BECOMING NATURE - Somatic Movement, Contact Improvisation, Experiential Ecology project, Chiang Dao

BECOMING NATURE - Somatic Movement, Contact Improvisation, and Experiential Ecology project, with Dolores Dewhurst-Marks 3 - 6 JANUARY 2022 CHIANG DAO, THAILAND BECOMING NATURE is part of BEING NATURE PROJECT - Encouraging people to discover their own way of connecting with deeper self and the natural world. Inspiring them to feel nature as part of their body, and from that embodied understanding move towards positive change, with acknowledgement of the current environmental situation. Offering space for exploration, collaboration, artistic expression and environmental activism. BECOMING NATURE is an artistic laboratory focused on the process of immersion in nature; the transitional luminous state between separation and unity; an embodied poetic journey from being with nature - perceiving nature apart, objectively relating to it as other, to being nature - perceiving intersubjectively, experiencing an interconnected state of co-emergence. When we are deep in nature with our senses wide open what we know as self is changing, our identity decomposing, and a deeper ground of relating with others and the natural world is being revealed. We are living in an era of digital disembodiment, social distancing and physical isolation, where our relationships with nature, each other and our body are becoming increasingly indirect, prioritizing images over actual sensing and feeling. In our actions we’re losing crucial information; the ground and aliveness of the present situation as an individual and as a collective. Where technological progress moves us further away from embodied experiences, our sense of wellbeing and the wellbeing of our environment are heavily impacted. We move further into compromise, progressively increasing in its complexity. Being Nature comes as a necessity, to rebuild and rediscover connections with our inner and outer corporeal worlds, to reconnect with the present moment and relieve symptoms of severance from our growing isolation. Nature supports the transformations we are going through by revealing our presence, nourishing us with energy, yielding unnecessary tensions, bringing clarity and precision to our movement. Nature inspires us by uncovering our creative potential, the power of our imagination and intuition. The initiative of the art laboratory is to inspire participants to reconnect with nature experientially and share the research with a wider audience through text/poetry, photography and film. Project collaborators: Fern Srip (Film/photographer), Veronia Olariu (photographer), A’Pun (environmentalist from Chiang Dao) & Tristan Lecomte (environmentalist based in Chiang Mai). The program: Morning 1 hour somatic movement practice to attune the body-mind. Followed by a trip into nature (5 hours), in which we will contemplate, sense and feel our way through the process of becoming nature. Nature sessions will be mostly non-verbal to deepen our listening. We will begin with group tuning to the each other and the place, followed by framed explorations; moving and witnessing, alone and with a partner, engaging in physical contact with nature and each other. The program will include invitations to poetically contemplate and write about our experiences in nature, and share in evening circles. Night time we can visit to the hot springs close by. Schedule: 3/01 14:00-16:30 first meeting in movement 18:30+ dinner/fire 4/01 8:00-9:30 somatic movement practice 10:30-16:00 nature session 18:30+ dinner/talks/hot springs 5/01 8:00-9:30 somatic movement practice 10:30-16:00 nature session 18:30+ dinner/talks/hot springs 6/01 8:00-9:30 somatic movement practice 10:30-13:30 nature session 13:30-15:00 lunch/sharing/goodbye Food & Accommodation: There are options to rent private & shared bungalows or camping where tents & sleeping equipment can be provided. Places can be reserved when you register. There is also a kitchen in which we can cook together meals. Lunch time we will be in nature so its good to bring a water bottle and snacks with you - fresh/dried fruits & nuts for example. Also extra warm clothes for mornings & evenings, a swimsuit for the hot springs, comfortable shoes for light trekking, and a notebook for writing. Chiang Dao is about 1.5 hours drive from Chiang Mai, it has a farmers market on the main road for local fruit & veg, a small supermarket, and a few restaurants with Thai & Western food around. If you do not have your own transportation, inform when you register so lifts can be organised. Price & Registration: Based on donation. Price of food & accommodation are not included. To register pm Being Nature / Dolores Dewhurst-Marks https://beingnature.space/ ABOUT DOLORES Dolores was born and raised in London, England. Her parents were environmental and social activists, vegetarians, vegetable growers, entrepreneurs in the health food movement of the 1980’s. For over 20 years her father worked in the recycling industry. Her mother, a sociology major, worked in social welfare for governmental and charitable bodies, and supported local and national environmental protests, by informing protestors of their civil rights. Their care for environmental conservation, social responsibility and independent initiative has deeply inspired her work as an artist and curator. As a member of Woodcraft Folk, a co-operative movement for young people, she was educated on world issues such as the environment, world debt, global conflict and sustainable development. She graduated from Roehampton University with a Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Dance and Choreography in London, where she was introduced to Buddhist Meditation and Contact Improvisation. Further studying Somatic Movement Education at the School for Body-Mind Centering in Germany. Before leaving the UK, Dolores made the Coast to Coast walk across the north of England. She spent 4 years travelling throughout Asia; India, Thailand, Indonesia, Maylasia and Cambodia, studying yoga and meditation, and volunteering for 6 months with the charity All Hands and Hearts, helping communities in the Philippines impacted by typhoon Yolanda. Living nomadically for almost 10 years, she has been teaching and co-organising somatic, Contact Improvisation and water dance events in India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. She is currently based in Koh Phangan, Thailand. Dolores is a multidisciplinary artist, working with somatics, dance, performance, poetry and nature. In collaboration with Sasha Dodo directing and curating REVERSE RIVERS COMPANY, a vehicle for their artistic work; ART CONTINUUM NOMADIC RESIDENCY, designed for international artistic exchange, development and production of art, focused in fields of dance improvisation, performance, poetry and film. The residency is a supportive and inspiring environment for emerging artists and artists searching for new perspectives, multidisciplinary experimentation and artistic development in collaboration; Co-organizer of TOWARDS center for the education and research of Contact Improvisation, THAILAND CONTACT & MOVEMENT ARTS FESTIVAL, and THAILAND CONTACT IMPROVISATION CONFERENCE . Co-author of THE LOST PLACE book of poetry and FORGOTTEN POEM, a contemplative poetic dance film. You can find most of her works displayed on Reverse Rivers Company website.