Philadelphia Outdoor Underscore 7 25 20 6:30pm

We are trying something NEW for the next Underscore. We will be meeting to dance OUTSIDE Saturday July 25, 2020 6:30-8:30pm in a large beautiful park in West Philly, not far from Center City, Philadelphia. Registration is required, so that the event doesn't get too big. At this time, the legal limit for outdoor public events is 50 people. I am capping registration at 25 to be sure that we have the mental capacity to pay attention to the group. The exact location and directions will be announced after you register. If the location will determine whether you can come or not, please send me a private email to ask where we will be meeting. Registration is first come first serve. Register here by 1pm on Sat 7/25 for the Underscore Practice = https://www.eventbrite.com/e/philadelphia-outdoor-underscore-tickets-113972003330 If for some reason the weather is inclement- severe rain or heat, we can pivot the event to an online Zoom event. Those details will be announced and confirmed day-of. NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR OUTDOOR UNDERSCORE IN A PANDEMIC: Although the Underscore Practice is a form historically based in Contact Improvisation, we will not be touching to prevent transmission of the corona virus. There are many other ways to safely engage with the other movers and our environment. You can learn more in the Talk Through. The Underscore is a carefully held container and an intentional space. This is NOT a come and go jam. We aim to commit to the entire practice together. I hope that those who come to the Assembly at 6:30pm will stay through the conclusion at 8:30pm as it is customary to commit to the full session for an Underscore Practice. However, in these stressful times of Covid-19 pandemic and the odd circumstances of outdoor dancing, I ask us all to be understanding with ourselves and others, if we or another participant is unable to commit to the full event. We will be practicing physical(social) distancing. There will not be touch (contact improvisation). All participants must be at least 6 feet apart in any given moment unless they are already in a quarantine pod/team/household together. Participants must bring a cloth or paper mask to prevent viral transmission. Participants must wear their mask if they are 10 feet or less away from another person. Participants may remove their masks if they are more than 10 feet away from others. WHAT: UNDERSCORE TALK THROUGH WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 8pm-9pm EDT WHERE: on Zoom, link will come in email when you register WHO: If you haven't had a talk through and would like to participate in the Underscore REGISTRATION REQUIRED at by Wed 7/22 3pm EDT= https://muhlenberg.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYvcOmqpjwqHtCxYCBOJBE4SOP0GuOwMwt0 WHY: The Underscore Talk Through outlines the structure of the Underscore Practice, so that participants are all practicing together and nonverbally. The talk through also provides a common language and glyphs (symbols) to use when reflecting on our practice in the concluding Thanksgiving and Harvest. If you have not participated in an Underscore talk through before, you should attend. The talk through introduces you to the structure of the jam, so we can nonverbally follow the dancing journey together. NOTE: If no one registers for this Talk Through by 3pm on Wednesday, July 22, it will NOT be held. WHAT IS THE UNDERSCORE? The Underscore Practice is a simple and beautiful structure for a focused jam-like practice developed by Nancy Stark Smith. The structure is a precise, but open platform for investigation of contact improvisation and solo and group improvised composition. The score is an organic developmental nonverbal sequence that provides focus to the dancing community and opens up possibilities for movement, awareness, connection, and various physical/mental states. We (do our best to) commit to participating in the entire score (which includes resting, eating, digesting, observing, bonding with the earth). Nancy Stark Smith, who originated the practice, describes it this way: "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." More info: http://nancystarksmith.com/underscore BASIC INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR UNDERSCORE PRACTICE WHAT: PHILADELPHIA UNDERSCORE PRACTICE WHERE: outdoor location in Philadelphia TBA (or Zoom if inclement weather) WHEN: Saturday, July 25, 2020 6:30pm-8:30pm WHO: Anyone who has had an Underscore Talk-Through before ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/philadelphia-outdoor-underscore-tickets-113972003330 ADMISSION: Pay what you wish ($0-20 suggested) on Eventbrite with registration or paypal to [email protected] or Venmo @Loren-Groenendaal QUESTIONS: [email protected] or [email protected] Photo by Steve Weisz. (Near but not at our exact location for 7/25/2020)