ATTACK / RELEASE is a fast-paced contemporary technique class driven by momentum, rhythm, and intention, with the centre of the body as the engine of movement. Stamina is developed through clear, efficient pathways that encourage dancers to move with precision while maintaining freedom and flow.
Influenced by Kathak, flamenco, and martial arts, the class blends traditional forms into a contemporary language, balancing sharp dynamic contrasts with fluidity, weight, and grounding. Rhythm plays a central role, challenging coordination, sharpening musical awareness, and creating a lively dialogue between control and release.
The class begins with a focused warm-up and gradually builds into more complex material shaped by the principle of attack and release. Sharp initiations dissolve into softness and suspension, allowing energy to travel efficiently through the body. Counts, rhythmic patterns, and spinning sequences activate the core, enhance coordination, and keep the work playful, athletic, musical, and highly energising for contemporary dancers.
Jose Agudo (he/him) is a choreographer, performer and teacher working across contemporary dance, theatre, and large-scale performance. His practice explores rhythm, musicality, and the body as a site of cultural exchange, drawing from flamenco, Indian dance traditions, and contemporary movement research.
He has collaborated internationally with artists and companies including Akram Khan Company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Ballet de Marseille, Charleroi/Danses, and Phoenix Dance Theatre, and has choreographed and performed in major productions such as the Opening Ceremony of the Davis Cup 2019. From 2010 to 2017, he worked closely with Akram Khan as a performer, rehearsal director, and assistant choreographer.
In 2017, he founded Agudo Dance Company, creating work that balances physical intensity with nuance while foregrounding process, transmission, and the socio-cultural role of dance. Jose is an internationally sought-after guest artist, working with institutions and festivals worldwide. His practice is rooted in experimentation, dialogue, and embodied research from a socio-anthropological perspective.
Independent Dance is resident at Siobhan Davies Studios. To find out more about accessibility and the amenities available within the building please see here.
If you have any questions about the accessibility of our programme and would like to discuss any specific access requirements, please feel free to reach out to us via email info@independentdance.co.uk or by phone on 0207 091 9650, to speak to a member of the Independent Dance team.
During class, all participants are welcome to take breaks, observe, exit and enter the space as they wish. Lounge areas are available on the first and ground floors of the building. Yoga mats, blocks, cushions and ear defenders are available for use. We also welcome you being in contact if you would like to discuss the option of bringing your access support worker. Please speak to a member of the ID team if you require any assistance.
Prices for classes are kept very low and are subsidised by ID in order to support artists to attend. To keep admin manageable for our small team, we don’t offer refunds if you cancel or can’t attend a class, and we can’t transfer your booking to a different class/event. We hope this is understandable.
If a class is cancelled or changed by ID however, we do offer refunds/transfers to everyone who has booked.