TO BEGIN WITH THE ACT OF GIVING - 11 days Retreat with Dolores Dewhurst Marks

TO BEGIN WITH THE ACT OF GIVING 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Retreat with Dolores Dewhurst Marks Contact Improvisation, Contemplative Practices in Nature, and Embodied Poetry. 1 - 11 October, Chiang Dao, Thailand In collaboration with Alexandra Wuzyk To begin with the act of giving - is an invitation to craft spaciousness for new beginnings, and the gifts of our inherent generosity towards oneself, others, and the space between us. To reverse the cycles of not giving that stop us from giving ourselves away as an offering to this world. To fall intimately within, rediscovering the genius in us that knows directly and lives in the shared space. To discover or deepen the soul’s artistry of asking beautiful and challenging questions, and being vulnerable and available to listen whole-bodily. To access and cultivate a greater support by unifying with the forces of nature and moving towards life together. In this 11 days retreat we will be exploring principles of Contact Improvisation, Aikido (Japanese non-violent martial art), and will be writing and sharing poetry, studying poems of Mary Oliver & Hafez, making rituals and improvised performances. Half of our practices will take place in nature and sometimes during the rain. As well there will be days when we hike in the forest, be with the river and hot spring. We will give enough space for direct experience, witnessing and contemplation. It will be helpful to approach this retreat as a 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒; tuning to moving through occurring challenging circumstances, which are inseparable and potentially insightful part of the process, and supporting each other. We will be working intensely for 6 - 10 hours per day, beginning from early morning. Be ready to practice in physical contact in nature, sometimes in the rain. We will share 2 vegetarian meals together each day. Full commitment and punctual attendance are required for each session. The group size will be approx. 25 people. 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗨𝗘 The program will take place at the Youth Camp in Chiang Dao. The open-air dance space is situated under the Doi Luang Mountain beside a small stream, surrounded by green fields and protected UNESCO forest. The venue is a 10-minute walk from a natural hot spring on the river. Chiang Dao is 1.5 hours North of Chiang Mai (closest international airport). It can be reached by public bus, taxi or with your own vehicle. Chiang Dao: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2uJv52MfxjdcmjTw8 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 Nourishing vegetarian meals 2 times per day are included in the price. 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 Accommodation is not included in the price. There are 2 options for onsite accommodation: Camping space (bring your own tent) for 11 nights - 2200THB Dormitory for 11 nights - 2750THB Both options have a shared kitchen and bathrooms There are also private bungalows for rent within walking distance. 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 (includes meals, accommodation not included): 24000 THB - Basic cost + support for scholarship (those who cannot afford to pay the basic price) 18000 THB - Basic cost + support for organisers / facilitators 14000 THB - Basic cost for low income applications 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺: https://forms.gle/1WVPq71oJ7pn6TD38 We are curious to hear about your motivation for joining. It’s important you are attuned to the proposition and its requirements; that you are ready to go through this 11 day process. Places are limited, each application will be reviewed and if accepted you will receive a confirmation within 10 days. 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 https://forms.gle/woHfx7cLDn1Q5umq5 About 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁: The Being Nature project invites the deeper self connected with others and the natural world. Inspiring an intuitive embodied understanding that the human body is inseparable from nature, opening space for whole-body listening direct experience, improvisation, multidisciplinary artistic expression as a sincere movement towards emerging life. 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 (for full bio: https://www.beingnature.space) 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘄𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 is an artist working with poetry, dance improvisation, performance and space making for personal and collective insight, growth, and transformation. Co-directing and curating Art Continuum Nomadic Residency, Being Nature project, and Towards Centre for the practice and research of Contact Improvisation. In her organizational and artistic work Contact Improvisation serves as the under-lining connective tissue and ongoing source of inspiration. Dolores is currently working on creating Towards Foundation, the purpose of which is to support the Towards Centre in developing and cultivating a non-competitive, inspiring, and collaborative environment based on principles and values of extended care, embodied awareness, tolerance, mutual empowerment, independent thinking, and creative agency. Her work is influenced by the work of artists and teachers: Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Anna Halprin, Kirstie Simson, Ekaterina Basalaeva, Ming-Shen Ku, Anjelika Doniy and Lalitaraja Joachim Chandler. More information: https://reverserivers.com https://artcontinuum.space https://towards.contact https://www.beingnature.space 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮: Alexandra Wuzyk is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in South Africa. She studied Fine Art at LUCA School of Arts in Belgium, where her work focused on interactive performances, inviting spectators into active and embodied roles. She first encountered contact improvisation in 2020 and fell in love with the practice as an embodied education for life. She has been actively practicing and studying since then, mostly with with 𝑻𝑶𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑫𝑺: 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅. She believes in CI as a space that transcends cultural barriers and opens much needed states of listening. Her artistic work includes painting, film, poetry and performance. She considers states of improvisation as the birthspace of creative practice, and finds the most interesting pieces evolve through focusing on processes moment by moment, resisting the urge to plan what happens next. Her interest is to allow natural rhythm and simple truth to reveal itself, often supported by the spaciousness of wild places. During the 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 she co-organized 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 - 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗼, and initiative to create more possibilities for thai speakers and beginners to find a supportive space for the practice of contact improvisation, as well as 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 | 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲, a non-verbal creative container, which supported drawing, sculpture and spontaneous performances. This retreat is part of 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗜𝟱𝟮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 more information at towards.contact Direct your inquiry to: [email protected] Event Cover: Pino Heart