ILKA Dance Teacher & Choreographer Welcome

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head> <title>ILKA Dance Teacher & Choreographer    News</title> <link href="css/style_a.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">  </script> </head> <body> <div id="frame"> <div class="plattetekst"> <h2><strong>Welcome</strong></h2> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> My name is Ilka and dance is my profession, my passion and my joy. <br><br> I am as excited about the work on these pages as I was when I had my very first Jazz class, my first live TV appearance or rehearsals for my first own choreography. <br><br> I am forever grateful for dance in my life. It has been a great way for me to discover and create who I am - to meet amazing people, to travel the world, to help and inspire others, to make a career, to entertain, to express myself, to live. <br><br> Have fun exploring my web home. <br><br> I hope you are dancing today. I am. <br><br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h2><strong>Biography</strong></h2> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> Ilka was born in a small town in Germany, and was six years old when she began studying ballet at the local community center. By the time she was thirteen, Ilka discovered Jazz dance and took classes from Günther Rebel at his dance school Rebeltanz located in the neighboring town Münster, She was hooked from that moment on. <br><br> After graduating from high school she started studying English and Sociology. At the same time she began to put more hours in at the dance studio. This is where her commitment to dance began. Ilka knew she wanted, and needed to make dance her profession. <br><br> Her evolving passion for dance brought her to the Flemish Dance Academy in Brugge, Belgium. After a year of dedicated study, she decided to continue her training in the Netherlands at the Rotterdam Dance Academy. After graduating in 1997, Ilka went to the United States (New York City & Chicago) to specialize in Jazz and Tap dance. She received several scholarships from the Gus Giordano Dance Center (Chicago), which gave her the chance to work with and learn from legendary master teachers of Jazz Dance, such as Gus Giordano himself, Matt Mattox, Frank Hatchett, and Chuck Davis. Ilka was also an apprentice at the 'Jazz Dance World Congress' in 1994 and 1997. <br><br> Ilka's performing credits, both in the Netherlands and abroad, include various Broadway musicals, modern/theatre dance productions, films, television and industrial shows. <br><br> Dance is an art form handed down from one generation to the next, and so nowadays Ilka is a devoted teacher and choreographer. She is bringing her experience, creativity, passion and humor to this profession. <br><br> As a teacher by heart, Ilka truly understands the art of teaching and knows how to communicate with her students. She passes on her knowledge in an uplifting and nurturing, and at the same time, challenging way that helps her students to develop their skills and know-how. <br><br> Ilka is on the faculty at different schools and academies and travels Europe as a guest teacher. <br><br> </div> <div class="citaat"> I love to encourage and inspire my students to reach their goals of becoming great dancers. <br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h1><strong>Teaching credits</strong></h1> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <br> <strong>Currently on the faculty of:</strong><br> * Nova College, Haarlem - Jazz <br> * ROC College/Mbo Dance departement, Amsterdam - Jazz, Tap <br> * Amsterdam Dance Centre, Amsterdam - Jazz <br> * Studio Anna Mora, Amsterdam - Pilates <br><br> <strong>2005 - 2006</strong> Wladimir Dance Studio, Amsterdam - Jazz <br> <strong>1997 - 2000</strong> Amsterdam Dance Centre, Amsterdam - Jazz, Tap <br> <strong>1997 - 1998 </strong>Youth Theatre Group 'HOFPLEIN', Rotterdam <br><br> <br> <strong>As a guest teacher at academies:</strong> <br> * National Ballet Academy, Amsterdam<br> * Theaterschool, Amsterdam<br> * 5 o'clock, pre-educational department of the Theaterschool, Amsterdam<br> * Institut de Formation Rick Odums, Paris <br><br> <strong>As a guest teacher:</strong><br> * Workshops in The Netherlands, Belgium & Germany <br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h1><strong>Performing credits</strong></h1> <br><br> <strong>2005</strong> <br> Crazy for you", understudy Patsy, J.v.d.Ende Theatre Productions, chor.: S. Stroman,NL <br><br> <strong>2004</strong> <br> "J.K.Musical Award Gala 2004", chor.: Stanley Burleson, NL <br> "Nummer Drie: take step fall", film, videoartist: Guido v.d. Werve, NL <br><br> <strong>2003</strong><br> "Musicals in Ahoy'2004", J.v.d.Ende Theatre Productions, chor.: Stanley Burleson, NL <br><br> <strong>2002</strong><br> "3 Musketiers", J.v.d.Ende Theatre Productions, chor.: Stephen Mears, NL <br> "Forgotten Faces", Les Enfants Terribles, chor.: E. Kokkelkoren, NL <br> "Il Trovatore", Companions Amsterdam, chor.: Craig Horwood, NL <br><br> <strong>2001</strong> <br> "42nd Street", J.v.d.Ende Theatre Productions, chor.: Randy Skinner, NL <br><br> <strong>2000</strong> <br> "Truth or Dare", Docu-Dance Production, chor.: Wincky Hoedt, Amsterdam, NL <br> "Nacht in de stad", film, director: Boris Pavel Conen, NL <br><br> <strong>1999 </strong> <br> "Musical Revue", Warner Bros. Movie World, Bottrop, Germany <br> "Saturday Night Fever", 'ZDF Showpalast', Cologne/Bremerhaven, Germany <br> "Rewind", Modern Dance Theatre Production, Choreography & Scenography: <br> Maartje Jaspers, 'Macau Fringe Festival', Macau, China <br> "Tuschinski Theatraal", Tap-act, chor.: Arnold v. Maanen, Amsterdam, NL <br><br> <strong>1998</strong> <br> "AnderZ", Theatre Dance Production, chor.: Wincky Hoedt, Amsterdam, NL <br><br> <strong>1997</strong> <br> "8 Stukken", Jazz Dance Production, chor.: Gerleen Balstra, Amsterdam, NL <br><br> <strong>1999 - 2007</strong> <br> model/dancer for major brands as Nike, adidas, L'ORÉAL, Vanilia, NL <br><br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h2><strong>Classes & Workshops</strong></h2> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <br> <h1><strong>Jazz Dance</strong></h1><br> The basic structure of Ilka's class is based on the Giordano and Mattox techniques, combined with elements of musical theatre dance, modern dance and streetdance. Her unique style can be described as extremely dynamic, explosive, expressive, theatrical and passionate. The two central aspects of this invigorating dance class are the enjoyment of moving and learning the basics and/or the refinements of jazz dance technique. <br><br> <strong>Beginners:</strong><br> Ilka's specific style consists of strong, precise and dynamic elements that are contrasted by slow and sensual movements. In this class, you will learn the basic rules of jazz dance within a set warm up consisting of stretches, isolations, polycentric movement phrases and muscle strengthening exercises. This is followed by moving across the floor including turns and jumps. The class always finishes with an easy to learn combination. <br><br> <strong>Intermediate - Advanced:</strong><br> Characteristic jazz exercises based on ballet and modern technique will help you to improve your skills in becoming a better dancer. Goals are building up strength, finding the alignment as easy and quick as possible and acquiring the knowledge of how to use your muscles efficiently. In addition, Ilka will share her stage expertise with the students of this class, she will advise how to integrate personal touch and expression within the given choreography. <br><br> <h1><strong>Tap Dance</strong></h1><br> This Tap Dance class is a mixture of rhythm and show/musical tap that varies from swing to funk. Ilka focuses on strong basics, rhythm and clean sounds to show her dancers how to make music with their feet. This high-energy tap class begins with a warm up (to strengthen and sharpen the basic technique) that is followed by progressions across the floor, turns and jumps. Learning a combination using intricate rhythms and fun footwork concludes each class. <br><br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h2><strong>Choreography</strong></h2> </div> <div class="citaat"> "The body never lies..."<br> "The body moves and the soul dances..."<br> "One movement says more than a thousand words...."<br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> Ilka likes to move people! Bringing a new experience/impression to the dancers and the public: the dancers who perform the piece by challenging them, pushing their limits and bringing them to a higher performance level and the public by making them part of this new experience during the performance. <br> <br> Inspired by live in general and by the people/dancers around her Ilka creates a broad variety of choreographies. Also the genres she choreographs in vary from a classical jazz-piece, contemporary theatre dance up to a crazy show/musical number. As a choreographer Ilka is interested in always creating something new, tailored on the group she works with so they can make it eventually their piece. <br> <br> Besides working with dancers Ilka has experience in working with not-trained dancers such as actors/singers/models. She gets them moving looking confidant, groovy (if wanted) and good! <br> <br> "Creating a new piece, something that wasn't there before, together with the performers, from notes in a scratch book up to the performance itself, is almost magic...not predictable, amazing and really special. I love it! " <br> <br> Choreography credits<br> <br> <br> * "Showboat", Zaanse operetta association, 2001<br> * "Tinkertoverstof", musical, Tinkerbells, 2003<br> * "Pont Noord", musical with/for children, 2005<br> * "VOORUIT", project with actors, dancers, musicians & singers, ADC, 2006 <br> * "Slash!", 2nd year students from the dance academy in Haarlem, Toneelschuur, 2007 <br><br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h2><strong>Contact</strong></h2> </div> <div class="plattetekst">  <br> <h2>ILKA</h2<br><br> <h1>Amsterdam</h1><br> <h1>The Netherlands</h1> <br><br> <h1><a href="mailto:mail@ilkadance.com" target="_blank" onfocus="this.blur()">mail@ilkadance.com</a></h1> <br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst">  ILKA provides first class Jazz & Tap dance art/entertainment/knowledge:<br> * Classes<br> * Workshops<br> * Choreography<br> * Theatre productions<br> * Music Video productions<br> * Shows (trade, fashion, hair, etc.) <br><br> <br><br> <br><br> <br><br> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> <h2><strong>Keywords</strong></h2> </div> <div class="plattetekst"> Ilka Recker, Ilka, Dans, Dance, Tanz, Pilates, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Nederland, Holland, Jazz, Jazz Dance, Jazzdans, Tap, Tapdance, Tap Dance, Danslessen in Amsterdam, Tapdanslessen in Amsterdam, Tapdans in Amsterdam, Open lessen, Choreograaf, Choreografe, Choreographer, Choreografie, Choreography, Dance Teacher, Dansdocent, Dansdocente, Workshop, Workshops, Dansworkshop(s), Dansen, Musical, Musical Theatre, Musical Theater, Rotterdamse Dansacademie, Power Pilates, Classes, Dance classes, Gus Giordano, Matt Mattox, Guest teacher, Academy, Academies, Dance Academy, great dancer, Broadway musical, Devoted teacher, Creativity, New York, Chicago <br><br><br> </div> </body> </html>