WELCOME TO BANDALOOP STUDIOS
BANDALOOP is proud to call West Oakland home, where our new 8,000 sq ft space serves our dancers, students and community. Here we incubate work, and offer year-round vertical dance workshops for learners of all ages, genders and movement backgrounds. We collaborate with local organizations, schools, and major corporations to expand our impact through innovative offerings including team-building experiences.
BANDALOOP creates access to our workshops for economically diverse communities, with work-study positions and scholarships granted throughout the year. While our art form requires the use of technical climbing equipment, adaptations are available for those with specific access needs.
FLY WITH BANDALOOP!
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All BANDALOOP registration is currently done through ClassBug. If you need registration system support you can contact ClassBug directly, support@classbug.com. Questions about BANDALOOP Education Programs and any feedback can be sent to workshop@bandaloop.org.
Registration typically closes 1 week (7 days) prior to the workshop. Later registration is available at staff discretion.
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Please do your best to be on time so you can fully participate in all activities.
Bring your own snacks, lunch & refillable water bottle.
Wear comfortable clothes to move in and layers that are weather dependent. BANDALOOP Studios are in a newly renovated studio warehouse - we have insulation, heaters and floor fans to help with temperature control but note that it will be warmer in the studio in the summer months and colder in the winter months.
Suggested Clothing:
· Bike unitards, Leotards, Spanx
· High waisted pants or shorts (we recommend longer shorts that end above or at the knee), or long shirt that can be tucked in
These items assist the harness to slide, rather than pull at your skin when rotations are made in the harness. Try to avoid having the harness contact bare skin. We encourage everyone to have their whole torso and legs above the knee fully covered to avoid harness rub on the skin.
· For students with external genitalia, we encourage undergarments that offer support and containment. Undergarments meant for compression are not recommended, as they may leave soft parts vulnerable to restriction from leg loops (this goes for outer layers as well). Something like a jock strap which offers support and containment, while keeping soft parts away from the legs is ideal. Each body and person is different, so come prepared with a couple different options of undergarments in case you find one is especially uncomfortable.
· Avoid wearing big/long jewelry to class. We will kindly request long hair be pulled back to avoid getting caught in a device.
HELPFUL TIP - Limit the amount of coffee or other acidic foods you take in right before your class/workshop as it could affect your stomach when we rotate or go upside down. We recommend substantial meals be eaten two or more hours prior to the start of class. Ginger is great to have if you get nauseous when upside down. Make sure to start hydrating at least 24 hours in advance of a workshop (it really helps!!!).
MEDIA:
We would love for you to share your experiences from this workshop. All media taken during class should be shared as "Workshop with BANDALOOP…”.
Suggested Tags: @bandaloop_edu @bandalooping
#bandaloopworkshop #danceonwalls #workshopwithBANDALOOP #bandalooping #verticaldance #bandaloopeducation
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Registration closes 1 week (7 days) prior to the workshop. Cancellations will be honored up to 2 weeks (14 days) in advance of workshop start date, refunded as class credit, minus a $25 administrative fee. After the 14 day window, partial refunds will be considered in the case of serious injury, illness, or personal emergency. In the event BANDALOOP needs to cancel a class or workshop due to extenuating circumstances, we will notify you with as much notice as possible and full refunds will be offered.
Class credits can be used towards any other BANDALOOP programming. Class credits do not expire and are not transferable.
When we teach outdoors, we work with the elements and weather. In the event BANDALOOP needs to cancel an outdoor class or workshop due to weather, we will notify you 24 hours in advance and refunds will be offered. We will teach in light rain and only cancel when severe smoke, weather or storms are a significant possibility. Please plan accordingly.
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WHAT IS MY HARNESS SIZE?
We use Metolius Waldo Harnesses for our education programming. We have the following harness sizes in our stock:
XXXS (waist 22”-24”)
XXS (waist 24”-26.5”)
XS (waist 26.5”-29”)
S (waist 29”-31.5”)
M (waist 31.5”-35”)
L (waist 35”-39”)
L/XL (waist 33”-42”) *this is a full-body harness
Some smaller youth sizes are also available.
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BANDALOOP Health, Safety and Accessibility Guidelines 2023
BANDALOOP is a learning organization that acknowledges its own fallibility. As such, we approach the work of anti-oppression and building equity with curiosity and humility. BANDALOOP works to be a more equitable organization with the understanding that harmful historical bias and oppression pervades the performing arts, a reflection of the larger system of false hierarchies of human value.
With an understanding that access needs are diverse and every disability is different, BANDALOOP Studios strives to create a safe(r) space for the justice, dignity and joy of persons living with disabilities. We are committed to transparency around access at BANDALOOP Studios. Below are our present and evolving Accessibility Guidelines.
For questions, requests and further accommodations, please email studio@bandaloop.org.
Wheelchair Access
Both Studios East and West, along with BANDALOOP Studios’ bathrooms are ADA Accessible. Our mezzanine is not ADA accessible at this time. To support our efforts to create more ADA access at BANDALOOP Studios, please check out The Anchor Fund.
Toilet Facilities
BANDALOOP Studios’ toilet facilities are ADA Accessible and gender neutral.
Access Services
BANDALOOP Studios employs the services and counsel of Gravity Access Services for access needs of community members with diverse sensory modalities and physicalities including live and recorded Audio Description services, pre-show Haptic Access Tours, ASL referral services, Site Visits, and Media Assessments.
For related inquiries please contact studio@bandaloop.org
Fragrance-Free Studios
Recognizing that some workshop attendees, employees and visitors may have sensitivities or allergic reactions to personal body odor and various natural or artificial fragrant products, we kindly ask all persons at BANDALOOP Studios to be cognizant of their body odor and scented personal products that they use or bring onto the premises such as cologne, perfume, oils, lotions and powders.
BANDALOOP Studios is a Smoke-Free Space.
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As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we are monitoring the recommended healthcare guidelines from government and public health officials. As the State of California and Alameda County announce guidelines for our industry we will continue to offer in-person classes that adhere to those guidelines. Masking is supported and not required for indoor activities at BANDALOOP Studios by employees, contractors, dancers, teachers, students, facilitators, riggers, safety personnel, and use of space licensees.
Masking will be further advised for all indoor activities by employees, contractors, dancers, teachers, students, facilitators, riggers, safety personnel, and use of space licensees, whenever illness, viral or bacterial, in the public arena, is being watched and/or alerts activated by public health officials in Alameda County, California.
Vaccination is encouraged for all students when possible
Vaccination is required for all employees of BANDALOOP.
If any participant is experiencing Covid/flu-like symptoms, they are required to stay home from BANDALOOP activities
Partial refunds will be considered in the case of serious injury, illness, or personal emergency. Refunds are determined on a case by case basis. Email workshop@bandaloop.org to request a refund.
In an effort to increase agency for persons at BANDALOOP Studios to meet their access needs, masking could be required for programming at any time per the request of a teacher, student, space licensee or at the discretion of BANDALOOP management/staff in coordination with public health officials in Alameda County.
PPE is available upon request at BANDALOOP Studios.
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Please scroll to the bottom of this page for scholarship and work-exchange information.
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YOUTH VERTICAL DANCE
RENT OUR SPACE
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this week @ bandaloop ↓
ADULT VERTICAL DANCE WORKSHOPS - FALL & WINTER
2024 Studio Holidays
Monday 9/2 - Labor Day
Monday 10/14 - Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday 11/11 - Veteran’s Day
Monday-Friday 11/25-11/29 - Turkey Week
Fly & Flow: 8-Week Series
$480
Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm
September 12 - October 31
Age 16+
This series provides the curious mover or dedicated dancer a chance to regularly ascend into BANDALOOP’s signature style of vertical dance. From a foundation of safety and equipment training, dancers will activate BANDALOOP’s dance walls, trampoline wall, and free-hanging space with fun and rigorous dancing. Lessons include harness movement fundamentals, creative process and more advanced work including wall running, rotations, partnering, and opportunities for students to explore their own artistic voice or curiosities. This class is suited for all levels, an already established movement practice is encouraged but not required.The 8 weeks will culminate in an informal showing. All gear will be supplied.
photo by Brooke Anderson
the get down
terrestrial improvisation with Maurya Kerr
Pre-registration and drop-ins welcome. Class is free for BIPOC and trans folks.
$10 or free for BIPOC & trans folk who need the assistance
(use code DANCEFREE to register)
Age 18+
Sundays, 11:45am-1:15pm
August 18
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15
the get down is embodied generosity & imaginative rigor.
the get down is joy & sorrow, clamorous & soft.
the get down will be what you need it to be.
the get down is sunday morning church.
the get down is self-care & other-care.
the get down is sweaty catharsis.
the get down can get messy.
the get down is personal.
the get down is political.
the get down gets down.
graphic by Cleo Ledet
Take Flight: Weekend Workshops
$250
October 5-6, 1:30-4:30pm
December 7-8, 1:30-4:30pm
Age 16+
open level / beginning
Join us as we ascend into BANDALOOP’s signature style of rope and harness vertical dance. Launching from the foundation of our Culture of Safety and equipment training, we will activate BANDALOOP’s dance walls, trampoline wall, and free-hanging space with fun and rigorous dancing. Lessons include harness movement fundamentals, creative process, and more advanced work like wall running, rotations, and partnering. This workshop is mixed level and suited for new movers and experienced dancers. Come experience vertical joy and feel the freedom of flight! All gear will be supplied.
photo by Brooke Anderson
photos by Robbie Sweeny
Try Softer: a workshop for improvisational landscaping and ongoing autonomy
** This workshop is being lead by BANDALOOP’s Spring 2024 UPDRAFT Artist in Residence, Kim Ip. More about UPDRAFT AIR.
FREE
October 20, 2-5pm
Ages 18+
This workshop offering is for adults: dancers, performance artists, drag artists, actors, and people who want to be respectfully embodied for collectively and with ourselves. How do we make the next right choice for ourselves in the collective co-creation of an improvised score? How can we create different movement textures and touch points within ourselves? How do you witness other participants with your sense of self? And how do you relent to the affectation of others participants?
Kim Ip is a New Zealand born, Queer femme, first generation Chinese American choreographer and movement artist based in the Bay Area. She creates work about gods, otherworldly creatures, and pop stars highlighting the rigidity of their roles in society and how they might be liberated through the act of dance and the cultural exchange that is live performance. Kim makes dance that intersects entertainment with cultural poetics. She has received residencies from Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, SafeHouse, and CounterPulse. She has shown her work at Edge on the Square, Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, CounterPulse, B4BEL4B Gallery, and Gray Area. Kim is 1/6 of ABG, a Queer Asian collective offering book clubs and dinner parties for fellow Queer Asian folks in the Bay. Currently, Kim is incredibly humbled and honoured to be working alongside THE elders at Crescent Park in Richmond and probably wants to tell you ALL about it :D
Check out more of her work here: www.krimmip.com, IG: @krimmip
Email iamkrimmip@gmail.com with questions.
Special on-the-ground workshop with Gizeh!
Fall 2024 BANDALOOP Updraft Artist In Residence. Find out more about Gizeh HERE
FLORWERK
With Fall 2024 Updraft Artist In Residence gizeh muñiz vengel. More about Updraft AIR
Nov. 2 + 3
12:00-2:30 beginner class
3:00-5:30 advance class
- sliding scale 40-100 per workshop (beginner or advanced)
- If you want to take the whole thing both days: 70-180
**No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds
Gizeh highly recommends you to take both days. If you just want/can take one class drop ins are available tooooooooooooooooo.
What does Gizeh mean by beginner?
This class is yummy, slow but you can still expect sweat and a cute challenge. There will be improv and a combo at the end of the class. I am interested in working with sensations more than form, but we will still learn patterns for longevity. I really recommend it for people that have been taking some movement classes and are interested in learning more about floorplay.
What does Gizeh mean by advanced?
You have a movement practice and want a good solid fun challenge. We will do some impro/somatic explorations, playground and phrase convo at the end. The rhythm of this class is agile.
TO REGISTER PLEASE EMAIL: gizeh@gizzeh.com and let them know what level you wanna take (YOU CAN TAKE BOTH!) and I will give you further instructions to pay through venmo or paypal
Up to be seen: Performance workshop
$480
Mondays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm
November 4 - December 5 (no classes November 11, 25 & 28)
Performance date: December 7 @ 6pm, call time 4pm
Age 16+
prerequisite: An intermediate mover should have a regular movement practice, and have taken one BANDALOOP workshop/series in the past year. Must be able to confidently acknowledge and actively engage in BANDALOOP's Culture of Safety.
A new series for curious BANDALOOP students interested in performing vertical dance work. After revisiting the safety and fundamentals of BANDALOOPING, this series will look at vertical dance composition, choreography and performance. Special attention will be given to musicality, theatricality, improvisation as performance, considering site, and relating to climbing gear as a dance partner. All gear will be provided. Practice into Performance will culminate in a public performance on Saturday, December 7 at 6pm.
PUBLIC OPEN SHOWING: Saturday, DECEMBER 7 | Students Called: 4pm-7pm | Public Performance: 6pm
photo by Amanda Bellucci
ONE DAY ONLY! LOW FLY/HIGH FLY:
An indoor-outdoor vertical dance workshop with BANDALOOP founder Amelia Rudolph and founding dancer Rachael Lincoln.
Locations: BANDALOOP Studios & the Breuner Building, Oakland
Cost: $175
Saturday November 16th, 9:30-4:30
**8:45-9:30am - A ”pre-flight” technical session will be offered for those who are new to harness work.
We will explore the inner and outer places that inspire us to dance. We will begin in the studio, focusing on skills and movement scores to ignite our curiosity on the ground, in the air, and on the wall. We will amplify this investigation on a 115-foot wall to explore suspension, rotations, landings, partnering, and wall-running sequences. In a supportive environment, we will stretch our skills, self-expectations, and understanding of the form. We will prioritize discovery, individualized artistry, and expanding the frontiers of our current practices.
**Open level. This one-day workshop will be scaled to challenge a wide range of movers. From intermediate/advanced vertical dancers to movers with little to no harness experience, we will find YOUR edge.
** In the event of rain, the entirety of this workshop will be held at BANDALOOP Studios and end at 3pm. No refunds will be offered.
For questions, please email amelia@bandaloop.org
photo by Jessica Swanson
Sky Contact with Scott Wells and Amelia Rudolph
Cost: $300
December 13th, 5-6pm preflight technical clinic **
December 13, 6-9pm
December 14, 10-1pm
December 15, 3-6pm
This workshop is for those who want to explore the intersection of contact improvisation and vertical dance with two artists who have specialized in the forms for three decades. Scott and Amelia will guide participants through grounded, mid-air, and hybrid contact improvisation skill-building drills, and movement scores. The workshop will inspire a wide range of somatic awareness and three-dimensional movement into a composite experience that will challenge our previous understanding of what is possible. Day one will include a “preflight technical session” for those who have had little to no experience in harness work. We will learn and dance together on the ground, in the air, and on the wall in ways that will challenge us and ignite our creativity in a supportive environment. Come to work hard and play hard. All gear will be supplied.
**This workshop is for all folks with a movement practice. On day one we will offer those participants with no previous harness experience a clinic on how to use the gear and an introduction to harnessed dance technique with Amelia.
FREE TO FLY - temporarily paused
Free!*
2024:
August 15 - 5:00-7:30pm - ages 9+!
Walk up @ Prescott Night Market, no pre-registration
Get a free flight test with BANDALOOP and experience vertical joy! Float in the air, jump into space, explore surfaces and play with verticality in a new way. See what’s possible when we turn the dance floor on its side and change our perspective. Our kind and experienced teachers will guide you through a safe and exploratory time as you experience a taste of vertical dance. No experience necessary, all gear provided.
*Starting in 2024, a $15 deposit will be charged to hold your spot. Deposits will be refunded 3-5 business days after attendance. Cancellations must be made by 4pm the Friday before Free to Fly to be refunded. Refunds will not be issued for day-of cancellations and no-shows. If this presents financial difficulty for you, or if you’d like to donate your deposit amount, please contact workshop@bandaloop.org.
** we kindly request that students only enroll in one Free to Fly session a year so we can welcome as many people as possible into these opportunities.
Free to Fly is funded by Radium Presents and Rubicon Point Partners.
photo by Winter Ramos
Artistic Research - temporarily PAUSEd
Drop in $20/class.
5-class ($18/class) or 10-class ($16/class) packages now available! Valid for 4 months.
Age 16+
Drop-in with pre-requisites
Any BANDALOOP workshop in the past year (not free to fly)
OR company member
OR training group
This is a loosely facilitated session that will focus on creative research, play, and exploration. It is a time for you to be in parallel practice with the dancers around you, working solo or in collaboration. We will begin and close with a circle and check in once during this session to share questions, thoughts and updates. Artistic Research sessions can be a time to joyfully play, incubate new ideas, continue to explore and expand the form of vertical dance and more. Come with an open-mind and a commitment to staying curious and being part of a caring community of practice. A BANDALOOP staff member will be onsite to offer supervision, safety checks and support. All gear will be supplied.
To participate in Artistic Research you must have taken a BANDALOOP workshop in the past year (excluding Free to Fly) and be able to confidently acknowledge and actively engage in BANDALOOP’s Culture of Safety. If you are a practicing harness based vertical dancer, a safety lesson and evaluation can be arranged in advance for an additional fee to bypass the prerequisite.
photo by Amelia Rudolph
PRIVATE LESSONS
In Studio Training:
Individual private rates are $150 per hour with a two hour minimum. We recommend 2-3 hours for a private lesson. Discounts and package deals can be made for small group privates and multiple individual privates. Email workshop@bandaloop.org for more information, scheduling and pricing.
A prerequisite for big wall training.
BIG WALL TRAINING:
For advanced dancers who have previous BANDALOOP dance experience through workshops or classes, we offer outdoor big wall training in Oakland. In studio privates are a prerequisite for big wall training. Training programs will be developed on a case by case basis depending on the dancer’s experience level, safety, and comfort. Email workshop@bandaloop.org for more information and pricing.
photo by Krystal Harfert
BANDALOOP’s rigging for vertical dance and aerial work is done by qualified professionals. Our rigging team consists of certified mountain guides, professional rock climbers, theatrical riggers, and rope access technicians. This diverse set of vertically inclined professionals work closely with our logisticians and risk management team in keeping our dancers safe as they perform on buildings, bridges, and cliffs globally. BANDALOOP does not condone any student rigging or participating in aerial or vertical dance outside the classroom without the supervision of qualified professionals. You and others can be injured or killed. If you are interested in hiring a professional rigger, contact workshop@bandaloop.org.
FINANCIAL AID
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BANDALOOP offers a limited number of need-based scholarships. Scholarship priority is given to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ applicants with the greatest need, but we encourage everyone who needs financial assistance to apply. Typical scholarships range from 10%-50% of tuition costs offset.
We request that students complete this application no later than 2 weeks prior to the start date of the program you’re applying for.
If a video or voice recording is an easier format for you to complete, there is an option to upload a file at the end of this form. Please indicate "see recording" in the form if you're selecting this option.
- - - - - - UPDATED AUGUST 2024 - - - - - -Beginning the next business day after your scholarship application is received, your spot in the workshop will be held for 2 weeks (14 days).
1 week (7 days) prior to the start of the workshop, BANDALOOP will notify you of your scholarship decision.
You will have 2 days (48 hours) after receiving your scholarship notification to accept & set up payments for the workshop.
Payment plans may not be available for scholarship students.
If we do not receive a response 48 hours after your scholarship notification, your space on the roster will be forfeit.
Please email workshop@bandaloop.org with questions.
We are so grateful to our individual donors for making these scholarships possible!
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BANDALOOP offers work-exchange opportunities to earn credit towards studio rental or workshop tuition. WEX is offered at an exchange rate of $25/hr. Shifts typically include cleaning the studio, assistance on special projects, and assistance on events.
Our highest need is for regular cleaning shifts (weekly preferred) for our West Oakland studio, located at 1601 18th St, Oakland.
Please fill out this form to express interest in work-exchange with BANDALOOP.
GIVE THE GIFT OF FLIGHT
Donations help us offer scholarships and make BANDALOOP education accessible!