Dancing at SOMA December 26th.

The Sunday jam on 12-26 will be at SOMA, 218 N. Fourth Ave, the usual place of the Wednesday jams. See below and to the right for a map.
dance with you soon!

Upcoming weekend of improv classes; jams jammin'!

IMPROVISATION & IMAGE-MAKING Workshop with David Lakein

We are moving… here and now… creating material…

We are improvising… in time and space… making images…

How can we identify the constant impulses around~inside us? How can we include the abundance of stimuli confronting us in each moment, rather than be distracted or overwhelmed by them? How can the ever-present flow of information further reveal the timing and quality of our material, the narrative and resonance of our images?

We investigate compositional options available to us, especially when we aim to instill coherency as we improvise, and when we encounter unfamiliar territory as we image-make. We experiment with different aspects of our performance presence, including how to bridge so-called transitions and draw-deflect-redirect attention.

Open to movers, dancers, actors, etc -- folks from all disciplines and training backgrounds, “beginners” and professionals.

Date and time: Saturday, December 11^th 12 - 4:30pm

Location: The Yellow Barn, 416 West Huron St., Ann Arbor

Cost: sliding scale $50-$35 (includes free admission to evening performance event)

t h e J O Y

o f M A N I P U L A T I O N, Contact Improvisation Class

This class looks at how manipulating & and being manipulated by our partner(s) can be a tool for breaking long-entrenched movement habits and a source for increasing our creativity range.

As the “Giver” –

What are different approaches to guiding and directing my partner?

What are the dis/advantages in making my intentions transparent to my partner?

As the “Receiver” –

How can I give myself completely to the whims of my partner or actively resist and work against her impulses?

How can I shift back and forth between the two in different ways?

JOY MANIPULATION will enter different landscapes of harmonious struggle and discover new vistas of collaborative conflict, scratching the edges of our perceived physical and mental boundaries.

Class date and time: Sunday, December 12, 11am-1pm with contact jam to follow from 1-3pm

Location: The Phoenix Center, 220 Main St. (above Elmo's), Ann Arbor

Cost: sliding scale $20-10

*****Note: Discounted tuition for attending both classes -- $45 Also note that the class and workshop are in different spaces*****

Our weekly jams have been a blast, and continue through the Fall, Sundays 1-3PM!

Different location this week 11-14-10

Hi Dancers,
This week November 14th we will dance at SOMA studio, which is at 218 Fourth Avenue, above the People's Food Coop. The door is just to the left of the Coop, and the studio is right at the top of the stairs. Click here for a map.

Fall Jams

Hi Everyone,

Some of us are back from GLACIER ready to share what we've learned and eager to dance with those who couldn't make it. We're back on to our usual time and place, 1-3PM Sundays at the Phoenix Center.

Dance on!

Different location and time this week

Hi Dancers,

This week October 3rd we will dance from 10-12AM at SOMA studio, which is at 218 Fourth Avenue, above the People's Food Coop. The door is just to the left of the Coop, and the studio is right at the top of the stairs. Click here for a map.

Fall Jams begin

We're on for the Fall! We've been having a great time at the jams, and would love to see you. Hope you can make it. We're also looking forward to GLACIER coming up October 1-5. It's a peaceful, lively five days of contact instruction and jam at a beautiful retreat center in northern Wisconsin. See the PDF at the bottom of the page glacierdancer.com for more info.

Summer jams happenin!

Weekly jams are happening all summer. We've had some outdoor jams, some concert jams, and great times in our usual space at the Phoenix Center. Starting this week, we're back on every week at Phoenix for now, but be sure to check back to see what we're up to!

Concert of Colors Jam this Sunday, July 18th

The jam will be at the usual time this Sunday, 1-3 PM, but will be in Detroit at the Concert of Colors. We've danced here before, and it's always been a blast. There's a great grassy area, sometimes with a tent for shade (so bring your sunscreen just in case), then tons of food, music, and standie-uppy dancing to follow. It's at 3711 Woodward Avenue, The Max.

Here's a map.

Beginner class this Saturday; jam back to regular time

This Saturday June 19th, Richard will teach a beginner class at the Zen Buddhist Temple at 1214 Packard, 48104. Here's what he says:

It's a true introductory class, assuming no knowledge of contact improvisation and really going through the basics. If you've never done contact improvisation before, never taken formal classes, or feel like there may be gaps in your fundamentals, this is for you. I think I've managed to draw from a wide variety of sources for ideas as well as develop some novel approaches to certain topics.

Suggested donation is $35, all proceeds benefit the Temple.


Here are the topics I'll be covering and emphasizing:

* coming in and out of the floor
* weight-sharing (LOTS on this)
* rolling point of contact
* waiting, listening, and relaxing; being unintentional

And these will additionally be covered as time allows:

* setting boundaries
* falling
* floor work
* jam negotiation

However, I'll be adjusting the class if folks express an particular interest in exploring one area or another. If you have a fundamentals issue that you'd like covered, come and mention it or e-mail me, and I'll see if I can work it in.

Also, jams are back to the usual time on Sundays, from 1-3PM at the Phoenix Center.

Performance this weekend; early jam Sunday June 13; beginner class in one week

Wow, dancers, lots going on! First, it's

LOVE AT VARIOUS ALTITUDES

A concert of improvised dance, music and video work

Three shows only!

Friday, June 11, evening show at 7:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13, matinees at 2:00PM

KEENE THEATER, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
701 E. UNIVERSITY
Ann Arbor, MI

Nationally acclaimed dance collective,

LAVA with musicians alvin hill and Katri Ervamaa

With special guests: Abby Alwin, Aidan Feldman, Cara Graninger, Kenneth Loud, Michael McIntyre, Andy Seiler, Robin Wilson and Colin Zyskowski

$15 General Admission
$10 Students and seniors
$8 Kids 14 and under

for reservations or information call Stefanie Cohen @ 734-474-1517

Founded in Chicago in 2001, LAVA includes Charles Campbell, Stefanie Cohen, Carl Grimm, Erica Hagen, Mark Koenig, and Luv Joy Seamon.

LAVA has performed throughout the United States, on their own and in collaboration with a wide range of movement, sound, textual, and vocal artists. Watching an improvisational dance performance by LAVA offers an opportunity to witness the human creative process spontaneously unfold. LAVA dancers deftly and joyfully explore the many possibilities within the grassroots, postmodern dance form of Contact Improvisation Dance.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127216160626435

Download Event Poster.

Second, our jam starts early this week, from 11-1, at the usual place in the Phoenix Center. Hope to see you there!

Also, Richard will teach a beginner/fundamentals class on Saturday June 19th as a fundraiser for the Zen Temple, from 1-5PM. It's at 1214 Packard Street, 48104. Please invite anyone you know who may be interested in checking us out.

Contact Improvisation Workshop with Mark Koenig, June 5

Flight Lessons

Saturday, June 5, 2010,  2- 6pm

The Phoenix Center
220 Main Street, second floor (Above Elmo's)
Ann Arbor, MI

Returning to an Aikido principle of redirecting energy, and using our partners’ weight and momentum to facilitate that redirection, we will explore flight, take-offs, weightlessness, descents, safe landings, balance and support.

We never get BEYOND the fundamentals. We can only aspire to master them.

Information/Registration: call Stefanie Cohen 734-474-1517

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121077647914319

open Contact Improv Jam, Sat, May 15, 7:30pm, Concourse Hall

Please join us for an evening Contact Improv Jam, Saturday, May 15, 7:30pm till late.

This is in place of our usual Sunday afternoon Jam and is open to everyone.

A big jam crew is expected from the ongoing Mini-GLACIER weekend workshop. Join the fun!

Location:
4531 Concourse Road, Ann Arbor, MI


Contribution: $5-10

No regular jam this weekend at Phoenix Center since we will all be at the Weekend Event at Concourse Hall.

http://www.facebook.com/a2detroit.ci

Contact Improv Weekend Workshop & Jam, May 14-16

We are pleased to share that Yves Candau will be joining our dance weekend festival as facilitator & teacher on May 14-16, 2010

It would be great to know that *you* are joining us too!

No regular jam this weekend at Phoenix Center since we will all be at the Weekend Event at Concourse Hall.

BIO: "Yves Candau was doing a PhD in Cognitive Sciences when he discovered dance. Gradually his interest shifted from the abstract to a more embodied research, which he has been passionately pursuing ever since. Yves has taught Contact Improvisation since 2001, giving classes and workshops in France, Italy, Germany and Canada. His teaching has also been influenced by his study of Aikido and the Alexander Technique."

More info on our Facebook page...

Also, here's a great video about contact improv. I think it really captures the essence for anyone, new or old
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzb9Hnjnd5g

Jam this Sunday

We're still meeting every Sunday from 1-3PM at the Shaut Cabaret. Hope to see you there!

Jam tomorrow

Hi everyone,

I haven't been able to get to posting much lately, but we have been having excellent jams every Sunday. There will definitely be a post here if we're not jamming, so please come on over to the jam unless you see news here otherwise. Hope to dance with you soon!

Jam Sunday the 17th

Hi Dancers,
After a week off, we're all ready to share energy picked up in Mazomanie last weekend. We'll meet at the usual time and place, 1-3PM at the Shaut Cabaret. See you there!

No jam this Sunday :-(

Unfortunately, many of us are out of town this weekend, so we won't be having a jam. We'll be learning about teaching, improv movement theater, and of course contact, so we'll be looking forward to dancing with you all next week (the 17th).
hugs,
A.