Denise LaPointe

A Rhode Island native, Denise started her training at Philadelphia College for the Performing Arts studying with Pat Thomas and Andrew Papp going on to the Alvin Ailey Dance Center where she was taught by Penny Frank, Michael Vernon and Jose Meir. She has danced in two European tours and the Gateway Theater's (Bellport, Long Island) production of West Side Story. Her professional dance credits also include a regional production of A chorus Line, Joan Miller's Dance Players at Lehman College, Bronx, NY and she danced in and choreographed the dance sequence in Ito's period, Japanese film The Setting Sun. She has been teaching at Steps for four years and has also taught jazz at the Danze Akadamie in Uppsala, Sweden. JAZZ BEG INT ADV A thorough warm-up incorporating Lester Horton technique and strong emphasis on classical ballet placement and correct alignment starts Denise's class. The combination following the warm-up could be in one of a variety of jazz styles: musical theater, funk or lyrical. Time is allowed during the combination section of class for concentration to line and musicality, allowing the combination to assume a finished, polished look. The class' atmosphere and music ranges from high energy funk through to a contemplative, verging on spiritual, state. FLOOR-BARRE TECHNIQUE® The Zena Rommett Floor-Barre Technique (TM) incorporates innovative dance movement with anatomical principles of alignment and kinetic usage in a pure technique of solid placement. Years of training can be accelerated in a brief period of study. With this unique and patented technique sequence, which works without the pull of gravity, correct alignment and movement become part of the dancer's muscular memory. The muscular structure is corrected, lengthened and strengthened. Working internally and centered, tension is released developing maximum turn-out and extension. Copyright - Zena Rommett Dance Association Ltd.