Elisa Clark is an award winning artist, educator, and administrator from the Washington, DC area, who trained at the Maryland Youth Ballet, before receiving a BFA from The Juilliard School, under Benjamin Harkarvy. Ms. Clark was a founding member of Robert Battle’s Battleworks Dance Company, where she also served as Company Manager. Additionally, she was a featured member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and Mark Morris Dance Group, and performed with Nederlands Dans Theater and The Metropolitan Opera, in works by Jirí Kylián, and Crystal Pite, respectively. Her extensive performing career has also included appearances in the Off-Broadway production of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, and as an actor in several Samuel Beckett plays, directed by Mark Morris for Northern Ireland’s Happy Days Festival. As an educator and mentor, she has held residencies and faculty positions at the Ailey School/Fordham University, Alabama School of Fine Arts, American Dance Festival, Brown University, George Mason University, Indiana University, Jacob’s Pillow, Marymount Manhattan College, MOVE NYC, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, New World School of the Arts, Princeton University and is currently on faculty at the University of the Arts and is also a Gibney teaching artist at Bard College this semester. Furthermore, she has taught company class for AAADT, MMDG and Ballet Hispanico. As a repetiteur and rehearsal director, Ms. Clark frequently restages the works of Mr. Battle and Mr. Morris and serves as Mr. Battle’s artistic assistant for new and existing dances. Ms. Clark is a Princess Grace Award Winner and a certified Life Coach, often leading seminars, empowering artists to navigate their respective field. She has also been touring alongside Monica Bill Barnes, with Monica Bill Barnes & Company in Happy Hour since 2019.
Ballet
With a focus on anatomical alignment and finding space within the body, this class will follow the traditional structure of a classical ballet class. Beginning slowly at the barre, we will cultivate presence and awareness, while getting warmed up. Center exercises will emphasize organic ways of moving through space, all while deepening our understanding of rhythm and musicality. This will be an intermediate/advanced level class, although all are welcome to join!