Hello friends of the AAMC! We want you know we care about your health- the AAMC continues to be committed to following all state mandated COVID-19 guidelines for our sector (which falls under the gym category). Please note that Clatsop County is currently n the state's 'Lower Risk' category which means that certain classes can occur with limited capacity.
To see what classes are in session please visit our schedule page and for more info on state guidelines please visit: Coronavirus.oregon.gov : Building a Safe & Strong Oregon : Living with COVID-19 : State of Oregon
We are incredibly proud of our community for continuing to take good care of one another and we appreciate all of your efforts, donations, kind words and support. In health, solidarity, celebration and dance,
Jessamyn, AAMC Executive Director
It was 100 years ago on August 18, 1920 that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was finally ratified, enfranchising all American women and declaring for the first time that they, like men, deserve all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. It took activists and reformers nearly 100 years to win that right, a right that made it possible for women like me to stand up for what I believe in today. And so we honor all of those that fought for and believe in this mission, in the importance of women and their contributions throughout history making this country what it is today. In celebration of women’s heritage and the 100-year anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement, we are elated to announce that Benjamin Moore and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have chosen the Astoria Odd Fellows building as one of two sites in the country to donate paint that will transform the entire exterior of this 1923 community building. We are proud to celebrate this revolutionary achievement with these esteemed partners and are incredibly grateful that they recognize the importance of female owned and operated buildings.
We know the fight continues and we thank all who continue to recognize the birthright of every woman- the right to equality, to be free and to be ourselves.
The AAMC stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement demanding social justice across the nation and across the world. We want you to now, more than ever, hold the strength, sincerity, commitment and bravery that positive change demands.
Racism is damaging to the Soul at every layer of societal stratigraphy. It runs deeply throughout the performing arts and it threatens our mission, creativity, unity, integrity, authenticity and our lives. It corrodes our communities, denies people their birthright to be themselves, and undermines the inclusivity we strive for as an organization. I ask you today and always to see this as an opportunity to come together, to be kinder, and to listen with more openness, curiosity, understanding and vulnerability. I ask you today and always to support and celebrate Black self-expression in all its forms. I ask you today and always to have the courage to rise together- for, in the words of Ibram X. Kendi,: “We have to be courageous to be antiracist. Courage is the strength to do what is right in the face of fear…”
We can do this and we can do it together. We have to.
- Jessamyn Grace West, Executive Director
Pictured: Nancy, Jessamyn and Andrea - AAMC staff/board members & stewards of the Odd Fellows Building
Funding has been provided to the AAMC from Oregon Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.
*Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this {article, book, exhibition, film, program, database, report, Web resource}, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Funding has been provided to the AAMC from the Oregon Community Recovery Grant of Oregon Community Foundation.
To learn more about Oregon Community Foundation and how to support its mission please visit https://oregoncf.org/
A heartfelt thank-you to the Oregon Legislature, the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Clatsop County Cultural Coalition for Coronavirus Relief Fund Cultural Support funding.
Help us keep our organizations alive by supporting the Oregon Cultural Tax Credit!
Thank-you to the beloved Oregon Arts Commission for supporting the AAMC for the last several years and "enhancing the quality of life for all Oregonians through the arts by stimulating creativity, leadership and economic vitality".
The AAMC is incredibly grateful to the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation for their continued support of classroom education as well as the performing, visual, and literary arts throughout Oregon.
Your support secured a 150k National Trust for Historic Preservation grant for the Odd Fellows building! Thank-you so much, we love you!!!
Head over to our instructor page to find out more about our newest instructor, Sarah Cohen from Sparrow Dance Company!
Tuesdays 7:00-8:00pm Adult intermediate/advanced ballet taught by Sparrow Dance company member Sarah Cohen or Julia Gingerich. Registration required- please contact Sarah for more info: sarahcohen211@gmail.com 503-432-9940
Masks are required upon arrival and during class. Temperatures will be taken before classes begin.
Classes are taught in courses, Course 1: Yoga for Posture Improvement will begin in March, Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 to 11:15am
Please bring all of your own yoga props (such as a mat, block, strap)- chairs are provided. Classes will be limited to a maximum of 7 students, masks must be worn and students must sign up with Terrie in advance; no drop-ins
Gentle Yoga classes are designed to maintain and build essential mobility, balance and foundational strength while honoring a variety of bodies. Gentle Yoga is slower paced and focuses on safe alignment, using props if needed to adapt the pose to your unique self. The practice is ideal for seniors, yogis returning to practice after an injury or illness, new yogis with fitness concerns or anyone interested in a softer touch in their yoga practice. The class is not aerobic and while you might breathe hard, you most likely will not work up a sweat. It is required for this class that you are able to get up and down from the floor. Please call, text or email me with questions or specific concerns. If you have an ongoing health issue please consult your doctor before attending.
Questions? Contact Terrie at trrbaypowers@gmail.com or
503-298-0056
Thursdays 7:00pm-8:00pm Adult/young adult intermediate/advanced modern
Attention: 24 hr Registration before classes is necessary. Masks are required upon arrival and during class. Temperatures will be taken before classes begin. For registration please text or call 503-502-3118, or email sparrowdancecompany@gmail.com
Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary Modern
$8 per class
Questions? Contact Julia at 503-502-3118 or sparrowdancecompany@gmail.com
Classes with Kim in session!
- Mondays from 9:30 - 10:30am
- Wednesdays from 8:30 - 9:30am
Classes on hold until April while Erin is on Maternity Leave <3 We wish her and her family all the best!
Class start dates coming soon
6pm to 7:15pm, Belly Dance Basics: This is where you'll want to start- we'll focus on technique, accents, drills, layering, safe posture, rhythms, core strengthening,, and movements such as turns, traveling steps, shimmies, undulations, taxims, omis and more. This class will also include basic work with veils, Zills and sword technique. $10 drop-in fee (5 class punch cards for $40 also offered)
7:15pm to 8pm, Belly Dance Choreography: This is where you get to put all of those moves together- we'll learn a new routine on a quarterly basis. Dedicated attendance and Belly Dance Basics required, opportunities to perform will present themselves but performing is, optional. Class fee is a donation.
All genders, ages and levels are welcome in both classes. Coin belts, Zills, music and veils provided. No registration required- just come in comfortable clothing and with an open heart! Questions? Contact Jessamyn at info@astoriaartsandmovement.com or 503-791-5657 www.jessamyngrace.com
"From the earliest moments of known human history, dance accompanied ancient rituals, spiritual gatherings and social events. As a conduit of trance, spiritual force, pleasure, expression, performance and interaction, dance became infused into our nature from the earliest moments of our existence - from the moment when first African tribes covered themselves in war-paint to the to the spreading of music and dance across all four corners of the world. Without a doubt, dancing remains one of the most expressive forms of communications that we know."*
Dancing to relieve stress is a healthy alternative to drinking, smoking or comfort eating. Some people call it "high powered meditation" or trance. Whatever you call it, it's a great way to free the tension in your body, mind, & spirit while surrounded by loving, supportive community. Using movement for healing broadens our windows of tolerance, presence, patience, and emotional intelligence.
Join us for this once monthly (if it goes well, there could be more!) Sunday morning sweat. We will begin with a light vinyasa yoga warm-up (optional) and flow naturally into free-form movement & dance. This is a space of non-judgement to assist you in letting go of shame, fear, and judgement about yourself and others. Dance skills not required! Just let the music move your body in any way it wants to move. Allow yourself release from the structures and stories that bind. Bend your own rules and unstick your old patterns. Get out of the box the world puts you in. Cultivate bliss and renewal while shaking your booty in community with fellow conscious dancers!
What's ok:
- Movement of any kind (you wanna jump up and down and wave your arms like a lunatic? - this is your place.)
- Emotions (cry, laugh, frown - it's all ok here.)
- Consent (Do Not touch another human w/ out it or you will be thrown out. No exceptions.)
- Acceptance, understanding, kindness, & sweating.
- Resting when your body needs it.
- Staying hydrated.
What's not ok:
- Invading others space or touching w/out consent.
- Alcohol or drugs of any kind.
- Judgement.
- Talking on the dance floor (Wanna talk? Go outside please.)
- Shoes (No shoes that can be or are worn on the street can be worn on the dance floor.)
- Phones
- Photos
- Heavy perfumes
Start date coming soon . When in session, dances are the Last Sunday of the month, $10 at the door. (2nd Sunday of the month class added starting in April) Recommended to wear loose fitting, free-flowing, light clothing you can sweat in. Typically these events are not geared toward kids. That said, they are welcome if they are mature enough to dance unattended and follow the rules above. Here's a great article about general etiquette that may be helpful if you've never attended an event like this:
http://www.dolphindancing.com/etiquette-freestyle-ecstatic-dance-jam-da
* taken from: http://www.dancefacts.net/dance-history/history-of-dance/
https://www.facebook.com/events/782428382214688/ Questions? Contact Shanna at justbevibration@gmail.com Hope to see you on the floor!!
Class start date coming soon
Classes are offered the third Friday of each month from 7:00 to 8:15pm
Dreams and dancing are for everyone, available to us all no matter who we are! YOU have the wisdom of the dream-maker & dancer inside of you for all of your life! What wants to move through you?
I hold space for, and facilitate, rather than instruct. I create a playlist in wave-pattern, beginning slow, reaching chaotic and then softly landing, patterned after Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms.
Roth describes the effects of ecstatic dance as a feeling of connectedness with others and with the dancer's own emotions. Ecstatic dance can serve as a meditation, a way of coping with stress, restoring serenity and serving as a spiritual practice. Specific emotions associated with the five different rhythms of ecstatic dance include: flowing rhythm connecting the dancer with their own fear, the staccato rhythm with anger, chaos with sadness, lyrical with joy, and stillness with compassion.
Classes are open to all ages, genders, and levels of experience. Come alone or with a friend, wear comfortable clothes and bring an exploratory openness to creative movement.
No registration, drop-in with a $10 suggested donation.
https://www.facebook.com/events/347363569548848/
Questions? Contact Kim at kimbojets@hotmail.com, or 503-791- 6087 www.kimberlylane.xyz
Class start dates coming soon
Every Tuesday:
6:00 - 7:00pm Beginner West Coast Swing (Level 1)
In this class you will learn the 10 Basic patterns that establish the foundation for the dance. Each week we will review the prior week’s patterns and add new patterns so you can progressively learn the basics. $60 prepaid fee (register & pay first night of class)
7:00 - 8:00pm Intermediate West Coast Swing (Level 2)
This class is designed for Intermediate dancers who have completed and are able to dance the 10 basic patterns taught in Level 1. During this 6 week series you will learn variations on the Level 1 Patterns that will take your dance to a new level. During this series we will also focus on technique and styling. $60 prepaid fee (register & pay first night of class). Level 2 dancers are encouraged to participate in Level 1 for practice and enhancement of basic dance skills. and technique.
8:00 - 9:00pm Cha-Cha & Rumba
Learn the basics of Cha-Cha February 18th- March 3rd followed by the basics of Rumba March 10th - 24th
All genders and ages are welcome. Be sure to wear Dance Shoes or Shoes with Leather Soles and comfortable clothing. Partners are not required, but recommended if possible. There will be rotation in class to enhance your learning and ensure everyone will dance.
FMI info contact Rich at 503-739-5995 or richiesmall@msn.com
Class start date coming soon
Thursdays from 5:30- 6:30 p.m.
Improvisational Tribal Style (ITS) belly dance is a combination-based form of fusion belly dance. It relies on shared vocabulary of movements with cues for communication. The group of dancers take turns leading with the cues to create unrehearsed impromptu dances to any music.
$10 suggested donation- no registration required. Wear comfortable clothes
Questions? Contact Julie at 406-598-2378 or juliehrubes@hotmail.com
Class start date coming soon
Mondays 7:00-8:00pm
The first half of class will be a beginning class (for all levels) designed to introduce those that have not tapped and to strengthen technique with those with tap knowledge. The second half is for intermediate students and those that want to push themselves in the beginning level. We will focus on larger tap combinations and choreography while improving technique. Tap is one of my favorite styles of dance to teach and I look forward to the fun we will have through this class!
$5 for 1/2 of class, $10 for the whole hour.
Questions? Contact Marco at 541-654-2412 or marcogerarddavis@gmail.com
Contra Dance start date coming soon
The 1st Friday of the Month Contra Dances feature live music by a cadre of local musicians playing with Dave Ambrose as dance caller. The dance will start at 7PM with a beginner's lesson and run until 10PM. All ages are welcome. Bringing along a dance partner is not necessary as contra dancers are encouraged to dance with as many new partners as they are comfortable with. Entrance fee is a sliding scale $5-$10. And of course, you can give more to support the musicians, caller, & the beautiful dance hall. Come join the fun!
Questions? Contact Dave at 503-741-8412 or dpwamb@charter.net
https://www.facebook.com/events/456632998211585/
Join the Columbia Country Dance Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1271461922875329
CLASSES CANCELLED
Contact Improv warm-ups are held before Dance Church the last Sunday of each month from 10:00 to 10:30am.
Contact Improvisation is a partner dance form based on the physical principles of touch, momentum, shared weight, and most quintessentially - following a shared point of contact. This dance practice explores the skills of falling, rolling, counterbalance, lifting using minimal effort, how to make ourselves light when being lifted, centering and breathing techniques, and responsiveness to our partners and surroundings. All levels welcome! Wear soft comfortable clothing and bringing water is recommended. $5 to $10 sliding scale.
Questions? Contact Zachar at (775) 790-5245 or Zgivesgoodhugs@gmail.com