Contemporary Play with Xenia Mansour

Friday, January 23, 2026

Friday, February 27, 2026

Friday, March 6, 2026

Friday, March 13, 2026

Time: 9:30-11 AM

Location: Ruth Page Center for the Arts

Contemporary Play is focused on using a myriad of improvisation tasks and explorations to warm up the body, drop us in the space, and begin connecting with others in the room. As we progress, we’ll delve into contemporary phrase work that will serve as the foundation for our movement exploration. Through the use of various choreographic tools and directives, we’ll expand and play with the original phrase, keeping curiosity and intentionality at the forefront of our time together.

Xenia Mansour is a Chicago-based movement artist, performer, director, and coach. She holds a BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch and has performed with NYC-based choreographers and collectives, including HIVEWILD, BodyStories, HOLDTIGHT, and Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener. Recently, she performed in Brendan Fernandes’ “In Two” at the Pulitzer Arts Museum and choreographed/performed in “Welcome Home” at Steppenwolf Theatre with Grammy-nominated musician Nico Segal. Her work has been presented by Thodos Dance Chicago/DanceWorks Chicago for “New Dances” at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, and has also been commissioned by Grammy-winner Kalia Vandever and MOMENTA Dance Company. She is also the founder of Philoxenia Movement LLC,  a nexus of dance & movement that delivers private movement instruction, choreography/movement direction, performance, and consultation services based in Chicago. 

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Join us at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts for Open Technique Classes with the Ruth Page Professional Dance Training Program*, on Fridays at 9:30 am. The class will feature rotating guest artists and Ruth Page School of Dance faculty. Method and technique will vary by teacher.

*Ruth Page Professional Dance Training Program (PDTP) serves as a bridge between studio training and a professional dance career. Dancers train and rehearse daily, 9 am – 4 pm, from August to June at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, focusing on refining ballet and contemporary technique in an international environment of performers, educators, and mentors. PDTP is designed for dancers between the ages of 17-25 who have completed high school and are preparing for a professional career. Trainees receive individualized coaching from accomplished faculty and curated international guest choreographers. The Ruth Page Professional Dance Training Program also offers international travel* (when available), limited need-based scholarships, and affordable housing. For further information about the Professional Dance Training Program (PDTP), reach out to the Artistic Associate, Maray Gutierrez, at pdtp@ruthpage.org