5 days, 3hrs per day, 9am-noon at the Dovercourt House in Toronto. Go to Contact Us on the right side of the page to register or inquire. $150
This is a brief workshop looking at a very specific aspect of Contact Improvisation. It is not the be all and end all of CI. Participants should have some experience with CI, also, be free of injuries.
We will look at the natural inclination of the body to spiral and where to apply spiral movement in the CI duet. Spiral movement as studied in Taoist Tai Chi is naturally occurring in the body. It is how the bones and muscles are laid. Everything from the DNA to the Milky Way is spiralling. Access spiral movement patterns and you will unlock strength when lifting, as well as, become very light when climbing. Here is a cool video to give you an idea of what we will be doing in class.
Teacher’s bio: I began doing Contact in Toronto in 1997. At the same time, I studied extensively with the Taoist Tai Chi society. I was surprised by the similarity of what was being taught by CI teachers and Tai Chi. In both disciplines we are to line up our bones, not use our muscles, relax, and spiral. I made a point of learning Paxton’s Material For the Spine through Karen Nelson and Nancy Stark Smith. Again, the subject of spiral movement played prominently in the teaching. In 2010, I opened Leviathan Studio as a place for the long-term study of Contact Improvisation. I began teaching in 2014 because I felt that what was really important in CI, spiral movement, was not being emphasized enough. I have since developed this approach to CI in a 12day format and in this workshop, we will be having a very focused 15hrs of training. In this video below, you can see the progression from Tai Chi to partner duet, to push-hands, to lifts and finally, spiralling around the neck.
