IMMERSIVE and often PARTICIPATORY. Without sacrificing technical rigor or artistic ambition as a dance company, we endeavor to employ the social nature of dance, the charge of a party, and the sharpness of a music video to a fresh dance vocabulary that any Joe can get down with.
ANI TAJ | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER
Native New Yorker ANI TAJ is a choreographer, performer, music-head and founder of The Dance Cartel. Ani choreographs art parties, music videos, contemporary musicals, plays, concerts, flash mobs, gallery happenings and more. Her work is fueled by research trips to Brazil and loves to make dances inspired by Carnaval. While bridging gaps between dance and music scenes, Ani keeps one foot in the world of live theatre and experimental musicals. Recent projects include RUNAWAYS (NY City Center), Lazarus (NYTW – Associate to Annie-B Parson), NOIR (NY Stage & Film), The Nomad (The Flea), Good Men Wanted (Arena Stages, Ars Nova), and Jesse Eisenberg’s Asuncion (Rattlestick Theatre). As a performer, Ani has worked with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Les Freres Corbusier, David Dorfman Dance, Reggie Watts & Tommy Smith, Jenny Koons, Liz Swados; she is currently performing with Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway. She is an Adjunct Professor of movement and dance at NYU.