FINDING THE SPARKLE: A 6-Day Contact Improvisation Intensive

This is a weekend Contact Improvisation Intensive led by Sarah Young and Angela-Mara Florant. Sourcing research from Nancy Stark Smith, Steve Paxton, and our own decades of practice in the form, we build on practical physical studies and ways of tuning our awareness towards spontaneous dance-making.

Summer is a wonderful time to dance with others. There’s a lightness; something fresh. Whether it’s sunlight glimmering off the pond or a dance that takes a surprising turn, we catch the flickering moments and ride the mystery.

Each day we drop into subtle physical choice-making with the Feldenkrais Method® and Contemplative Dance Practice. We dive into studies of momentum, gravity, weight-sharing, rolling, spiraling, and falling; our reflexes at work in Contact Improvisation. In the evenings, we continue with jams and group scores. An Underscore with live music concludes the weekend (with a talk-through on Saturday afternoon). There’s time for enjoying delicious meals, swimming, and walks in the countryside.

Arrival is by 4:30 pm on Friday 18 July and departure is at 3:00 pm on Sunday 20 July. As a weekend participant, you will join the group of weeklong participants (who have a Monday arrival). You will be integrated into the classes and jams underway, and we will continue to build momentum and connection in our new configuration.

This intensive is for those wanting a facilitated focused study of Contact Improvisation and is best suited for those with some previous CI jam and/or class experience. You should already know how to reach your hands towards the floor when falling and be responsive to your own self-care needs. We ask that you come ready to contribute positively and collaboratively to the group dynamic.

“Don’t forget the sparkle.” ~ Nancy Stark Smith, Martin Keogh’s interview of Nancy Stark Smith (2019) (00:46)

Early bird offer until 1 June!