Towards CI52 - GRAVITUDE - Contact Improvisation workshop - Chiang Dao, 1-9 June, 2024

𝗖𝗜𝟱𝟮 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 This year Steve Paxton originator of CI passed away. Filled with gratitude and inspiration we are delighted to invite you to join Towards CI52 Summer Residency 2024. The program is open for most participants to pay what they can afford. The towards foundation supports those who want to participate but because of their financial circumstances cannot afford to pay the regular price to join. We will find the way to support as much as possible, depending on resources of the foundation we gather through our recent projects and initiatives. Acceptance will be based on application, in which your current interest and motivation in participation will be considered. If you are willing to support the towards foundation you can contribute more than a regular price mentioned in registration form. For more information visit https://towards.contact/foundation/ Part 1: 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘 - Contact Improvisation workshop with 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘄𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 and 𝗦𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗱𝗼 1-9 June 2024 Chiang Dao, Thailand This workshop is designed for the exploration of fundamental propositions and principles of contact improvisation, as a brief in-depth introduction to the dance form. It is a space for the practice of listening, learning, discovery, embodied inquiry, and improvisation. The program of workshop includes contemplative and immersive practices in nature, whirling meditation and writing. Referencing materials from 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝘆𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗸-𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗻, and other CI sources, including CI documentaries. This workshop is open for every body and curious mind. In the following link you can find definitions of practice, which serve as the identity of this workshop: https://towards.contact/centre/ Full commitment and punctual attendance are required for each session. 𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. The word 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 is a poetic term, a combined interplay of 'gravity' and 'gratitude'. SCHEDULE The approximate schedule will be: 4-6 hours teaching hours per day. Additional proposed focus labs and jams, as well as open labs and open jams. 1-2 days off per week, during which the studio will be available. VENUE The program will take place at the Youth Camp in Chiang Dao. The open-air dance space is situated right next to a big green field and a small stream and the venue is a 10-minute walk from a natural hot spring by the river. Chiang Dao is 1.5 hours North of Chiang Mai, it can be reached by public bus, taxi or with your own vehicle. FOOD Nourishing Thai and fusion vegetarian meals 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) - 200THB/night (~€5.5) Bed in a shared dormitory - 250THB/night (~€7) Both options have a shared kitchen and bathrooms There are private bungalows for rent within walking distance. More information coming soon. SCHEDULE coming soon REGISTRATION 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺: https://forms.gle/pq7kaQDjDyZcKdiB6 We are curious to hear about your motivation and current interest/research in the practice. Places are limited, each application will be reviewed and if accepted you will receive a confirmation within two week time. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://forms.gle/fzb6cpjSE3u87A3Z9 This opportunity is for dedicated researchers/artists/facilitators/teachers, whose interest is in supporting the dance form and larger community development, and who will actively take part in the program. There are 6 residency places available. Gravitude workshop is organized by 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 - 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 / 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM 10-16 June In addition to the workshop there will be a further 7 days of FOCUSED JAM for the participants of Gavitude and Inspiral intensive workshop, which will start on 17th. Focused Jam will be a space for integration, harvesting, and dance. The program will include optional laboratories, and performative events. Gravitude workshop is organized by 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 - 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 / 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮. 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 & 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀: Sasha Dodo and Dolores Dewhurst-Marks are multidisciplinary artists working with poetry, dance improvisation and performance. Directing and curating: 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘂𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, designed for international artistic exchange, development and creation; 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆, a vehicle for their artistic work, interweaving movement, visual and poetry; 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, about connection with deeper self and the natural world, embodied poetry and dance with nature; t𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 - centre for the practice and research of contact improvisation in Thailand / Asia. As well they are co-organizers of Thailand 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 2020-2021, 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 CI50/51 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 2022-2023, 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 2022, 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 2024, 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 6/9 week 𝗖𝗜 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗺 2023-2024, Towards CI52 International Contact Improvisation Conference in Thailand 2024 and 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗺 2019-2024. In their work with CI, they are interested in encompassing and connecting practitioners to the past, present, and potential future of the form. As well as continuing to share inspirations from their own field of research about deeper integrity of action; the state in which attention, imagination and intuition are embodied in the process of improvisation and self is being expressed as an omnidirectional, collaborative and creative space of expanded awareness. They are interested in embodiment of the principles in other areas of their work and in everyday life. In recent years they have been experimenting with placing the practice in the context of a natural environment. In their organizational and artistic work, Contact Improvisation often serves as the under-lining connective tissue and source of inspiration, and it is one the central mediums for artistic expression. Their artistic work interweaves movement, visual and text, with an emphasis on poeticality that reveals contemplative vision, sense of interdependency and underlying presence of the unknown in everyday life. They are authors of 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 book of poetry. Their work with CI is largely influenced by the work of such artists: Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Kirstie Simson, Nita Little, Ruslan Baranov, Lalitaraja Joachim Chandler, Ekaterina Basalaeva, Ming-Shen Ku, Anjelika Doniy, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen and Anna Halprin. They offer an annual in-depth training of Contact Improvisation, Inspiral - month-long intensive. Furthermore, they offer Composing While Improvising - Dance Improvisation, poetry, performance workshop. As well CI is one of the mediums in the Being Nature Project. Visited countries: China, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, Sweden. Currently based in Thailand. As organizers of CI projects separately and together, they have collaborated with Kirstie Simson, Ming-Shen Ku, Anjelica Doniy, Ekaterina Baselaeva, Yasukichi Suzuki, Bari Kim, Mirva Makinen, Katya Mustonen, Bruno Caverna, Vega Luukkonen, Ruslan Baranov, Alexandra Soshnikova & Sergey Golovnea, Zuzanna Bukowski and many others. They are currently working on creating towards foundation, with the objective of supporting accessibility, community and artistic development. They are in the process of creating a permanent art residency. They envision a sustainable, inspiring and collaborative environment for personal and collective insight, growth and transformation. https://towards.contact/ More information: http://reverserivers.com/ https://artcontinuum.space https://www.beingnature.space Photography: Ken Buslay