MARCHING.COM: Sonya Tayeh master class set for day after WGI Color Guard Championships

Learn "Combat Jazz" from So You Think You Can Dance artist

DAYTON, OH, January 22, 2010 — WGI Sport of the Arts continues its "Day After" educational series with the announcement that contemporary choreographer Sonya Tayeh will conduct a master class in conjunction with the WGI Color Guard World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. The class will take place on the floor of the UD Arena for 500 performers on Sunday, April 11 at 10:00 AM. Unit directors can contact WGI to register their performers to experience a class led by one of today's leaders in contemporary dance.

Sonya Tayeh

The "Day After" session will shift the focus from the heat of World Championships competition the previous night, back to an educational approach in the "Sport of the Arts."

This extraordinary session will be open to the public. General admission tickets are available for $10 and will be available when the doors open at 8:30 AM. This is your chance to sneak a look behind the scenes at a master class with an artist who works at the top level of dance, and watch dancers experience Ms. Tayeh's physically demanding routines.

Tayeh's unique take on choreography has made her an artist to watch on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. She now teaches a self-titled class called "Combat Jazz" which incorporates her deeply rooted form with the essence of contemporary technique mixed with her own 'quirky' style. This stylized, free-flowing movement is aggressively formulated through one-on-one physical contact. In this form of movement, the importance of core strength and body awareness is a constant.

WGI Sport of the Arts

"Sonya was a natural choice to be our guest choreographer because of the way her work speaks to our performers," said WGI Executive Director Ron Nankervis. "The response to bringing in top choreographers for our amazing students has been both educational and inspiring to what we all hope is the next generation of instructors in WGI."

Ms. Tayeh has instructed dance at the Edge Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex and the Tayeh Dance Company specializing in contemporary funk and progressive contact. She travels the world teaching workshops and intensive master classes.

In describing her work, Tayeh said, "I believe having a strong sense of self as a human being allows movement to become natural like nature. Nature changes...it's constantly evolving. Being of this Earth we must do the same. If we move with nature, our bodies will never lie, it will simply be natural."

Click here to order general admission spectator tickets to this special educational event.

View a YouTube video of Sonya Tayeh's choreography:

About WGI: WGI Sport of the Arts is the governing body for the indoor color guard and percussion activities. Hosting regionals, culminating with World Championships in April, WGI is the premier organization for pageantry and education. The Sport of the Arts brings music to life through competitive performance, creating a positive and exhilarating experience for everyone involved.

Source material and image courtesy of WGI.

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Sonya Tayeh master class set for day after WGI Color Guard Championships