"What moves itself has been shown to be immortal... every body in which movement comes from within has a soul,
as that is the nature of the Soul." Phadrus, Plato
as that is the nature of the Soul." Phadrus, Plato
SPRING CONTACT IMPROV CLASSES 2024
***ANNOUNCING A NEW SERIES IN MAY!!
Join us for another series Saturdays, May 4, 11, and 18...
1 - 5pm at The Hive in Port Hadlock.
All other details below remain the same...
register today to hold your spot. Class size limited to 12 new students!
Join us for another series Saturdays, May 4, 11, and 18...
1 - 5pm at The Hive in Port Hadlock.
All other details below remain the same...
register today to hold your spot. Class size limited to 12 new students!
In our Foundations Introductory Series we will explore in depth the basic principles that enable contact dancers (new and old) to enjoy the
underlying the magic of this dance.
underlying the magic of this dance.
We discover that Contact Improvisation has four main ingredients:
Presence, Point of Contact, Weight Sharing, and Momentum.
We take a slow, mindful approach to attune our minds and bodies
to move together with care and ease.
Presence, Point of Contact, Weight Sharing, and Momentum.
We take a slow, mindful approach to attune our minds and bodies
to move together with care and ease.
This is meant to be experienced as a complete series, but you are welcome to come to the first class and just check it out!
First Class: $75 (Scale available to $60)
3-Class Series: $200 (scale available to $170 for accessibility,
please pay what you can)
(***Returning students are welcome to join for a
50% discount off the regular cost***)
You are welcome to register by sending me an email with a bit about your experience and interest at movinggrace@gmail.com and making your payment through Venmo @mia-movinggrace or PayPal with my email
and Friends & Family option.
**Class Size is limited so Register Now to save your spot!
More About Our Foundations Classes...
Starting at the very beginning, we discuss and establish our culture of consent and conscious connection.
This emerges within the principle of Presence.
Our inquiry continues with practices that cultivate helpful "Ways of Being" in our bodies and minds.
When approached with care and spaciousness, CI can help our nervous systems shift into regulated states
of relaxation, receptivity, and sensitivity.
From here we explore "Ways of Engaging"... and develop our own sensibilities to guide us in and out of dances
with consciousness, kindness, and presence.
The basic physical principles of engagement are point of contact. weight sharing, and momentum.
These are the skills we build gradually over the series of classes.
Although there will be much more to learn and discover, this series will give students the confidence and comfort they need to arrive in the community "Jam" space ready to enjoy and feel safe.
This emerges within the principle of Presence.
Our inquiry continues with practices that cultivate helpful "Ways of Being" in our bodies and minds.
When approached with care and spaciousness, CI can help our nervous systems shift into regulated states
of relaxation, receptivity, and sensitivity.
From here we explore "Ways of Engaging"... and develop our own sensibilities to guide us in and out of dances
with consciousness, kindness, and presence.
The basic physical principles of engagement are point of contact. weight sharing, and momentum.
These are the skills we build gradually over the series of classes.
Although there will be much more to learn and discover, this series will give students the confidence and comfort they need to arrive in the community "Jam" space ready to enjoy and feel safe.
“Mia’s classes opened up in me a whole world of movement and self expression. I learned the core principals of Contact that not only give me more fluidity and confidence in dance but inform my soul as well about being in a body, in care and in loving grace.”
~ Ward Serrill
~ Ward Serrill
“Mia’s vast pool of teachings are rich with metaphor which deepens the dance and provides food for mind/body/spirit integration. In ongoing classes, great trust and rapport is built amongst the participants."
~ Jennifer Hill
~ Jennifer Hill
Mia also offers private sessions in Contact Improvisation skill building,
as well as Somatic Healing Process Work.
Please contact her for more information.
as well as Somatic Healing Process Work.
Please contact her for more information.
SPECIAL EVENT COMING RIGHT UP!...
GLOBAL UNDERSCORE 2024!
SATURDAY JUNE 22ND
We join the rest of the world at 8am PST... ending at noon!
Potluck Lunch & Linger
https://globalunderscore.com/harvest/
The Underscore, a long-form dance improvisation structure created by Nancy Stark Smith, incorporates Contact Improvisation (CI) into the broader arena of improvisational dance practice. Global Underscore (GUS) centers around a yearly event in which the Underscore is practiced simultaneously for a 4-hour period by people all over the world near the summer solstice (northern hemisphere).
70+ sites participate in GUS.
The Underscore, which has been evolving since 1990, is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation (CI) into the broader arena of improvisational dance practice; developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable.
The practice progresses through a broad range of dynamic states, including long periods of very small, private, and quiet internal activity and other times of higher energy and interactive dancing.
There are 20+ phases, 12+ connections, and 7 aspects of the Underscore—each with a name and a graphic symbol—which create a general map for the dancers. Within that frame, dancers are free to create their own movements, dynamics, and relationships—with themselves, each other, the group, the music, and the environment. Each Underscore is unique, providing rich and often inspiring experiences of the human and artistic phenomena of dance improvisation.
Near the beginning and at the end of the Global Underscore practice, dancers at each site do the Stand/Small Dance (a focus on standing developed by Steve Paxton) together facing the next site around the globe, making an energetic line that spirals around the earth. These are called the Facings.
We begin with a “Talk-Through” of the Underscore, which often takes about an hour, before dancing the Underscore. The Underscore is generally not led with verbal cues; the idea is that people “know” it already and are coming together to share the practice. Participants come on time and stay for the duration of the event.
SATURDAY JUNE 22ND
We join the rest of the world at 8am PST... ending at noon!
Potluck Lunch & Linger
https://globalunderscore.com/harvest/
The Underscore, a long-form dance improvisation structure created by Nancy Stark Smith, incorporates Contact Improvisation (CI) into the broader arena of improvisational dance practice. Global Underscore (GUS) centers around a yearly event in which the Underscore is practiced simultaneously for a 4-hour period by people all over the world near the summer solstice (northern hemisphere).
70+ sites participate in GUS.
The Underscore, which has been evolving since 1990, is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation (CI) into the broader arena of improvisational dance practice; developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable.
The practice progresses through a broad range of dynamic states, including long periods of very small, private, and quiet internal activity and other times of higher energy and interactive dancing.
There are 20+ phases, 12+ connections, and 7 aspects of the Underscore—each with a name and a graphic symbol—which create a general map for the dancers. Within that frame, dancers are free to create their own movements, dynamics, and relationships—with themselves, each other, the group, the music, and the environment. Each Underscore is unique, providing rich and often inspiring experiences of the human and artistic phenomena of dance improvisation.
Near the beginning and at the end of the Global Underscore practice, dancers at each site do the Stand/Small Dance (a focus on standing developed by Steve Paxton) together facing the next site around the globe, making an energetic line that spirals around the earth. These are called the Facings.
We begin with a “Talk-Through” of the Underscore, which often takes about an hour, before dancing the Underscore. The Underscore is generally not led with verbal cues; the idea is that people “know” it already and are coming together to share the practice. Participants come on time and stay for the duration of the event.
Past Events...
OUR FIRST PORT TOWNSEND
GLOBAL UNDERSCORE!!
A summer solstice celebration for contact improvisers and curious movers all around the world. In its 23rd year, we gather at the same time globally to celebrate and deepen our practice of connection.
Saturday June 24th
8am - 12pm
By donation
hosted at The Songhouse Sanctuary
on our beautiful outdoor dance floor!
584 N Jacob Miller Rd
Port Townsend
Bring layers, water, a notebook… and your curious, playful soul!
Learn more at globalunderscore.com
THE UNDERSCORE
The Underscore is a long-form dance improvisation structure developed by Nancy Stark Smith. It has been evolving since 1990 and is practiced all over the globe.
The Underscore is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation into a broader arena of improvisational dance practice; for developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable.
The practice—usually 3 to 4 hours in length—progresses through a broad range of dynamic states, including long periods of very small, private, and quiet internal activity and other times of higher energy and interactive dancing.
(taken from Nancystarksmith.com)
GLOBAL UNDERSCORE!!
A summer solstice celebration for contact improvisers and curious movers all around the world. In its 23rd year, we gather at the same time globally to celebrate and deepen our practice of connection.
Saturday June 24th
8am - 12pm
By donation
hosted at The Songhouse Sanctuary
on our beautiful outdoor dance floor!
584 N Jacob Miller Rd
Port Townsend
Bring layers, water, a notebook… and your curious, playful soul!
Learn more at globalunderscore.com
THE UNDERSCORE
The Underscore is a long-form dance improvisation structure developed by Nancy Stark Smith. It has been evolving since 1990 and is practiced all over the globe.
The Underscore is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation into a broader arena of improvisational dance practice; for developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable.
The practice—usually 3 to 4 hours in length—progresses through a broad range of dynamic states, including long periods of very small, private, and quiet internal activity and other times of higher energy and interactive dancing.
(taken from Nancystarksmith.com)
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