How Are You Moving?

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, SAG-AFTRA member Alyson Stoner led a night of creativity and community through a dance class hosted by the Looking Ahead program at 101 Dance Center. SAG-AFTRA young performers had the chance to learn from the acclaimed dancer followed by a facilitated conversation with their peers.

The class explored how to take movements and build upon them to create dances. It taught the young performers how to become comfortable with themselves, noting that comfortability breeds confidence. A dance room is a blank canvas where each individual is asked to help co-create an experience. The young performers used the space to create an open community for each other to share.

The night started with a warmup, with each attendee asked, “How are you moving?” They then expressed how they felt through movement. Stoner then taught attendees the foundational movements of hip-hop: the bounce, skate, rock and roll, while also teaching the history of the genre.

In the facilitated group cooldown, there was time for the attendees to check in with themselves and one another. They were asked how the experience felt and were encouraged to use dance as a method of decompression and self-care. The attendees also discussed their own daily methods of self-care. Many of the young performers mentioned how they will use the techniques they learned beyond dance, even in preparing for auditions or while on set.

Looking Ahead is a program of the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund). It is a one-of-a-kind program tailored to help professional young performers and their families build community, gain education and support while navigating the unique challenges associated with working in the entertainment industry. To learn more about the Looking Ahead Program and to register for events, visit the website. 

Top photo: L.A. Local young performers and Looking Ahead staff pose for a photo after a movement class with SAG-AFTRA member Alyson Stoner, middle, hosted by the Entertainment Community Fund’s Looking Ahead program.