"A lot of our work is crashing and landing on our hands," Richard Chen See (far left), dancer with the preeminent Paul Taylor Dance Company, told a master dance class of 35 students and Professor Marcia Murdock on Monday, Oct. 27.

Chen See presented movement material from the program the dance company performed on Sunday at the Redfern Arts Center, which the students attended. In seeing the compositions Airs, Piazzolla Caldera, and Promethean Fire performed by the company and attempting some of the dances in class with Chen See, students experienced a bit of modern dance history, since Taylor choreographed Airs early in his career (1978) and Promethean Fires in 2002.

Giving students directions such as "stretch, flip, and melt" and "listen to your feet," Chen See beautifully demonstrated and articulated the technique that has made Paul Taylor the reigning master of modern dance in America.

Chen See, who has toured professionally for 25 years, told the class, "How you hold yourself in your body is how the world perceives you."

"This master class is a perfect example of how the Redfern Arts Center's programming supports the goals of our academic departments," said Professor Murdock.