Untraining Partner Dances

A playful, exploratory class for anyone who enjoys social partner dances – such as salsa, samba, forró, or bachata – and wants to grow their confidence, creativity and ease on the dance floor.

Rather than focusing on memorised steps, this class supports you to gently “untrain” familiar patterns and discover movement principles that encourage improvisation and adaptability across any partner dance style, whether new or well-loved.

Through guided exploration, we’ll look at leading and following, connection, and the shared qualities that shape partner dances. From there, you’ll be invited to explore your own movement flavours – honouring your personal style while learning to communicate clearly and connect with a variety of partners.

This class offers tools to expand your expressive range, deepen your connection with others, and dance with greater freedom, confidence, and authenticity in any social setting.

Requirements:

Timing and location:

February 3, 2026 – 06:30 PM
60 minutes – Tuesdays (6:30-7:30pm) – 9 weeks – ends March 31

Movement Studio 3

Price:

$15 (on-line booking, MOVE concession card or payment on the day)

$135 for the 9 week term booking (on-line booking only)

Your tutor

Contemporary Dance - Janaína Moraes Profile Picture Updated - Jan 2026

Janaína Moraes

Janaína Moraes is a Brazilian-born dance, research and performance artist based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She holds a Doctorate in Dance Studies and is the Artistic Director of Tiny Performance Festival. Janaína’s work explores invitation-based poetics and open, collaborative processes, often shaped through art residencies and transdisciplinary exchange. She is deeply interested in the relational connections between people, place and materiality, and in how movement can support cura – creative healing and transformation. Her current practice weaves together choreography and writing, language transition, collective embodiment and expanded approaches to authorship, inviting others into thoughtful, curious and connected movement experiences.