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Contact Us!
Questions?
The best way to contact us is by email but you can always call or stop by the studio during office hours
Phone: 206.949.8643
Office Hours
- theNEST
- Tu - Th: 3:00 to 8:00p
- Sa: 9:00a to 12:30p
- NOD Theater
- Mo: 3:30 to 8:00p
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About Exit Space
Mission | To cultivate a supportive and enriching community where dancers of all ages can discover or rediscover the power of dance.
Vision | A vibrant and robust Seattle dance community where eXit SPACE leads the way in equitable education, opportunity, performance, and artistic exploration.
Vision | A vibrant and robust Seattle dance community where eXit SPACE leads the way in equitable education, opportunity, performance, and artistic exploration.
Support | eXit SPACE has several programs to provide financial assistance to students in need of support. Payment plans, work study positions, and scholarships for BIPOC and young dancers are some of the methods employed to ease financial burden and enable dance education.
Financial Support Application
Work Study Application
If you would like more detailed information, please reach out and contact info@exitspacedance.com
Financial Support Application
Work Study Application
If you would like more detailed information, please reach out and contact info@exitspacedance.com
Marlo Martin
Artistic Director
Faculty
Marlo
Rose Amlin
Office Assistant
Faculty
Rose
Miranda Chantelois
Office Assistant
Faculty
Miranda
Alex Goldstein
Office Administrator
Alex
Christin Olyano
Facilities Manager
Studio Rentals
Christin
Marlo Martin
Artistic Director
Modern
Marlo
Annie DeVuono
ADP
Ballet
Annie D
Annie St Marie
YDP | ADP
Ballet | Pointe
Annie S
Bri Wilson
YDP
Ballet | Pointe
Bri
Carol Davis
YDP
Ballet | Pointe
Carol
DaeZhane Dae
ADP | YDP
Hip Hop | Modern
DaeZhane
Hayley Keller
YDP
Modern | Floor Flow
Hayley
Kaitlin McCarthy
ADP
Ballet
Kaitlin
Lauren Wlasichuk
ADP | YDP
Tap | Jazz
Lauren
Miranda Chantelois
ADP | YDP
Ballet | Modern | Jazz | Early Movement
Miranda
Nicole Flores
ADP | YDP
Ballet
Nicole
Robbi Moore
Robbi
Roni Witbeck
Roni
Rose Amlin
ADP | YDP
Modern | Jazz | Hip Hop | Early Movement
Rose
Scarlett Folds / Micaela Gonzales
ADP
Burlesque
Scarlett
Skylar Scharl
YDP
Jazz
Skylar
Tyra Rose
ADP | YDP
Jazz | Modern | Contemporary | Hip Hop
Tyra
Wade Madsen
ADP | YDP
Modern
Wade
Alicia Mullikin
ADP
Contemporary
Alicia
Amy J Lambert
Amy
Joseph Schanbeck
Joseph
Mike Esperanza
Mike
Class Descriptions
Modern | eXit SPACE offers an array of modern technique classes, all focused on full-bodied movement and improving artistry. As a technique, Modern dance allows students to develop a deep connection to their center, confidence in inversion techniques and acrobatic skills (cart wheels, hand and head stands, floor rolls, etc), refined articulation through the spine, improvisation practice, and freedom of movement. Dancers learn to focus their attention on traveling through space with intention and dynamic variation rather than just focusing on shapes and steps. Basic level classes at eXit SPACE give those new to dance a foundation on which to build and explore the fascinating history of modern dance with an emphasis on individuality and adaptive formats, while our most advanced modern classes are a perfect way for professionals and trained dancers to work with local dance artists in styles that range from Euro-influenced codified forms to new age contemporary forms and afro-diaspora movement. eXit SPACE is proud to have a modern dance faculty composed of professional dancers and choreographers currently presenting work in the Greater Seattle Area and has become a vital hub for beginning to advanced level adult dancers looking for both professional level modern dance study and well-rounded foundational introductions to the form.
A brief history: Modern Dance is a style of western concert dance developed in the late 19th and early 20th century by European artists as an artistic rebellion against the perceived constraints of classical ballet and by European diasporic movers seeking to re-ground dance in indigenous and Black dance foundations. In Germany, dancers Rudolf Von Laban and Mary Wigman began abandoning the strict movement vocabulary, nymph-like portrayals of women, and confining expectations of ballet for more freeform movement characterized by organic body patterns, deliberate falls into the floor, and improvisatory scores - ideas later relayed to the United States by American dancer, educator, and modern dance pioneer, Isadora Duncan by 1914. By the 1930's Katherine Dunham, an African American anthropologist, ethnologue, dancer, and choreographer (among many other roles) revolutionized the form by rooting modern dance in Black culture and folk dance through her anthropological studies in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Haiti. Bolstered by the work of Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Pearl Primus, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Pina Bausch, and so many others, modern dance has since evolved to encompass a multiplicity of techniques not limited to any specific vocabulary. From Horton and Graham Techniques - which explore linearity and contractions with an emphasis on flat backs, lateral extensions, tilts, and lunges - to more somatic-centered practices based on concepts of release, imagery, strength, and emotional embodiment, modern dance can encompass a wide variety of aesthetics ranging from its even broader history in european and afro-diasporan movement.
A brief history: Modern Dance is a style of western concert dance developed in the late 19th and early 20th century by European artists as an artistic rebellion against the perceived constraints of classical ballet and by European diasporic movers seeking to re-ground dance in indigenous and Black dance foundations. In Germany, dancers Rudolf Von Laban and Mary Wigman began abandoning the strict movement vocabulary, nymph-like portrayals of women, and confining expectations of ballet for more freeform movement characterized by organic body patterns, deliberate falls into the floor, and improvisatory scores - ideas later relayed to the United States by American dancer, educator, and modern dance pioneer, Isadora Duncan by 1914. By the 1930's Katherine Dunham, an African American anthropologist, ethnologue, dancer, and choreographer (among many other roles) revolutionized the form by rooting modern dance in Black culture and folk dance through her anthropological studies in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Haiti. Bolstered by the work of Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Pearl Primus, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Pina Bausch, and so many others, modern dance has since evolved to encompass a multiplicity of techniques not limited to any specific vocabulary. From Horton and Graham Techniques - which explore linearity and contractions with an emphasis on flat backs, lateral extensions, tilts, and lunges - to more somatic-centered practices based on concepts of release, imagery, strength, and emotional embodiment, modern dance can encompass a wide variety of aesthetics ranging from its even broader history in european and afro-diasporan movement.
Contemporary | Contemporary dance refers to classes, choreography, and movement practices that draw from a variety of styles but maintain a strong foundation in modern dance. As the internet and technology allowed for dance influences to become more accessible across distances, contemporary dance began to develop. Multicultural influences and the intentional blend of dance styles like jazz, hip hop, and others has been at the heart of contemporary dance since its inception. Unlike other dance forms which have a strong historical foundation in a single codified technique, contemporary is an ever evolving form; it is frequently defined by the individual teacher and taught as a personal reaction to their relationship(s) with other forms. At eXit SPACE, contemporary classes often include full-bodied movement, bottom-heavy dance phrases, extensive floor-work and emotionality.
Ballet | Class emphasis at eXit SPACE is on dynamic alignment, strength development, body awareness, artistic expression, and quality of movement taught in styles ranging from purely classical to more contemporary, with a frequent mix of methodologies. Every class includes a comprehensive barre and center practice with the option to adapt movements based on level, injury, and comfort. Ballet has a long history of exclusion - from socio-economic status, to skin color, body type, age, and level of training – but eXit SPACE is proud to be one of a growing number of dance education facilities that stands on the firm notion that ballet is for everybody and every body with the intention of elevating individual artistic voices by decentering the historic whiteness in ballet.
A brief history: The roots of Ballet date back to European ethnic/folk dances copied by the Italian court during the Renaissance for aristocratic entertainment. An Italian social dance with choreographic elements, "balleto" or ballet, made its way to France in the 16th century where dancing masters instructed children and choreographed increasingly elaborate performances with sets, costumes and story elements. In the 17th century court, King Louis XIV emerged as a figurehead of ballet's codification, establishing the Royal Academy of Dance where Pierre Beauchamp established the five traditional rotated positions. Russia, subsequently, played a major role in Ballet's further development and Russian dancers are often credited with "perfecting" the technique. Through the Baroque Period and into the Romantic Era and beyond, Ballet gained six codified teaching styles which are often adapted and/or mixed for ballet classes around the world (the Vaganova, Cecchetti Method, and RAD methods being the most common).
For a more comprehensive history of ballet:
A brief history: The roots of Ballet date back to European ethnic/folk dances copied by the Italian court during the Renaissance for aristocratic entertainment. An Italian social dance with choreographic elements, "balleto" or ballet, made its way to France in the 16th century where dancing masters instructed children and choreographed increasingly elaborate performances with sets, costumes and story elements. In the 17th century court, King Louis XIV emerged as a figurehead of ballet's codification, establishing the Royal Academy of Dance where Pierre Beauchamp established the five traditional rotated positions. Russia, subsequently, played a major role in Ballet's further development and Russian dancers are often credited with "perfecting" the technique. Through the Baroque Period and into the Romantic Era and beyond, Ballet gained six codified teaching styles which are often adapted and/or mixed for ballet classes around the world (the Vaganova, Cecchetti Method, and RAD methods being the most common).
For a more comprehensive history of ballet:
- Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans (History book)
- Night’s Dancer: The Life of Janet Collins by Yael Tamar Lewin (History book)
Beginning Ballet | Beginning Ballet classes at eXit SPACE are drop-in based and intended for intermediate beginners looking for a slow-paced environment to pursue ballet with intentionality, freedom of expression, and the opportunity for progression. Every class, dancers can expect ample modification options to support their individual needs as they are guided through the traditional class structure. At barre, dancers string together short phrases of stationery movements and shapes to build strength and alignment before moving to center floor where they explore body positions, balance, and/or simple turning. Across the floor, students learn to travel gracefully with single steps or brief combinations of waltzes and/or turns, while focusing on finding fluidity and expressive intention. eXit SPACE instructors approach their classes with a range in styles and frequent mix of methodologies, but all offer individualized tools to support dancers' dynamic alignment and strength, while emphasizing body positivity and artistic expression along the way.
**Please note: Because of the drop-in nature of Beginning Ballet classes, teachers do not break down the style from the absolute beginning each week, so dancers taking beginning level drop-ins are expected to know basic steps well enough for class to flow more quickly than our Basic Series. Dancers who have never taken ballet before and/or aren't familiar with the basic execution of foundational ballet skills at the barre (positions de pied, plié, tendú, degagé, rond de jambe, frappé, passé, développé, and grand battement), across the floor (waltz step, temps levé/skip, chassé), and center (e.g. positions de bras, balancé, pas de bourré, glissade, jeté, pas de chat, changement) are highly encouraged to sign up for the Basic Series (9-weeks) to get up to speed first! Learn more and enroll in the Basic Series here.
Additional Resources::
**Please note: Because of the drop-in nature of Beginning Ballet classes, teachers do not break down the style from the absolute beginning each week, so dancers taking beginning level drop-ins are expected to know basic steps well enough for class to flow more quickly than our Basic Series. Dancers who have never taken ballet before and/or aren't familiar with the basic execution of foundational ballet skills at the barre (positions de pied, plié, tendú, degagé, rond de jambe, frappé, passé, développé, and grand battement), across the floor (waltz step, temps levé/skip, chassé), and center (e.g. positions de bras, balancé, pas de bourré, glissade, jeté, pas de chat, changement) are highly encouraged to sign up for the Basic Series (9-weeks) to get up to speed first! Learn more and enroll in the Basic Series here.
Additional Resources::
- Ballet Glossary by the Royal Ballet & Opera (YouTube)
- The Ballet Companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden (Instructional book)
- Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans (History book)
- Night’s Dancer: The Life of Janet Collins by Yael Tamar Lewin (History book)
- Ballet Russes by Directors Geller & Goldfine (Film)
- Black Ballerina by Director Frances McElroy (Film; available for free on Kanopy with a library card)
- @balletwithisabella, @runqiaodu, @balletworldconnected, and @face_thebarre (Instagram accounts with instructional videos)
Pointe | Pointe class is for students with strong ballet training who are interested in starting/revisiting pointe work. Each hour-long class is divided into two parts: strengthening and variation work. All students work at the barre on strengthening, participate in short exercises across the floor, and receive feedback on how to improve their technique and safety. On a basis of strength, safety, and overall readiness, some students may be asked to change to flat shoes as the class progresses to more difficult variations. With improvement and teacher permission, beginning/intermediate level pointe dancers will have the opportunity to work in pointe shoes for longer periods of time throughout class.
Jazz | Ray Leeper once said that jazz dance requires three main skills of the dancer: precision of body placement, muscular resistance and stretch (strong lines), and personality/pizazz. Jazz classes at eXit SPACE honor this multifaceted nature of jazz dance through an emphasis on individuality, technique, and a variety of stylistic frameworks. Aesthetically, Jazz can range from vernacular styles such as the Charleston and Jitterbug, to lyrical, commercial, and Broadway forms that many will recognize from contemporary pop culture; classes at eXit SPACE are primarily informed by Euro-influenced forms of lyrical, commercial, and Broadway style jazz, depending on the instructor. Classes begin with a comprehensive warm-up focusing on strength-building, flexibility, isolation, extension, and rhythm accompanied by a wide range of popular music selections from pop to Broadway. Rooted into the ground through use of deep plié, jazz emphasizes strong footwork and confident gross motor movement, allowing students at eXit SPACE develop strength and precision through challenging leaps, turns, and progressions before ending class with a longer combination that incorporates a wide range of artistic concepts.
A brief history: Jazz can be traced back to seventeenth century African dance rituals characterized by polyrhythm, improvisation, and isolation. Vernacular Jazz was formally developed by Black Americans in the early 20th century alongside the evolution of jazz music as an embodiment of Black culture and liberation. Vernacular or authentic jazz refers to such forms as the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and the Twist which were subsequently copied by white audiences as popularity increased. Jazz became concert dance when Black choreographer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) brought works of performance ethnography to proscenium stages, having infused Carribean dance and African Diasporan traditions into her modern-based works, giving way to a new era of popular performance. Subsequent artists adapted, appropriated, and reimagined jazz, which has now branched off to include lyrical jazz as well as commercial and Broadway jazz forms (informed by burlesque, vaudeville, and musical theater) now seen most commonly on stage and TV. Eugene Louis Faccuito (Luigi), Gus Giordano, and Matt Mattox furthered the evolution of the style in the mid to late 1900's and are training the next generation of teachers to this day.
For a more comprehensive history of Jazz dance: Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance by Marshall Stearns and Jean Stearns
A brief history: Jazz can be traced back to seventeenth century African dance rituals characterized by polyrhythm, improvisation, and isolation. Vernacular Jazz was formally developed by Black Americans in the early 20th century alongside the evolution of jazz music as an embodiment of Black culture and liberation. Vernacular or authentic jazz refers to such forms as the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and the Twist which were subsequently copied by white audiences as popularity increased. Jazz became concert dance when Black choreographer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) brought works of performance ethnography to proscenium stages, having infused Carribean dance and African Diasporan traditions into her modern-based works, giving way to a new era of popular performance. Subsequent artists adapted, appropriated, and reimagined jazz, which has now branched off to include lyrical jazz as well as commercial and Broadway jazz forms (informed by burlesque, vaudeville, and musical theater) now seen most commonly on stage and TV. Eugene Louis Faccuito (Luigi), Gus Giordano, and Matt Mattox furthered the evolution of the style in the mid to late 1900's and are training the next generation of teachers to this day.
For a more comprehensive history of Jazz dance: Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance by Marshall Stearns and Jean Stearns
Hip Hop | At eXit SPACE, students can expect teachers to be well-versed in the history and steps associated with hip hop dance while providing a comprehensive, structured class. All hip hop classes at eXit SPACE begin with an aerobic warm up to practice basic steps and body isolations with clear dynamics, all the while building the necessary strength and flexibility for full-bodied movement. Teachers emphasize individuality, rhythm, and theatricality, embracing the roots of hip hop as an improvisational, cypher-based from. After warmup and skill building, the majority of hip hop classes are spent learning choreography, allowing dancers to engage in an in-depth study on locomotor steps while advancing coordination, musicality, and self-expression. Many instructors take early hip hop styles and steps, integrating them into combinations that represent hip hop in its current state.
A brief history: Hip hop dance emerged in the late 1960's out of the South Bronx, an economically depressed neighborhood in New York City composed primarily of Black and Latinx families. As a way to connect with one another and distract from racial oppression and poverty, youth in the South Bronx (and later Brooklyn and Harlem) channelled their fear and anger into a new culture of movement and expression, often using vacant lots and abandoned buildings for house parties where the co-mingling of rapping, DJing, B-boying, and graffiti emerged as the pillars of hip hop culture. DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant and the "father of hip hop music" invented the break beat, a looped musical interlude meant for dancers (b-boys and b-girls) to show off their respective talents; this invention and Herc's musical/rhythmic contributions of the time made way for a new style of modern movement. Between east coast and west coast dancers, uprock, breaking, locking, roboting, freestyling, and popping styles began to make waves and – in combination with James Brown's music, the formation of dance crews, and Don Cornelius' creation of the television show Soul Train – Hip Hop dance has since made its way from the streets into the studios.
For a more comprehensive history of hip hop: Hip Hop Dance (The American Dance Floor) by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar and/or Foundation: B-boys, B-girls and Hip-Hop Culture in New York by Joseph G. Schloss
A brief history: Hip hop dance emerged in the late 1960's out of the South Bronx, an economically depressed neighborhood in New York City composed primarily of Black and Latinx families. As a way to connect with one another and distract from racial oppression and poverty, youth in the South Bronx (and later Brooklyn and Harlem) channelled their fear and anger into a new culture of movement and expression, often using vacant lots and abandoned buildings for house parties where the co-mingling of rapping, DJing, B-boying, and graffiti emerged as the pillars of hip hop culture. DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant and the "father of hip hop music" invented the break beat, a looped musical interlude meant for dancers (b-boys and b-girls) to show off their respective talents; this invention and Herc's musical/rhythmic contributions of the time made way for a new style of modern movement. Between east coast and west coast dancers, uprock, breaking, locking, roboting, freestyling, and popping styles began to make waves and – in combination with James Brown's music, the formation of dance crews, and Don Cornelius' creation of the television show Soul Train – Hip Hop dance has since made its way from the streets into the studios.
For a more comprehensive history of hip hop: Hip Hop Dance (The American Dance Floor) by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar and/or Foundation: B-boys, B-girls and Hip-Hop Culture in New York by Joseph G. Schloss
Commercial Choreography | Power Hour | A class focused on a fusion of dance styles including Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, and many other forms of dance. Commercial choreography refers to a style of dance seen in Music Videos, L.A Dance Industry, Television Productions, and much more. Commercial Choreography is often confused with Hip Hop Dance due to the influence of Hip Hop Culture throughout history. Due to the fusion of dance styles, Commercial Choreography is simply inspired by but not the same as Hip Hop.
Tap | Dance students at eXit SPACE are trained in basic rhythmic skills, footwork, and traditional tap dances, exploring more detailed and difficult steps, syncopated rhythms, and challenging progressions over time. Classes are influenced by both rhythm tap (which focuses on percussion, complex rhythms, and use of the feet as instruments) as well as Broadway style tap (which combines rhythm tap and jazz dance for a more theatrical aesthetic and physical storytelling), offering dancers a wide range of skill sets for versatility of performance. eXit SPACE embeds tap history – which is rooted in oppression, physical liberation, and protest art – into its curriculum, while acknowledging the privilege of learning this art form in the studio.
A brief history: Tap is an American dance form that originated through the communication of enslaved Africans and Irish indentured servants, blending the percussive dances of their cultures. Enslaved Africans learned to embed traditional African rhythms with European instrumentation and court dance structures, ultimately using clapping, patting, and percussive footwork as rhythmic substitutes for drums on plantations. Later, through experimentation of innovative rhythms, acrobatic feats, and personal style alongside the indentured Irish, Black Americans developed the foundations of what we know as tap dance today, epitomized by the works of Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Chloe Arnold, and Michelle Dorance.
For a more comprehensive history of Tap dance: Tap Dancing America: A Cultural History by Constance Valis Hill or What The Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing by Brian Seibert
A brief history: Tap is an American dance form that originated through the communication of enslaved Africans and Irish indentured servants, blending the percussive dances of their cultures. Enslaved Africans learned to embed traditional African rhythms with European instrumentation and court dance structures, ultimately using clapping, patting, and percussive footwork as rhythmic substitutes for drums on plantations. Later, through experimentation of innovative rhythms, acrobatic feats, and personal style alongside the indentured Irish, Black Americans developed the foundations of what we know as tap dance today, epitomized by the works of Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Chloe Arnold, and Michelle Dorance.
For a more comprehensive history of Tap dance: Tap Dancing America: A Cultural History by Constance Valis Hill or What The Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing by Brian Seibert
Open Movement and Contact Improvisation Jam |
Contact Improv Jams are an open, unstructured gathering of like-minded dancers coming together to engage, practice and explore Contact Improvisation.
Contact Improvisation is a partnered dance form based on the physical principles of touch, momentum, and weight sharing. This can lead the ensemble through level changes by ways of tumbling, rolling, falling and flying! This is a constant source of endless playful investigation of exploring points of contact and dance improvisation.
Open Movement is encouraged for solo dance exploration and individual warm up.
Jams are generally silent (no music) with the exception of a once a month live-scored guest musician. Mellow socializing and laughing about it are totally allowed.
All levels of experience are welcomed and encouraged.
Contact Jams are for adults 18 years old and up.
Here is a short video demonstrating what a CI Jam looks like.
Contact Improvisation is a partnered dance form based on the physical principles of touch, momentum, and weight sharing. This can lead the ensemble through level changes by ways of tumbling, rolling, falling and flying! This is a constant source of endless playful investigation of exploring points of contact and dance improvisation.
Open Movement is encouraged for solo dance exploration and individual warm up.
Jams are generally silent (no music) with the exception of a once a month live-scored guest musician. Mellow socializing and laughing about it are totally allowed.
All levels of experience are welcomed and encouraged.
Contact Jams are for adults 18 years old and up.
Here is a short video demonstrating what a CI Jam looks like.
Burlesque Jazz | With inspiration drawn from the art of tease and reveal, and influenced by jazz and cabaret styles, this class is a fun and vigorous experience for intermediate and advanced dancers. Dancers will play with movements choreographed by Scarlett Folds and experience the suppleness of slow burns, high energy movements, and fun, titillating ways to tease.
BASIC Modern | Modern Dance is a style of western concert dance developed in the late 19th and early 20th century by European artists as an artistic rebellion against the perceived constraints of classical ballet and by European diasporic movers seeking to re-ground dance in indigenous and Black dance foundations. Basic Modern at eXit SPACE honors the history of modern dance through an emphasis on equity and individuality while guiding beginning modern dancers through the structure of a dance class and the etiquette required in a studio. Warm-up exercises designed to center the body, re-pattern movement habits, and build strength and flexibility will prepare beginning dancers to move more fully, while movement combinations center and across the floor will allow for an in-depth study on locomotor steps while advancing coordination, musicality, and self-expression. Basic Modern dancers will also develop a deep connection to their center, confidence in level-appropriate inversion techniques and acrobatic skills (monkey jumps, tip ups, and floor rolls), refined articulation through the spine, and freedom of movement, focusing their attention on traveling through space with intention and dynamic variation.
Geared towards adult dancers of all ages, body types, and backgrounds, Basic teachers provide options for modifications and alternative movements frequently so that all dancers can participate in ways that feel safe and successful.
Download Course Syllabus
Geared towards adult dancers of all ages, body types, and backgrounds, Basic teachers provide options for modifications and alternative movements frequently so that all dancers can participate in ways that feel safe and successful.
Download Course Syllabus
Basic Jazz | Aesthetically, Jazz can range from vernacular styles such as the Charleston and Jitterbug, to lyrical, commercial, and Broadway forms that many will recognize from contemporary pop culture. Basic Jazz classes at eXit SPACE are primarily informed by Euro-influenced forms of lyrical, commercial, and Broadway styles, while honoring the multifaceted nature of the form through an emphasis on individuality and stylistic range. As a new student to jazz dance, you will be guided through the structure of a dance class and the etiquette required from all dancers while in a studio. Classes begin with a comprehensive warm-up focusing on strength-building, flexibility, isolation, extension, and rhythm accompanied by a wide range of popular music selections from pop to Broadway. Rooted into the ground through use of deep plié (bent knees), movement combinations center and across the floor allow for an in-depth study on locomotor steps while advancing coordination, musicality, and self-expression. Jazz emphasizes strong footwork and confident gross motor movement, so eXit SPACE Basic students are presented with ideas and principles of movement as well as the fundamentals of rhythm, syncopation, isolation, and individual expression. Basic Jazz teachers provide options for modifications and alternative movements frequently so that all dancers of all ages, body types, and backgrounds can participate in ways that feel safe and successful.
Download Course Syllabus
Download Course Syllabus
Basic Ballet | Basic Ballet is geared towards adults of all ages, backgrounds, and body types looking for an introduction to classical ballet technique, vocabulary, and aesthetics. As a Basic Ballet student, you will be guided through the structure of a dance class and the etiquette required from all dancers in a studio, learning fundamentals of the technique through a traditional class structure: ballet barre followed by center floor and locomotor technique. At barre, dancers learn basic vocabulary from pliés and tendús to fondus and frappés, before moving out to the center floor where they practice stationary turns, extensions, and jumps. Basic Ballet students learn to waltz, leap, and turn across the floor with ample opportunities to modify movements as needed for individual safety and with a constant emphasis on dynamic alignment, strength development, body awareness, safety, artistic expression, and quality of movement throughout.
We at eXit SPACE acknowledge that ballet has a long history of exclusion – from socio-economic status, to skin color, body type, age, and level of training – but are proud to be one of a growing number of dance education facilities that stands on the firm notion that ballet is for everybody and every body with the intention of elevating individual artistic voices. Basic Ballet teachers provide options for modifications and alternative movements frequently so that all dancers can participate in ways that feel safe and successful!
Download Course Syllabus - Miranda
We at eXit SPACE acknowledge that ballet has a long history of exclusion – from socio-economic status, to skin color, body type, age, and level of training – but are proud to be one of a growing number of dance education facilities that stands on the firm notion that ballet is for everybody and every body with the intention of elevating individual artistic voices. Basic Ballet teachers provide options for modifications and alternative movements frequently so that all dancers can participate in ways that feel safe and successful!
Download Course Syllabus - Miranda
Basic Hip Hop Fundamentals and Movement Skills | Hip hop dance emerged in the late 1960's out of the South Bronx, an economically depressed neighborhood in New York City composed primarily of Black and Latinx families. As a way to connect with one another and distract from racial oppression and poverty, youth in the South Bronx (and later Brooklyn and Harlem) channelled their fear and anger into a new culture of movement and expression, often using vacant lots and abandoned buildings for house parties where the co-mingling of rapping, DJing, B-boying, and graffiti emerged as the pillars of hip hop culture. Basic Hip Hop classes at eXit SPACE are taught by instructors well-versed in the history of hip hop dance and skilled at integrating early hip hops steps and styles into movements that represent hip hop in its current state. As a new student to hip hop dance, you will be guided through the structure of a dance class and the etiquette required from all dancers in a studio while learning the nuances of individuality, rhythm, and theatricality. Basic Hip Hop classes begin with an aerobic warm up to practice fundamental steps and body isolations with clear dynamics, all the while building the necessary strength and flexibility for full-bodied movement. After warmup and skill building, dancers learn locomotor steps and choreography, advancing coordination, musicality and self-expression in doing so, ending the session with increased confidence, rhythm, and physical awareness.
Download Course Syllabus
Download Course Syllabus
Basic Tap | Against the backdrop of a historical framework, Basic Tap students at eXit SPACE are trained in fundamental rhythmic skills, footwork, and traditional tap dances, exploring more detailed and difficult steps, syncopated rhythms, and challenging progressions over time. Classes are influenced by both rhythm tap (which focuses on percussion, complex rhythms, and use of the feet as instruments) as well as Broadway style tap (which combines rhythm tap and jazz dance for a more theatrical aesthetic and physical storytelling). Basic Tap dancers will be guided through the structure of a dance class and the etiquette required from all dancers while in a studio; warm-up exercises designed to re-pattern movement habits, build balance and strength, and introduce different rhythmic patterns to prepare the student to move more fully, while combinations center and across the floor allow for an in-depth study on specific tap steps and their expressed rhythms. Throughout class, students are encouraged to use their whole body to feel the sounds their feet are making, find their own groove within the given steps, and advance coordination, musicality, and self-expression along the way.
Download Course Syllabus
Download Course Syllabus
Basic Beginning Burlesque | Delve into your sensuality and get comfortable in your own skin. This all ages (18+) and all backgrounds welcomed class will help you find a way to transform into a version of yourself you perhaps did not know existed.Through simple twirls, whirls and shimmies, explore a class inspired by the classic art of tease and reveal. Learn choreography by Scarlett Folds and experience the suppleness of slow burns, high energy movements and fun, titillating ways to strip.
Caregiver & Tot | 1.5 - 3.5 years | Join your toddler for a play-based, brain compatible creative dance class centering expressivity, multi-sensory engagement, and social emotional learning. With your support, dancing toddlers will work towards their motor and spatial-sense milestones while singing, dancing, and storytelling along the way! Families who enroll in Caregiver & Tot classes can expect an enriching and joyful experience guided by faculty Miranda Chantelois, who has over a decade of experience working with young children and a Master's degree in early childhood education.
*Tot Dancers enrolling in Caregiver & Tot must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 months old by the beginning of the season, September 1.
*Tot Dancers enrolling in Caregiver & Tot must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 months old by the beginning of the season, September 1.
- Welcome exploration: Dancers travel through the room with props, exploring the weekly concept.
- Hello song & Nursery Rhyme BrainDance: Dancers and grownups sing hello before transitioning into an 8-song series with corresponding movements rooted in foundational infant development patterns to wake up the brain. Singing and nursery rhymes build foundational phonological awareness while the BrainDance introduces neurological re-patterning; increases blood flow to the brain; and enhances coordination, core support, and alignment.
- Creative Exploration: Each week, dancers explore an element of movement related to space, time, energy, body, or action with structured, teacher-led improvisation to build perceptual and motor development and early mathematical/spatial thinking. Use of varying props and instruments integrates sensory stimulation, coordination skills, and rhythm.
- Circle dance: Dancers and grownups gather in a (standing) circle for an opportunity to reconnect in space, build community, practice rhythmic movements, and enjoy traveling around, into, and out of the circle. This portion of class embeds pre-dance skills alongside spatial thinking related to directionality and positioning.
- Rest & stretch: Dancers and grownups connect with touch and vestibular action during this low-sensory cool-down mid-class. Children get sheets to lie on and may choose to get a swing (like a hammock!) and/or a pull through the studio. Dancers transition out of rest with a brief, imagery-rich stretch series. This portion of class reduces overstimulation, re-centers dancers, connects them with their caregiver, and instills critical self-regulation skills.
- Obstacle course: This portion of class is intended to be a joyful and stimulating opportunity for dancers to travel through space and obstacles while practicing pre-dance steps that align with 2-3 yr physical motor milestones including: jumping on two feet (plié & sauté), galloping, spinning (vestibular sense), marching, tiptoeing (balance), crawling on hands and feet (upper body strength and cross-lateral coordination), monkey jumps (upper/lower body coordination, hip crease, head/tail connection & upper body strength), assisted forward rolls (head/tail connection & vestibular sense), etc.
- Instruments: If there's time at the end of class, dancers gather back in a (seated) circle to cool down with some instruments, practice making rhythms, engaging in call and response, and singing more songs.
- Goodbye song & stamps: Class always ends with a goodbye song and stamps!
Creative Movement | 3 - 5 years* | Creative Movement classes provide essential tools for children in all areas of their social-emotional development including separation, socialization, balance, coordination, critical thinking, imagination, teamwork, and structured learning – whether they choose to continue with dance or not! Taught by highly trained faculty with extensive experience in preschool aged education, dancers explore tap and ballet in 30 minute increments, learning the basic structure and discipline of a dance class while embracing "fun" as a vital element through movement games, props, music, and physical storytelling. In addition to age-appropriate locomotor and non-locomotor technique skills, singing and imagination-based learning differentiate this class for young dancers; they engage in basic developmental movement patterns as well as weekly concepts related to space, time, energy, and effort through exploration activities that encourage self expression and creativity every step of the way! Join the fun!
*Dancers enrolling in Creative Movement must meet the minimum age requirement of 3 years old by the beginning of the season, September 1.
*Dancers enrolling in Creative Movement must meet the minimum age requirement of 3 years old by the beginning of the season, September 1.
Combo Class | 5 - 7yrs* | Combo classes are the perfect bridge from Creative Movement to level 1+ classes, combining creativity and imagination with a greater focus on technical development. Students at this age are introduced to the basic principles of Ballet, Tap, Modern, Hip Hop and Jazz in 30 minute increments, learning the structure and discipline of each form with frequent integration of games, activity songs, and explorations related to specific skills or concepts of space, time, energy, and effort. Dancers become familiar with dance terminology, practicing center skills before moving through space with locomotor steps. Like creative movement classes, combo classes provide essential tools for children in all areas of their social-emotional development including socialization, balance, coordination, critical thinking, imagination, teamwork, and structured learning; these essential skills and techniques are required to progress to the next levels of dance.
*Dancers enrolling in Combo must meet the minimum age requirement of 5 years old by the beginning of the season, September 1.
*Dancers enrolling in Combo must meet the minimum age requirement of 5 years old by the beginning of the season, September 1.
Modern One through Six | 7+ yrs | eXit SPACE offers an array of modern technique classes, all focused on full-bodied movement and improving artistry in styles that range from Euro-influenced codified forms to new age contemporary forms and afro-diaspora movement. As a technique, modern dance allows students to develop a deep connection to their center, confidence in inversion techniques and acrobatic skills (cart wheels, hand and head stands, floor rolls, etc), refined articulation through the spine, improvisation practice, and freedom of movement. Dancers learn to focus their attention on traveling through space with intention and dynamic variation rather than just focusing on shapes and steps. eXit SPACE is proud to have a modern dance faculty composed of professional dancers and choreographers currently presenting work in the Greater Seattle Area and has become a vital hub for young modern dancers looking for both pre-professional level modern dance study and well-rounded foundational introductions to the form.
A brief history: Modern Dance is a style of western concert dance developed in the late 19th and early 20th century by European artists as an artistic rebellion against the perceived constraints of classical ballet and by European diasporic movers seeking to re-ground dance in indigenous and Black dance foundations. In Germany, dancers Rudolf Von Laban and Mary Wigman began abandoning the strict movement vocabulary, nymph-like portrayals of women, and confining expectations of ballet for more freeform movement characterized by organic body patterns, deliberate falls into the floor, and improvisatory scores – ideas later relayed to the United States by American dancer, educator, and modern dance pioneer, Isadora Duncan by 1914. By the 1930's Katherine Dunham, an African American anthropologist, ethnologue, dancer, and choreographer (among many other roles) revolutionized the form by rooting modern dance in Black culture and folk dance through her anthropological studies in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Haiti. Bolstered by the work of Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Pearl Primus, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Pina Bausch, and so many others, modern dance has since evolved to encompass a multiplicity of techniques not limited to any specific vocabulary. From Horton and Graham Techniques – which explore linearity and contractions with an emphasis on flat backs, lateral extensions, tilts, and lunges – to more somatic-centered practices based on concepts of release, imagery, strength, and emotional embodiment, modern dance can encompass a wide variety of aesthetics ranging from its even broader history in european and afro-diasporan movement.
A brief history: Modern Dance is a style of western concert dance developed in the late 19th and early 20th century by European artists as an artistic rebellion against the perceived constraints of classical ballet and by European diasporic movers seeking to re-ground dance in indigenous and Black dance foundations. In Germany, dancers Rudolf Von Laban and Mary Wigman began abandoning the strict movement vocabulary, nymph-like portrayals of women, and confining expectations of ballet for more freeform movement characterized by organic body patterns, deliberate falls into the floor, and improvisatory scores – ideas later relayed to the United States by American dancer, educator, and modern dance pioneer, Isadora Duncan by 1914. By the 1930's Katherine Dunham, an African American anthropologist, ethnologue, dancer, and choreographer (among many other roles) revolutionized the form by rooting modern dance in Black culture and folk dance through her anthropological studies in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Haiti. Bolstered by the work of Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Pearl Primus, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Pina Bausch, and so many others, modern dance has since evolved to encompass a multiplicity of techniques not limited to any specific vocabulary. From Horton and Graham Techniques – which explore linearity and contractions with an emphasis on flat backs, lateral extensions, tilts, and lunges – to more somatic-centered practices based on concepts of release, imagery, strength, and emotional embodiment, modern dance can encompass a wide variety of aesthetics ranging from its even broader history in european and afro-diasporan movement.
Jazz One through Six | 7+ yrs | Ray Leeper once said that jazz dance requires three main skills of the dancer: precision of body placement, muscular resistance and stretch (strong lines), and personality/pizazz. Jazz classes at eXit SPACE honor this multifaceted nature of jazz dance through an emphasis on individuality, technique, and a variety of stylistic frameworks. Aesthetically, Jazz can range from vernacular styles such as the Charleston and Jitterbug, to lyrical, commercial, and Broadway forms that many will recognize from contemporary pop culture; classes at eXit SPACE are primarily informed by Euro-influenced forms of lyrical, commercial, and Broadway style jazz, depending on the instructor. Classes begin with a comprehensive warm-up focusing on strength-building, flexibility, isolation, extension, and rhythm accompanied by a wide range of popular music selections from pop to Broadway. Rooted into the ground through use of deep plié, jazz emphasizes strong footwork and confident gross motor movement, allowing students at eXit SPACE develop strength and precision through challenging leaps, turns, and progressions before ending class with a longer combination that incorporates a wide range of artistic concepts.
A brief history: Jazz can be traced back to seventeenth century African dance rituals characterized by polyrhythm, improvisation, and isolation. Vernacular jazz was formally developed by Black Americans in the early 20th century alongside the evolution of Jazz music as an embodiment of Black culture and liberation. Vernacular or authentic jazz refers to such forms as the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and the Twist which were subsequently copied by white audiences as popularity increased. Jazz became concert dance when Black choreographer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) brought works of performance ethnography to proscenium stages, having infused Carribean dance and African Diasporan traditions into her modern-based works, giving way to a new era of popular performance. Subsequent artists adapted, appropriated, and reimagined jazz, which has now branched off to include Lyrical jazz as well as commercial and Broadway jazz forms (informed by burlesque, vaudeville, and musical theater) now seen most commonly on stage and TV. Eugene Louis Faccuito (Luigi), Gus Giordano, and Matt Mattox furthered the evolution of the style in the mid to late 1900's and are training the next generation of teachers to this day.
A brief history: Jazz can be traced back to seventeenth century African dance rituals characterized by polyrhythm, improvisation, and isolation. Vernacular jazz was formally developed by Black Americans in the early 20th century alongside the evolution of Jazz music as an embodiment of Black culture and liberation. Vernacular or authentic jazz refers to such forms as the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and the Twist which were subsequently copied by white audiences as popularity increased. Jazz became concert dance when Black choreographer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) brought works of performance ethnography to proscenium stages, having infused Carribean dance and African Diasporan traditions into her modern-based works, giving way to a new era of popular performance. Subsequent artists adapted, appropriated, and reimagined jazz, which has now branched off to include Lyrical jazz as well as commercial and Broadway jazz forms (informed by burlesque, vaudeville, and musical theater) now seen most commonly on stage and TV. Eugene Louis Faccuito (Luigi), Gus Giordano, and Matt Mattox furthered the evolution of the style in the mid to late 1900's and are training the next generation of teachers to this day.
Ballet One through Six | 7+ yrs | Emphasis in Ballet classes at eXit SPACE is on dynamic alignment, strength development, body awareness, artistic expression, and quality of movement, taught in styles ranging from purely classical to more contemporary with a frequent mix of methodologies. Every class includes a comprehensive barre (depending on level and readiness, classes may practice barre skills at center), center practice (preparing students for turns, balances, extensions, and jumps), and across the floor, allowing students to develop strong technical skills while exploring their individuality as artists. eXit SPACE is proud to be one of a growing number of dance education facilities that incorporates dance history into its curriculum and stands on the firm notion that ballet is for everybody and every body – ballet educators at eXit SPACE seek to elevate individual artistic voices, decenter the historic whiteness in ballet, and create spaces where dancers feel respected, safe, and honored in their dancing bodies.
A brief history: The roots of Ballet date back to European ethnic/folk dances copied by the Italian court during the Renaissance for aristocratic entertainment. An Italian social dance with choreographic elements, "balleto" or ballet, made its way to France in the 16th century where dancing masters instructed children and choreographed increasingly elaborate performances with sets, costumes and story elements. In the 17th century court, King Louis XIV emerged as a figurehead of ballet's codification, establishing the Royal Academy of Dance where Pierre Beauchamp established the five traditional rotated positions. Russia, subsequently, played a major role in Ballet's further development and Russian dancers are often credited with "perfecting" the technique. Through the Baroque Period and into the Romantic Era and beyond, Ballet gained six codified teaching styles which are often adapted and/or mixed for ballet classes around the world (the Vaganova, Cecchetti Method, and RAD methods being the most common).
A brief history: The roots of Ballet date back to European ethnic/folk dances copied by the Italian court during the Renaissance for aristocratic entertainment. An Italian social dance with choreographic elements, "balleto" or ballet, made its way to France in the 16th century where dancing masters instructed children and choreographed increasingly elaborate performances with sets, costumes and story elements. In the 17th century court, King Louis XIV emerged as a figurehead of ballet's codification, establishing the Royal Academy of Dance where Pierre Beauchamp established the five traditional rotated positions. Russia, subsequently, played a major role in Ballet's further development and Russian dancers are often credited with "perfecting" the technique. Through the Baroque Period and into the Romantic Era and beyond, Ballet gained six codified teaching styles which are often adapted and/or mixed for ballet classes around the world (the Vaganova, Cecchetti Method, and RAD methods being the most common).
Pointe | Ballet Level 4+ Elective | Pointe class is an option for YDP students in Ballet Four and above who have teacher permission to enroll. Each hour-long class is divided into two parts: strengthening and variation work. All students work with resistance bands and/or at the barre on exercises to improve ankle, calf, adductor, and rotator strength before progressing to exercises at center and across the floor. On a basis of strength, safety, level, and overall readiness, students in this class may be asked to remain in flat technique shoes, get divided into groups, or receive individual instructions about how to proceed throughout class.
Please do not purchase pointe shoes or enroll in this class until receiving permission from the instructor.
Please do not purchase pointe shoes or enroll in this class until receiving permission from the instructor.
Hip Hop One through FOUR | 7+ yrs | At eXit SPACE, YDP families can expect teachers to be well-versed in the history of hip hop dance while providing a comprehensive, structured class. All hip hop classes at eXit SPACE begin with an aerobic warm up to practice basic steps and isolations with clear dynamics, all the while building the necessary strength and flexibility for full-bodied movement. After warmup and skill building, the majority of hip hop classes are spent learning choreography, allowing dancers to engage in an in-depth study on locomotor steps while advancing coordination, musicality, and self-expression. Many instructors take early hip hop styles and steps, integrating them into combinations that represent hip hop in its current state, while also emphasizing individuality, rhythm, theatricality and the roots of hip hop as an improvisational, cypher-based form.
A brief history: Hip hop dance emerged in the late 1960's out of the South Bronx, an economically depressed neighborhood in New York City composed primarily of Black and Latinx families. As a way to connect with one another and distract from racial oppression and poverty, youth in the South Bronx (and later Brooklyn and Harlem) channelled their fear and anger into a new culture of movement and expression, often using vacant lots and abandoned buildings for house parties where the co-mingling of rapping, DJing, B-boying, and graffiti emerged as the pillars of hip hop culture. DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant and the "father of hip hop music" invented the break beat, a looped musical interlude meant for dancers (b-boys and b-girls) to show off their respective talents; this invention and Herc's musical/rhythmic contributions of the time made way for a new style of modern movement. Between east coast and west coast dancers, uprock, breaking, locking, roboting, freestyling, and popping styles began to make waves and – in combination with James Brown's music, the formation of dance crews, and Don Cornelius' creation of the television show Soul Train – Hip Hop dance has since made its way from the streets into the studios.
A brief history: Hip hop dance emerged in the late 1960's out of the South Bronx, an economically depressed neighborhood in New York City composed primarily of Black and Latinx families. As a way to connect with one another and distract from racial oppression and poverty, youth in the South Bronx (and later Brooklyn and Harlem) channelled their fear and anger into a new culture of movement and expression, often using vacant lots and abandoned buildings for house parties where the co-mingling of rapping, DJing, B-boying, and graffiti emerged as the pillars of hip hop culture. DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant and the "father of hip hop music" invented the break beat, a looped musical interlude meant for dancers (b-boys and b-girls) to show off their respective talents; this invention and Herc's musical/rhythmic contributions of the time made way for a new style of modern movement. Between east coast and west coast dancers, uprock, breaking, locking, roboting, freestyling, and popping styles began to make waves and – in combination with James Brown's music, the formation of dance crews, and Don Cornelius' creation of the television show Soul Train – Hip Hop dance has since made its way from the streets into the studios.
Studio Rentals
We have three locations and five studios to choose from. Each studio is equipped with a full wall of mirrors, wifi, sound system, and ballet barres.
Details for each studio and location are listed below. Email rentals@exitspacedance.com for more information or to set up a rental.
Details for each studio and location are listed below. Email rentals@exitspacedance.com for more information or to set up a rental.
Tyra Rose (she/her), originally from Des Plaines IL, moved to Seattle in 2017 in pursuit of building on her dance performance, education and choreography experience. She graduated magna cum laude with honors in 2016 from Webster University with a BFA in dance. Tyra studied ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, aerial and Thai classical in school and furthered her artistic interests with painting and other art forms. Her multimedia explorations culminated in an evening length performance collaborating with Corbin Hall and produced through ANNONYArts in St. Louis, MO. Tyra presented her own work in St. Louis at the Spring to Dance Festival and Artica Fest, in Seattle with RAW Artists and the Full Tilt Dance Festival. She is grateful for the performance opportunities she’s had here, notably with Catapult Dance (Michele Miller), AJnC Dance Theater (Amy J. Lambert), Gender Tender (Fox Whitney) and The Three Yells (Veronica Lee-Baik). Besides creating, performing, and teaching, Tyra spends most of her free time with her two dogs going on long walks.