Jazz Dance Fusion with Kyle Garrison Shawell

Dive into the dynamic world of Jazz Dance Fusion, where the timeless elegance of jazz meets the vibrant energy of contemporary styles!

This class is designed for dancers of all levels and offers a unique blend of traditional jazz techniques and modern dance forms. Participants will explore the fundamentals of jazz dance, including sharp, fluid movements, intricate footwork, and expressive choreography while integrating elements of jazz dance past and present.

Whether you're seeking to refine your skills or explore something new, Jazz Dance Fusion is the perfect platform to groove, learn, and evolve.

With generous support from the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation

Kyle Garrison Shawell specializes in choreography, performance, and dance education. With a twenty-year tenure on the Charlotte Ballet faculty, Shawell taught jazz dance at all levels. He currently teaches Jazz and the Lester Horton technique at Open Door Studios, enriching students with his diverse movement style.

Shawell's choreographic work spans jazz, musical theatre, contemporary dance, and Horton-based modern, with notable productions including Once on This Island, The Wiz: The Golden Road, and Annie at Children's Theater of Charlotte. He is also a dedicated educator and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Dance Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Recently recognized as an A+ Fellow for North Carolina Schools/North Carolina Arts Council, Kyle continues to lead and inspire in the dance community.

Learn more about Shawell's dance company, The Garrison Experience, at thegarrisonexperience.com.

LaTanya Johnson’s rhythmic journey blends the art of movement and storytelling through voice, theater, and visual arts.

Johnson choreographed and provided movement coaching for many productions including, A Raisin in the Sun, Seven Guitars, Ain't Misbehavin’, The Bluest Eye, For the Love of Harlem, A Soldier's Play, and The Piano Lesson. She has worked with Theatre Charlotte, On Q Productions, Free Reign Theater Company, and Brand New Sheriff (BNS) Productions. In 2016, Johnson curated a dance series in celebration of the Gantt Center’s 40th Anniversary, entitled "Catch the Dance".

Johnson’s conservatory training includes Philadanco (Philadelphia Dance Company), Historical New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, and Urban Bush Women Summer Leadership Institute, to name a few. She is the founder and artistic director of the Sycamore Project, a Charlotte-based “artivist” initiative using the arts to advocate and promote social and environmental justice.