Contact @ the Dojo class & Jam Oct 18 Helena Zhao

CONTACT @ the DOJO Contact Improvisation (CI) class & jam Mixed level. Open to beginner & experienced dancers 3:00 pm Class. 4:30-6 pm Jam CLASS: 10/18 Helena Zhao 11/1: Patrick Crowley 11/15: Jovanina Pagano 11/29: Ezra LeBank & Clairey Evangelho 12/6: Gabi Revlock 12/20: Lani Nahele __________________________________ Oct 18: Grounded and Skyed: Aikido & Contact Improvisation w/ Helena Zhao In this class we will practice core aikido principles through different exercises so that they may inform our dance. These principles include peripheral awareness, moving from the center, and chi flow breath work. Throughout the class we will propose inquiries into perception and awareness through meditation, solos, and duets. Participants should be available for emergent material based on what is present and available in the space. Helena Zhao is a multidisciplinary artist, craniosacral therapist and aikido practitioner based in western Massachusetts. She is dedicating her life to dance and the creative process as a contemplative practice—a place for experimentation, inquiry, curiosity, play, and equanimity. __________________________________ Patrick Crowley teaches once a month, and then once a month, he curates other teachers who hold and convey Contact Improvisation with a comprehensive depth. Contact @ the Dojo began in Oct 2021, meeting 2 Sundays a month. Dojo comes from “Do-”, a variation of Tao/Dao (the way) and “jo” (immersive learning space). CLASS A broad range of Contact Improvisation will be explored — states, skills, scores/Underscore, artistic practice, life learnings. Dancers play with movement pathways in contact with a partner — in relationship with gravity, momentum, inertia of motion, and friction. We work with ease and natural tone in our tissues and neurology. We explore rolling, falling, and flying in CI with the freedom of mats as our floor. The slow and subtle brings us to the big and enthusiastic, and vice versa. Centering, perception, integrated body, solo/follow/lead/3rd entity, reflexes, experiments, readiness, rigor, heart, awareness, and enlivening will all be in the mix. JAM The jam will be open space to play and practice — with some music and possible structure/warm-up. For those experienced and new to CI, honoring different abilities. Please read Health safety agreements (www.patrickcrowley.net/health-safety). Emphasis will be given to those coming to both class & jam. Please arrive a little early. WHAT is Contact Improvisation? https://patrickcrowley.net/whatiscontactimprovisation WHERE: Aikido Dojo, 30 N Maple St, #14, Florence, MA 01062 (Park in parking lot to right of building. Come in entrance in parking lot. Go in and upstairs to the right.) REGISTRATION & PAYMENT https://patrickcrowleybodyworkdanceyogasomatics.as.me/events or text 617-320-9792 Class & Jam (3:00–6:00 pm): $25–$30–$35 Just Class (3:00) or just Jam (4:30): $15–$20–$25 (sliding scale: low–regular–abundant) If unemployed, student, or wanting to do work/exchange, please contact Patrick. INFO & QUESTIONS: (617) 320-9792 (text/phone) Patrick Crowley has been engaged with Contact Improvisation and dance improvisation since 1983. He has taught at numerous dance centers, festivals, and universities both nationally and internationally, including Yale University, Boston University, Argentina Contact Festival, Freiburg Festival, Earthdance, among others. He is a coordinator of the Global Underscore. He worked with Nancy Stark Smith closely until her death in 2020, and studied or performed with many prominent teachers in CI including: Andrew Harwood, Kirstie Simson, K.J. Holmes, Daniel Lepkoff, Nina Little, Alan Ptashek, and others. Patrick has a background in modern and contemporary dance, Body-Mind Centering®, bodywork, yoga, theatre (Playback Theatre, Action Theater), contemplative practices, expressive arts, and martial arts. He has performed with various dance and theatre companies, including the Underscore +/- Group, Zany Angels, Six and 1/2 Project, and Boston's Access to Theater. He was certified in bodywork by Sensei Toshiko Phipps and Nationally Certified in 1993 and also teaches Playback Theatre, Yoga, and somatics. https://patrickcrowley.net/contact-dojo