PERIDANCE FACULTY
Guest / Past
Chris Bloom
Contemporary
BIOGRAPHY
Chris Bloom is from Fredrick County, VA where he began dancing at the Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts & the Vostrikov Academy of Ballet at the ages of 12 & 15 respectively. As a teenager, he trained at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago & the Orlando Ballet School. Chris graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Ailey/Fordham B. F. A. Program & has performed with Parsons Dance, The Dash Ensemble, The Black Iris Project, 360° Dance Theater, Lydia Johnson Dance, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company & PARA.MAR Dance Theater (where he is a founding member) . Chris joined Ballet Hispanico in 2013 originating roles in new works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Fernando Melo, Michelle Manzanales, Miguel Mancillas, Edgar Zendejas, Andrea Miller, Claudia Schreier, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Edwaard Liang & Eduardo Vilaro. In addition he has performed in Nacho Duato’s Jardi Tancat, William Forsythe’s New Sleep, Pedro Ruiz’s Club Havana, Tania Perez Salas’s 3. Catorce Dieciséis, Andrea Miller’s Naci, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Mad’moiselle, as Don José in Gustavo Ramirez Sansano’s CARMEN.maquia & as Juan Perón in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Doña Perón, both filmed & aired on PBS. Chris was nominated for the Clive Barnes Award & currently works as a freelance dancer & choreographer while staging the works of Stephanie Martinez, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa & Michelle Manzanales.
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Warm up consists of structured movements with space built in for each individual’s needs as they prepare their body for the demands of class. The goal of warm up is to welcome space & availability in the body while exploring the efficient use of strength & the conscious transfer of weight to create smooth & confident transitions. Progressing from warm up, dancers have the opportunity to refine their transitions with traveling floor flow exercises designed to build strength and fluidity as well as partnered contact improvisational exercises to help dancers be sensitive and aware of other bodies in space. The class finishes with fast & specific choreography combining all of the above skills to move confidently & seamlessly while maintaining speed, specificity & physicality. Participants can expect a positive & fun communal vibe, energetic music & individually tailored feedback to help grow their artistry.