Towards CI52 GRAVITUDE - Contact Improvisation workshop, Chiang Dao, 14-21 November 2024

𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘 - Contact Improvisation workshop with 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘄𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 and 𝗦𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗱𝗼 14-21 November 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. Course material will include reading, writing and viewing, referencing materials from the work of Steve Paxton, Contact Quarterly Journal and other related sources. The program of workshop includes contemplative and immersive practices in nature. This workshop is open for every body and curious mind. 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 and additional focus labs and jams. Arrival day is 13th evening. First session begins 9am on 14th. Departure is 21st 12pm. 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. REGISTRATION 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺: https://forms.gle/VbbiXmYxaMBCubxD8 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 weeks time. Scholarship application: https://forms.gle/bwf6oqCvYt1XcLRt5 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 artists working with poetry, dance improvisation, performance, and space making for personal and collective insight, growth, and transformation. Directing and curating Art Continuum Nomadic Residency, Reverse Rivers Company, Being Nature project, and Towards Centre for the practice and research of Contact Improvisation. They are 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. 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 their artistic expression. They are interested in encompassing and connecting practitioners to the past, present, and potential future of the form. And 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. In recent years they have been experimenting with placing the practice in the context of nature. Their work with CI 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, Nita Little, Ruslan Baranov, Lalitaraja Joachim Chandler. 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 Artistic Residency 2024, Towards 6/9 week CI Focused Jam 2023-2024, and Quiet and Wild Jam 2019-2024 More information: https://towards.contact/ http://reverserivers.com/ https://artcontinuum.space https://www.beingnature.space Photography: Ken Buslay