Danspace

Specialties

Classes for Adults, Teens and Children

Danspace offers a positive learning experience in a caring and supportive environment. The school is dedicated to teaching the art of dance while respecting the individual. This approach to dance stems from the ideologies of Beth Hoge and her mentor Alfredo Corvino. The Corvino approach teaches a clean, classical technique free of mannerism, with great emphasis on musicality, artistry, purity of line, as well as balance and co-​ordination which ultimately lead to more flexibility and strength. This approach is taught by dedicated and respectful staff in the areas of ballet, modern, jazz and creative movement; and has the necessary elements to enhance and expand ones natural vocabulary of movement.

For more information checkout our website at dan​space​.com

History

Established in 1976.

Danspace was founded in 1976 by Beth Hoge. After her professional career in New York, she had an idea for a school which would offer ballet training that would not overtax the average body. The school was founded with the idea of encouraging adults of all ages to explore the art of classical ballet. Adult ballet and pre-​ballet for six year olds were taught. In 1980 a children’s division was started and creative movement was added to the list of courses. The school has been residing at its location in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, California since 1985.

Meet the Business Owner

Beth H.

Business Owner

Her early dance experience included work with Joseph Rickard, in the Southern California Ballet, and with Alicia Alonso and Igor Youskevitch in the Greek Theatre’s summer production of «Giselle.» She then traveled to New York to attend Juilliard. There she studied with Antony Tudor, Margaret Craske, Martha Graham, and Alfredo Corvino who was to become her lifelong mentor, and teacher. She taught Ballet at Mills College from 1983 to 1994 where she made an invaluable connection with the Modern Dance community, and greatly enjoyed luring some «fallen away» ballet dancers back to ballet class by sharing the work of her teacher Mr. Corvino. The clean, unmannered style, and clear principles of movement based on musicality and efficiency, bridged the gap for many dancers; some continue to study and teach at Danspace today. Others return regularly for class, in support of their careers as dance professionals around the world.