📷 Patrizia Korn

We are passionate about stage dance—its classical traditions, the revolutionary freedom of modern dance, and the organized chaos of contemporary movement. By blending traditional techniques with new, contemporary influences, we aim to create something fresh and exciting.
— Irena & Magdalena, ANIMA Founders

TEACHERS

IRENA MARIA TAVPASH
Classical Ballet, Contemporary and Modern Techniques

A Ukrainian ballerina, contemporary dancer, and choreographer who fell in love with Vienna a decade ago and made it her home. While studying Theater, Film, and Media Science here, she discovered that her true passion lies in the beautiful tension between opposites.

Her journey started with classical ballet, but she couldn't resist exploring the wild world of modern techniques. What fascinates her most is finding that sweet spot between control and liberation, structure and spontaneity, age-old traditions and contemporary innovations.

What she loves most is to share this love to dance every day with an incredible community of passionate dancers.

MAGDALENA JURISIC
Matt Mattox Technique

Meet Magdalena - a true multi-faceted artist who brings together jazz dance, set design, and architecture in the most incredible ways. Her trained architect's eye means she doesn't just see dance, she sees how movement fills and transforms space.

What makes Magdalena special is her holistic understanding of how dance, movement, and space work together to tell stories. Whether she's breaking down the technical execution of a jazz sequence or designing a physical set, every element has meaning and purpose.

In her classes, she has this amazing ability to meet dancers exactly where they are.

ANDREA RACHELE DONADI
Ballet, Modern, Contemporary

Andrea started dancing at a young age in her mother's dance studio in Italy, where she learned ballet, hip-hop, modern, and contemporary dance. It was there that she developed a deep love for art in all its forms - a passion that continues to this day and shines through in her work as a dancer and a teacher.

What makes Andrea special is how she combines technical precision and discipline with creative expression and pure joy in movement. This balance creates the perfect foundation for beginner classes, where students can learn proper technique while falling in love with dance.

ALAIN MICHIGAN
Modern (Horton-based)

We feel incredibly lucky to have Alain on our team—his classes are a modern dance training based on Horton principles, not a “pure Horton” syllabus, which gives space to explore and experiment.

He trained at SERMAC (Martinique), The International Dance Academy (Paris), The Joffrey Ballet School, and Dance Theater of Harlem; studied with Milton Myers and Rodni Williams (Alvin Ailey); danced across Europe and Martinique; and choreographed for the Manhattan Dance Company. He also taught Modern at the Vienna State Opera Ballet School (levels 5–8).

Alain’s passion is contagious—he takes everyone seriously and teaches like you’re performing tomorrow.

ZOE-AFAN STRASSER
Ballet, Contemporary, Experimental


is a dancer and choreographer working at the intersection of classical ballet, contemporary dance, and interdisciplinary performance.
She trained at the Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera and later at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. She then completed the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program in San Francisco, where she further developed her contemporary practice and artistic voice.
Her work has been presented at festivals such as the International Solo-Tanz-Theater Festival Stuttgart. She has collaborated with artists and choreographers including Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe, Antony Rizzi, Akemi Takeya, Maurya Kerr, Esther Balfe, and Kianí de Valle.

What Zoé loves most is sharing the joy of movement and its deep connection to music, creating a space where each dancer can unfold individually.

JOY OGBOI
Contemporary, Improvisation, Floor Work

Joy began dancing at the a young age, starting with jazz, hip-hop, and commercial styles. These early influences laid the foundation for her strong sense of rhythm, energy, and flow—qualities that continue to shape her unique approach to movement today. Few years ago, she discovered contemporary dance and performance art, which opened a new chapter in her artistic journey.

What makes Joy special is how she explores both the softness and sharpness in movement, using concepts like isolation and release to form a connection between body and music.

Joy is constantly seeking new ways of moving and is deeply inspired by the curiosity of others.

SOFIIA MATSEVKO
Urban Contemporary Choreography

Sofia Matsevko is a Ukrainian dancer now calling Vienna home. Trained at Kyiv’s renowned Myway Dance Centre, she brings a suitcase full of sharp technique and a choreography style that’s unmistakably her own—rich in musicality, isolations, and total body control.

But Sofia’s super-power goes beyond movement: she makes every dancer believe they can do it. Her legendary patience and relentlessly positive energy turn each class into a confidence factory—you leave feeling ready to conquer the world.

What makes her truly special? She believes in you first, and that belief is contagious.

Class Descriptions

  • Our Flexibility class is designed for dancers who want to become more flexible - and you don't need your splits already! We're here to help you evolve and maintain those splits, develop mobility in ALL your joints, and most importantly, stretch your smile brighter when you feel the progress.

    This class is essential for a healthy dancing body and injury prevention. We warm up, then dive into targeted stretching, mobility work, and strength training designed specifically for dancers. Your body will thank you, and your dancing will transform!

    Level: fundamentals

    • Mondays 18:00 w/ Magdalena

    • Thursdays 9:30 w/ Magdalena

  • The muscle pain from floor barre is the best! It's like doing ballet but not really doing ballet - and you'll get those gorgeous ballerina-fit legs as a result.

    We do exercises on the floor that ballet dancers use to boost their physical performance, focusing mainly on strengthening the core and legs. You train in a way that's gentle on your joints while boosting your energy and improving your posture. It's targeted, it's effective, and you'll feel amazing!

    Level: fundamentals

    • Wednesday 18:30 w/ Irena

    • Thursday 17:00 w/ Irena

  • We begin with a focused ballet barre to build alignment, strength, and clean lines—without chasing perfection. We’re not a traditional academy: in this class we aim for excellence, musicality, and freedom in the body. In the second half, we learn a contemporary ballet combination—today’s aesthetics rather than classical repertoire—blending clarity of technique with fluidity, dynamics, and performance quality.

    Level: elementary

    • Tuesday 19:45 w/ Zoe

    Level: progression

    • Thursday 18:15 w/ Irena

  • In this class, we usually warm up with a series of drills focusing on one technique. These drills are designed to build dancers' muscles and coordination, plus we throw in some real brain teasers to keep your mind sharp too!

    The second part of class is where we dive into learning and practicing a choreography. We focus on musicality and self-expression - finding your own voice through movement. It's challenging, it's fun, and it's deeply rewarding!

    Level: elementary

    • Tuesday 19:45 Contemporary w/ Andrea Rachele

    • Wednesday 18:15 Modern Dance w/ Magdalena

    Level: progression

    • Wednesday 19:45 Contemporary Dance w/ Irena

    • Saturday 11:00 Modern Dance w/ Irena

  • Here you learn to explore! It's not about how it looks, it's about how it feels!

    Based on the Gaga movement method, you follow the teacher's instructions which are feelings, pictures, imagined scenarios, and you react to them. The crucial element is covering yourself with a feeling of JOY - you'll be impressed how it transforms your sensation of improvisation.

    No, it's not scary when you're in the process - you'll be smiling the whole time, promise!

    Level: elementary

    • Thursday 20:00 w/ Zoe

  • We absolutely LOVE Graham technique, and we preach Martha - the Mother of Modern Dance! We joke that we go to class weekly like going to church, and the class itself is pure joyful suffering.

    This full-body workout will build muscles you never knew existed and make you feel strong like a robocop. If you ever loved ballet, this will be your new crush! The aesthetics are just addictive - so be careful if you try it once, there might be no way back!

    We explore Martha's technique through mastering contraction, release, and spirals - dynamic movements fuel power from your core and transform your entire body. Plus, girls - you might forget about period cramps ;)

    Level: fundamentals

    • Tuesday 18:15 w/ Andrea Rachele

    Level: progression

    • Tuesday 18:00 w/ Irena

    • Friday 10:00 w/ Irena

  • Mattox Jazz is elegance, power, and spiced with sexy. Long lines, isolated movement, precision and flow - this is what Matt Mattox brought from New York to Paris, setting the jazz style we know today. We can't believe this name gets forgotten!

    Wanna dance like Yanis Marshall? Do Mattox technique! This challenging method gives you complete control over your movements, merging ballet precision with spirited jazz expressiveness. It's mentally and physically demanding, requiring focus and concentration as well as freedom and relaxation. Pure wow!

    Level: elementary

    • Monday 19:15 Modern Mattox w/ Magdalena

  • This isn't your typical dance class - Lester Horton's method is all about understanding your body from the inside out through anatomical precision.

    We focus on flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness in ways that will prepare you for literally any dance style.

    After mastering the technique, we put it all together with Horton-inspired choreography. It's challenging, it's precise, and it's incredibly satisfying!

    Level: elementary

    • Thursday 18:15 Modern Horton w/ Alain

  • Get ready to make the floor your new dance partner! Floor work is all about controlled, fluid movements - rolls, slides, falls - that require serious body awareness, strength, and flexibility.

    We're not just moving on the floor, we're dancing WITH it. Every roll, every slide becomes part of your artistic expression. It's common in contemporary and modern dance, but honestly, it adds something special to any dance style.

    It might look effortless, but your muscles will definitely know you've been working. The floor becomes your friend, your support, and sometimes your challenge - all at once!

    Level: elementary

    • Wednesday 19:45 w/ Joy

  • This class focuses on combining the fluidity and expressiveness of contemporary dance with the dynamic and rhythmic qualities of urban styles.

    After a power-core warm up you'll learn innovative choreographies that challenge your technique and creativity, encouraging you to explore new ways of movement and self-expression.

    Level: elementary

    • w/ Sofiia - will be announced soon

SEE TIMETABLE

Previous Workshops


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