Adult Contemporary

Adult Contemporary Dance Class

Our Adult Beginner/Intermediate Contemporary class explores movement through the foundations of ballet, jazz, and modern dance techniques. This class is designed for dancers who already have some prior dance experience and are looking to expand their artistry, musicality, and performance quality through contemporary movement.

Unlike a traditional technique class, contemporary is centered more around choreography, movement exploration, and storytelling. Think of your ballet and jazz technique as your vocabulary; contemporary dance is how you use those words to tell a story.

Class may include guided warm-ups, movement phrases, improvisation, floor work, across-the-floor progressions, and expressive choreography that encourages dancers to connect emotionally and artistically to the movement and music.

This class is ideal for adults with previous experience in ballet, jazz, lyrical, or modern dance who are ready to move beyond technique exercises and into artistic expression and performance-based movement.

At Gulf Coast Dancenter, our adult classes provide a welcoming and inspiring environment where dancers can continue to grow, create, and reconnect with their love of dance.

Class Time:

    • Wednesday’s at 6:30-7:30pm (Myles)

Cost:

    • Drop-in to class for $24
    • Punch Card – $200 for 10 classes ($20/class)

First Time Attending…

    • Arrive 5-10 mins early. We are nestled in the corner between the bakery and fabric shop.
    • Stop by front desk to let them know that you are new to GCD and they will have you fill out a simple adult intake form and make payment for your class.
    • Settle in and get excited for a great class.

What to wear:

    • Jazz shoes, ballet slippers, or socks to be able to slide and turn.
    • Leggings, fitness top, and hair up and out of face.
    • Also any dancewear is welcome.
Adult dance students at the ballet barre during an intro to ballet class.
Heidi teaching one of our adult dancers
Adult dancers at the ballet barre stretching.

Meet the Teacher

Myles Thoroughgood, faculty at Gulf Coast Dancenter

Myles Thoroughgood

Myles Thoroughgood has enjoyed the privilege and pleasure of over 3 decades in the dance ecosystem as a Dance Educator, Choreographer, Director, and Dancer in all mediums.

Dance Captain Wave Jazz Dance Company sold out performances in Shubert Theater, London’s Royal Festival Hall.

He is featured in multiple pop dance music videos after relocating to Los Angeles.

Myles Thoroughgood debuted as the choreographer of The Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club. Many of the MMC cast, all of whom had their early professional experience under Myles’ choreographic direction have gone on to successful careers including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, and Kerry Russell.

His experience on national television includes programming for NBC, Nickelodeon, TLC/Discovery Network and Sesame Workshop. He has choreographer several seasons of television including Nickelodeon’s Taina, and TLC’s Animal Jam.

Myles has choreographed several Central Florida Theatre For Young Audiences musicals. Including Orlando Family Stage’s Polkadots The Cool Kids Musical, Pickle Chiffon Pie(Premiere), Giraffes Can’t Dance. His directing credits include productions at Theatre West End, Ocala Civic Theatre, and Historic State Theatre.

For five years Myles’ choreography entertained attendees at the opening ceremonies for the National Association of Home Builders Convention at the time it was the world’s largest convention.

His work in theme park, cruise ships and tourist venues include Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Pigeon Forge and Pirates Adventure in Myrtle Beach, Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Riviera Mayan.

As a Dance Educator Myles has shared his expertise as a teacher at Dr Phillips Center Advent Health School of the Arts. He is the Founder of School of Dance for The Interactive Academy of Performing Arts, an online platform for arts education.

During the last 10 years Thoroughgood has been a Storyteller for The Orange County Library System. Developing and presenting entertaining, engaging stories, songs, and rhymes to inspire youngster’s imaginations and a lifelong interest in reading and literacy.