Philly Underscore February 29 2020

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW LOCATION: Mascher Space has moved to 2519 Germantown Ave. This is near 10th and Cumberland. If you want to take SEPTA, the 23 bus stops on this block. The Broad Street Line subway stop at Lehigh Avenue is a few blocks away and is named "North Philadelphia" There is ample free street parking for those driving. 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 commit to participating in the entire score. WHAT: UNDERSCORE TALK THROUGH WHEN: Saturday, February 29, 2020 11:30am-12:30pm LOCATION: Mascher Space, 2519 Germantown Ave, 19133 WHO: If you haven't had a talk through and would like to participate in the Underscore, RSVP for this Talk Through by emailing Loren Groenendaal at [email protected]. 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. WHAT: PHILLY UNDERSCORE PRACTICE WHERE: Mascher Space, 2519 Germantown Ave, 19133 WHEN: Saturday, February 29, 2020 1:00-4:00pm WHO: Any mover who has had an Underscore Talk Through may participate. If you've had a talk through, you can come at 1:00 just for the practice. ADMISSION: $5-$15 sliding scale in cash, check or paypal No advance tickets. Pay at event. MORE INFORMATION: 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." (http://nancystarksmith.com/underscore) NOTES: This is NOT a come and go jam. Plan on committing to the whole session. Built into this long duration, there is time for preparation and recovery. As this is a long jam without coming and going, it is highly recommended to bring SNACKS for yourself and ideally some to share with the group in the Harvest and Thanksgiving time at the end. It is recommended to bring a JOURNAL and PEN for reflection during the score or learning the score in the talk through. QUESTIONS: Email [email protected] Photo by Jen Kertis-Veit of December 2017 Underscore at the Whole Shebang