Diving into Softness. C.I. Workshop in Zurich

Diving into Softness - Contact Improvisation Workshop with Hugh Stanier

 

Morning session: Falling & catching

We will begin by playing with gravity and momentum, focusing on the ideas of falling and flying- both in solo movement, and in contact. Starting close to the ground and building up through levels, we develop confidence in our own abilities, building trust in the body.

By researching in our solo movement the subtle mechanics of ‘small dance’, suspension & reaching, we progress towards using momentum and spirals to learn, fluid ways to lift one-another through ‘catching a ride’. Working with the frame and structure of the arms, we will explore ways connect to space and find counterbalance in the body, providing frames to both lift and be lifted, and offer structures to be explored. We will focus in on the details and technique of body tone, alignment and small points of contact, that help with finding lightness in being lifted and efficiency in lifting.

 

Afternoon session: Slowing down & finding depth

We will take more time to slow down even more, and from this space discover the subtle nuances that allow for clearer & deeper communication within the dance. The gentle sliding of fascia that indicates direction of movement, tuning to a partners’ breath to ‘hear’ their intention and waiting in stillness together to allow the dance to arise from your shared connection, are a few of the ideas and principles we will explore in this time. A space of allowing and giving trust to yourself, our dancing partners and feeling more the nature of improvisation

 

Biography:

Hugh is a Contemporary Dance Artist specialising in Floorwork & Contact Improvisation. He has over 15 years of  teaching & performance experience. He began dancing when he was 15, training in Break dance and Contemporary. He went on to train at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, graduating in 2008. Since then he has worked with companies such as 2Faced Dance, Tom Dale, STAN Won’t Dance, and Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez.

He has taught internationally at the Goa Contact Festival, Goa Dance residency, Thailand Contact and ecstatic arts festival, Berlin contact festival and Portugal Contact festival and for National Dance company Wales (NDCW) as well as organising his own workshops and retreats in Portugal, Germany and Israel. 

Within his teaching practice he combines his experience in Breakdance, Contemporary and Contact Improvisation to create a highly physical, technical and intuitive  approach to movement exploration.

He is also a qualified TMW (Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing) facilitator. The principles of Tai Chi and Qi Kung underpin his approach to teaching and sharing movement.

Tickets & Booking: https://eventfrog.ch/de/p/kurse-seminare/musik-tanz/diving-into-softness-contact-improvisation-w-hugh-stanier-7141899161650051219.html#