"If you can move, you can dance" – Zimbabwean Proverb
There is a tendency to
think that one needs to be a certain age, body shape and have years of
training to dance - this simply is not the case! Dancing is one
of the most natural and simple forms of expression and can relieve
stress, free the spirit and boost your confidence.
Below are details & videos about the two movement & dance sessions that we currently offer:
Contact Improvisation & Biodanza
Contact Improvisation ~ Workshop & Jam facilitated by Suna Imre* & Richard Parker “Contact improvisation (CI) is a dance technique in which points of physical contact provide the starting point for an exploration in movement improvisation.” Usually danced in pairs, CI is about trust, awareness, presence and committing to the moment in a continuously unfolding dance that can be playful, sensitive, quiet or energetic. Giving and taking weight, rolling, suspending, falling and flying are all possible ingredients in this spontaneous dance that allows us to connect more fully with ourselves and each other.
Please take a look at the videos below to get a feel for what is contact improvisation.
These sessions include warm up and body awareness practices; learning basic structures, techniques and pathways within CI; exploring how to tune in and respond to each other in an honest and open way; and jamming - a chance to play with what you have learnt and discovered.
Winchester Workshop:
Level: Open to all levels of movement experience, beginners welcome. Please come prepared and wear suitable clothing for physical and dynamic movement that is based in close contact partner work.
Dates & Times:Please see our Events Diary for all dates & times. Venue: Performing Arts Studios (1), King Alfreds Campus, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR
Arrival: Please arrive from 10am so we can start by 10.30am
Information: Richard Parker ~ mail@activeartists.org.uk / 02380 554445 / 07769 901615 Suna Imre ~ sunaroffey@googlemail.com / 07528 392354
*About Suna: Suna Imre is a dance artist and senior lecturer at Winchester University. Specializing in improvisation that comes from the application of somatic dance practices, Suna creates inter-disciplinary performances and projects that are often site-specific. She has had a passionate curiosity for Contact Improvisation for over twenty years, and is constantly surprised and excited by its potential for helping us connect with ourselves, those around us and the world we live in.
What is Contact Improvisation?
Biodanza ~ ‘Dance of Life’ Workshop facilitated by Jo Babic*
A dance workshop that explores authentic, natural and expressive movement inspired by music, life and feeling.
Facilitated through a series of fundamental, expressive and supportive movement exercises we learn to trust and be guided by our own natural movement, integrate our intention and feelings with our body, and connect with a sense of wholeness, well-being and expression within our dance.
In this workshop there are no right or wrong movements and anything is possible from a gentle sway to an energetic expression.
Southampton Workshop:
Level: This session is suitable for both beginners and more experienced dancers. We recommend wearing loose comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. Dates & Times: Please see our Events Diary for all dates / 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Edmund Kell Unitarian Church Hall, Bellevue Road (off London Road), Southampton SO15 2AY
Arrival: Please arrive from 7pm so we can start by 7.30pm Information: Richard Parker ~ mail@activeartists.org.uk / 02380 554445 / 07769 901615 Jo Babic ~ babicjj@hotmail.com / 07904 956855
*About Jo: Jo has spent the last 20 years working within the corporate sector; however since 2000 she became very interested in finding new find ways to bring innovation, creativity and heart into her work. This therefore inspired her to become a certified Life Coach and NLP Master Practitioner, both of which she uses for personal and organisational development within her work. Alongside this, she fell in love with African drumming and enjoys combining the authentic earthy rhythms with natural movement and dance, which is now a regular feature at activearts drum circles. When Jo finally discovered Biodanza she was blown away by the truly amazing and powerful experience it had on her and in more recent years has trained to be a Biodanza facilitator to share these experiences with others. Her passion is facilitating growth, new possibilities and creating harmonious, holistic life experience for herself and those around her.
*About Jo: