As much as the ideals of Contact Improvisation emphasize neutrality and egalitarianism, power dynamics do arise, typically along the lines of height, physical strength, and gender. We will explore and develop methods and techniques for subverting these tendencies.
In a dance LAB structure, instructor and facilitator Lydia Love will share her approaches for going against these habitual roles and behaviors. Beyond that, she will use vulnerability and self-awareness exercises as catalysts for participants to further explore the subversion of power dynamics in the dance.
Redistribution of power in a Contact Improv context is often a conversation about body politics. While this workshop will improve your ability to defend your own safety and the safety of your partner(s), we will then be expanding these tools into the nuances of comfort and pleasure, and then into tools for creativity, inspiration, and play.
There are 6 classes in total, each exploring a different component:
Strength, Resistance, Embodiment, Assertiveness, Discomfort, and Self-Permission. These are structured as a course but can function as stand-alone classes. All skill levels are welcome and appropriate.
Strength, Resistance, Embodiment, Assertiveness, Discomfort, and Self-Permission. These are structured as a course but can function as stand-alone classes. All skill levels are welcome and appropriate.
Class 1: Power Dynamics of Strength
This exploration of personal strength uses gentle movement and full voice singing to link taking up auditory space with taking up physical space. Using power poses and fighting stances, we search for comfort in asserting our power. The final hour is open movement, with a freedom to exercise taking up space without the guidance of a facilitator.
This exploration of personal strength uses gentle movement and full voice singing to link taking up auditory space with taking up physical space. Using power poses and fighting stances, we search for comfort in asserting our power. The final hour is open movement, with a freedom to exercise taking up space without the guidance of a facilitator.
Class 2: Power Dynamics of Resistance
This series of games illustrates positional body mechanics, specifically vulnerability and strength. The intention is to find these places and practice leveraging them in various scenarios. You will laugh a lot.
This series of games illustrates positional body mechanics, specifically vulnerability and strength. The intention is to find these places and practice leveraging them in various scenarios. You will laugh a lot.
Class 3: Power Dynamics of Embodiment
This exploration of personal strength uses gentle movement and full voice singing to link taking up auditory space with taking up physical space. Using power poses and fighting stances, we search for comfort in asserting our power. The final hour is open movement, with a freedom to exercise taking up space without the guidance of a facilitator.
This exploration of personal strength uses gentle movement and full voice singing to link taking up auditory space with taking up physical space. Using power poses and fighting stances, we search for comfort in asserting our power. The final hour is open movement, with a freedom to exercise taking up space without the guidance of a facilitator.
Class 4: Power Dynamics of Assertiveness
Taking yourself outside the world of predictability, in a way, takes you away from the safety that following the herd provides. In order to navigate new terrain with safety, you must become your own shepard. Using a very gradual escalation and deescalation of personal attentiveness and internal feedback, we will zoom in to the microscopic level of self-knowledge and emotional safety. The tone of the open movement will an uplifting celebration of open-heartedness.
Taking yourself outside the world of predictability, in a way, takes you away from the safety that following the herd provides. In order to navigate new terrain with safety, you must become your own shepard. Using a very gradual escalation and deescalation of personal attentiveness and internal feedback, we will zoom in to the microscopic level of self-knowledge and emotional safety. The tone of the open movement will an uplifting celebration of open-heartedness.
Class 5: Power Dynamics of Discomfort
In the face of discomfort, the system frantically rifles through distractions and opportunities to experience ANYTHING else. As dancers we are always experiencing some form of duress. Opening up opportunities to explicitly choose our reactions to discomfort, we flip our internal emotional script. Halfway through the class, we will return to the cathartic singing exercise from lesson one. We will explore creativity in a state of emotional duress. The open movement at the end of this class will be gentle after care as you gradually return to homeostasis.
In the face of discomfort, the system frantically rifles through distractions and opportunities to experience ANYTHING else. As dancers we are always experiencing some form of duress. Opening up opportunities to explicitly choose our reactions to discomfort, we flip our internal emotional script. Halfway through the class, we will return to the cathartic singing exercise from lesson one. We will explore creativity in a state of emotional duress. The open movement at the end of this class will be gentle after care as you gradually return to homeostasis.
Class 6: Power Dynamics of Self-Permission
Tethering antagonism and acceptance, we sift through our anxiety around control and predictability. Within a controlled space, we will explore receiving complex and chaotic input to challenge our individual precognitions of being an open vessel.This can be an opportunity to dive deep into resisting or exploring self-imposed restriction for those that want to. All the exercises are able to be participated in at a variety of intensities. The final hour is open movement, with a chance to explore or integrate the various techniques from the entire course.
Tethering antagonism and acceptance, we sift through our anxiety around control and predictability. Within a controlled space, we will explore receiving complex and chaotic input to challenge our individual precognitions of being an open vessel.This can be an opportunity to dive deep into resisting or exploring self-imposed restriction for those that want to. All the exercises are able to be participated in at a variety of intensities. The final hour is open movement, with a chance to explore or integrate the various techniques from the entire course.
Tickets are available at https://www.artful.ly/passionate-persuasions.
