Move Beyond: Contemporary and Cambodian Dance

Move Beyond is a collaboration between Baran Dance and the Cambodian Legacy Project, and it's a series of free dance classes that pairs contemporary dance with Cambodian dance. The classes run on Fridays from 10 AM to 11:30 AM at Open Door Studios, 3706 Central Ave, from September 11 through December 11, 2026. It's designed for beginners and open to all levels, age 18 and over, so you don't need a dance background to jump in.

If you stick with it and sign up for all the classes, you get the chance to perform at the closing show on Friday, December 11, at Free Range Brewing, 2330 N. Davidson St. Doors open at 6 PM and the show starts at 7:30 PM. It's a nice way to take what you've learned in the studio and bring it to a stage.

Baran Dance is a resident company at Open Door Studios, and they also run Open Company Class (OCO), their signature session led by artistic director Audrey Baran. She describes it as a rigorous contemporary class with plenty of floor work, centering techniques, and challenging choreography, so if you find your footing in Move Beyond and want something more intense, that's a good place to go next. The project is supported by the Arts & Science Council.

The classes are free, but you have to register and space is limited, so it's worth getting your name in early. Fridays, 10 AM to 11:30 AM at Open Door Studios through December 11, with the final performance on December 11 at Free Range Brewing.