Hundreds of smiling faces congregated on Sunday, December 29 at ODC Dance Commons to celebrate Rhythm & Motion's 40th Anniversary. Our community of students and teachers past and present enjoyed 8 free classes, delicious nibbles, a gallery filled with R&M photos, videos and memorabilia, and an open forum with founder Consuelo Faust. Thank you for being a part of our community. We couldn't do it without you.
Relive the day (or feel like you were there!) by visiting the 40th Anniversary page on our website to view a letter from Consuelo, pictures, videos, playlists from the All Star classes and MORE.
Join us for our Rhythm & Motion's 40th Celebration!
This year marks Rhythm & Motion's 40th Anniversary, and we would love to celebrate with you! YOU are Rhythm & Motion, YOU help make R&M special, and we want YOU there!
New Rhythm & Motion pop-up classes
Know anyone looking for something like Rhythm & Motion in the Sacramento area? Want to experience a new R&M class format in the Bernal Heights neighborhood in San Francisco? Spread the word and check out these upcoming pop-up classes!
Join Dudley Flores for two free R&M classes at Sacramento Ballet's open house on Saturday 11/9. (Make sure to share with any Sacramento area friends!)
Catch Nancy Rubin teaching R&M Fundamentals class at Bernal Yoga, Fridays at 6:15pm 11/8, 11/15, 12/13 and 12/20.
Photo by Keith Sutter
Save the dates and October Newsletter
This year marks Rhythm & Motion's 40th Anniversary, and we would love to celebrate with you! YOU are Rhythm & Motion, YOU help make R&M special, and we want YOU there!
Please save the dates:
December 14 - early evening happy hour and dance party
December 29 - the big celebration (you don't want to miss it!)
Both events will take place in San Francisco. More information to come!
Learn about other events, classes, performances and more in our October Newsletter.
Job Opportunity
Rhythm & Motion is a thriving and well-established organization, committed to sharing the joy of dance with all. Do you (or someone you know) see yourself promoting our mission and flourishing within our company? We are hiring a Business Operations Manager to work in our home office at ODC.
Position: Business Operations Manager, Rhythm & Motion, Inc.
Location: San Francisco, California
Responsibilities: Financial management of a dance workout company based in San Francisco, with programs in Berkeley, Santa Cruz, and Richmond, Virginia.
Learn more.
Dance onstage with Rhythm & Motion!
photo by: Dudley Flores
Celebrate Rhythm & Motion's 40th anniversary by performing in Global Dance Passport!
Drawing on the joy, artistry and athleticism, of Rhythm & Motion choreography and movement vocabulary, we'll fuse elements of jazz, hip hop, contemporary, global and popular dance into an exciting and infectious presentation for the ODC Theater stage. Over the course of the workshop, R&M choreographers will set new choreography on the group and will go over technique and style for a variety of dance forms in a challenging, eye-opening, supportive and FUN rehearsal process.
Whether you've been taking Rhythm & Motion classes for the past 40 years or just stepped into the studio today, this workshop is your chance to shine on stage.
Sign up here.
New video tip, Spotify Playlist and more!
Stay balanced with our latest Video Tip
Enjoy the latest in our series of Video Tips for our students that spotlight useful dance techniques, safety advice, and quality of movement. Instructor Maggie Connard gives some helpful pointers for keeping your balance. Make sure to watch to the end for a bit of silliness, R&M style.
Read the rest of the September Newsletter for the latest teacher-curated Spotify playlist, teacher performances and more!
Farewell to Managing Director Leigh Lehman
After nearly five years, our Managing Director, Leigh Lehman will be leaving Rhythm & Motion to pursue other endeavors. It goes without saying that she has made a tremendous impact on R&M with her style of leadership, collaboration, masterful communication and care for our communities. Thank you, Leigh!
Read the heartfelt message from Leigh below:
After serving almost five years as Rhythm & Motion’s Managing Director, the time has come for me to move on to other professional adventures. My last regular day in the R&M office will be Friday, September 13, although I will be back for a spell to help ensure a smooth transition once someone new is hired. (Look for the job announcement coming soon.)
I want to thank each of you for your special part in helping to make Rhythm & Motion the singular, vibrant program that is it today. I’ve never been happier to be able to put my skills in arts administration towards such a great cause! In my role as Managing Director, I have had the tremendous honor of witnessing this community from the rather unique angle of both a student and a leader, up close and at large. I marvel at the unparalleled skill of our teachers, with their passion for dance and self-expression so palpable in every class. They make it look easy and effortless, but I can attest to the incredibly hard work they put in to create that magical, inviting atmosphere R&M is known for, one that engages not only the body but also the head and the heart, that mixes physical rigor with joyful delirium. I’ve gotten to witness their training and the ins and outs of their daily preparation, and still have no idea how they do it.
I’ve also have the opportunity in my role to regularly experience the larger R&M force field that is comprised of beautiful people like you. Whether you drop in sporadically or have been coming to class every single day for decades, together we are doing DEEP work. Every day when I come to work I see a thriving, growing, heartbeat of a community filled with vibrant, caring individuals invested in bettering the world and celebrating our shared humanity. You are makers and doers, educators and caretakers, activists and artists, and a million other things. And R&M is the well that you return to in order to fill your own tank with love and strength and optimism. Who knew that pliés really can lead to world peace!
I am humbled by Rhythm & Motion’s illustrious 40-year history, and am thankful for the opportunity I have had to contribute to its continued growth and stability. In just the past few years, we’ve trained many new teachers and have extended our reach to five new locations, with two more currently in the works. We’ve also grown our community outreach efforts, doubling the size of our Pride Parade contingent and forging an exciting new partnership with Life Academy high school in Oakland. Also, right now we are laying the groundwork to participate in an exciting multi-year research study on the healing power of dance at UBC in Vancouver. Things are popping!
Finally, before I sign off, I want to give a shout out to my partner in all things R&M, the inimitable Dudley Flores. His visionary thinking and limitless passion astound and inspire me daily. I am grateful for all he has taught me, and am thankful that I’ll get to continue learning from him (and from ALL of the R&M faculty) in the studio long after my work in the office wraps up.
Yours in dance,
Leigh
Dance with R&M in the Solano Stroll Parade on Sunday September 8
Rhythm & Motion and Berkeley Ballet Theater are excited to once again share the joy of dance in the East Bay's largest street festival, the Solano Avenue Stroll. We will dance three R&M routines down the mile-long parade route the morning of Sunday, September 8. The contingent will be led by instructor Rena Marie Guidry.
Join us for two* free rehearsals at Berkeley Ballet Theater:
Tues, August 27 6:30-8pm
Sat, Sept 7 9:30-11am
*To ensure that we are adequately prepared, please note that attendance to at least one rehearsal is required to participate in the parade.
If you are interested in participating, please email Rena. We hope to dance with you soon!
August News and events
R&M teacher trainees (Leigh, Afia, Twyla, Emily, Jillian, Leila, Yayoi and Clarissa)
New teachers coming your way!
The afternoon of Sunday, July 21 was full of sweat, laughter and good vibes as a room full of exuberant dancers auditioned for the Rhythm & Motion teacher training program.
In the words of R&M Artistic Director Dudley Flores, "The panel of teachers and I were so moved by the energy, enthusiasm and diversity of experience in the room - from dancing with each other and cheering each other on, to the shoulder rubs and sweaty hugs - it was one of our favorite auditions to date."
Out of thirty applicants, eight have begun the training process with our program. We have high hopes that many (or all!) will graduate and go on to provide the excellent standard of teaching that our students enjoy.
Look for friendly new faces dropping in to guest teach in R&M classes at ODC Dance Commons, Alonzo King LINES Dance Center and Berkeley Ballet Theater. Make sure to give them lots of love and support!
Read the rest of the August Newsletter for information about R&M’s participation in the Solano Stroll In Berkeley, a new Spotify playlist and more!
R&M featured on 7x7.com
Rhythm & Motion would like to thank 7x7 for the mention of our classes at ODC in its recent article on unique workouts in San Francisco. They write: "Get groovy at one of Rhythm & Motion's Dance Workout classes, held at ODC's sleek, high-ceilinged studios. You'll jump right in to the choreography, perfect for beginners and experienced dancers alike, during the signature Fusion class, which blends pop hits with global music and dance styles for a high-energy, fast-paced, joyous workout. Additionally, Rhythm & Motion offers a Modern class which utilizes contemporary choreography, and an Essentials class where you'll delve deeper in to the steps and choreography."
Join us for the 41st annual Ethnic Dance Festival
Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, photo by RJ Muna
R&M outing to SF Ethnic Dance Festival
Sunday, July 14 at 3 pm
Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley
Post-performance R&M happy hour held at Beta Lounge (2129 Durant Avenue)
Buy tickets
Don't miss the Bay Area's greatest world dance and music event of the year and what the SF Chronicle describes as "a block party of humanity... heart opening." Join us for an extra special afternoon on Sunday, July 14 as the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival hosts its 41st season at the prestigious Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. We've reserved a block of premium center orchestra seats just for our Rhythm & Motion tribe, their families and guests at a discounted price. Let's gather together to celebrate many of the world music and dance forms that inspire our Rhythm & Motion classes every day!
Seeking New Teachers
Rhythm & Motion is seeking energetic dancers and dance teachers interested in promoting dance, in its many forms, in a fun and welcoming dance workout class environment.
Auditions for the R&M Instructor Training Program are July 21st! More info
Join us for Pride, the SF Ethnic Dance Festival, or both!
Life Academy students with R&M instructor Dudley Flores
Sharing the joy of dance with local high school students
Last month, Rhythm & Motion and Oakland's Life Academy of Health and Bioscience joined together to explore dance in many of its forms with a group of high school students. The students enjoyed taking two dance classes a day in many different styles including: West African Guinean, Hip Hop, Jazz, Dunham Technique, Latin dance, and or course, our own Rhythm & Motion classes. They also did research and participated in lectures and discussions relating to dance in different cultures, as activism, its role in popular culture and more. We were especially excited to hear some of the students' feedback at the end of the intensive, two-week course:
"I really like dancing. It reminds me that I'm allowed to enjoy life and there's a sense of freedom that comes with it as well."
"I now have an open mind when it comes to dance from other places in the world..."
"...dance used to be my passion, this opportunity motivated me to go back to dance."
"I can teach my mom and we can both work out like that."
Immense gratitude goes out to R&Mer Emily Frank and her co-coordinator, Hillary Walker, for partnering with us to bring their students an incredible opportunity to discover dance as a vital form of self-expression, exercise, art and culture.
Read the rest of our June Newsletter.
Sign up for Pride, plus R&M in PDX
Dance with Pride registration now OPEN
Get excited... it's almost time for Pride! This year's San Francisco Pride Parade is on Sunday, June 30, and you are cordially invited to participate. Come be a part of our award-winning "Dance with Pride" contingent, which has wowed the crowd year after year. We look forward to expressing this year's theme, "Generations of Resistance," the best way we know how...through music and movement!
No dance experience necessary. Just an open attitude, a willingness to learn the choreography and share the love. Don't want to dance but still wish to join us? Come volunteer! What are you waiting for?!? Learn more or register now. Early bird pricing until May 31!
R&M in Portland!
Did you know the amazing Katie Clay now lives in Portland and is teaching Rhythm and Motion classes through the end of May? Come dance with her Sundays from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Steps PDX. Tell all your Portland area friends!
Read the rest of our May Newsletter.