This class will engage with how we, as moving bodies, relate to music. “Musicality” is a notion that is often associated with classical and 20th century modern dance choreographic and performance practices – describing the way a dancer responds to and interprets the music; here, we will approach ‘musicality’ as a tool for improvisation, entering into dialogue with music.
Beginning with deep listening, we will work with music as a guide and point of reference for the body-mind, giving us material with which to develop movement qualities and expression, perhaps allowing us to move beyond habit and cultivate our own range. Working with musicality can help us find a sense of play in movement and access a sense of ‘kinaesthetic delight’. Melody, rhythm, polyphony, resonance – and silence – will all be explored as a varied breadth of tunes fill the room.
Live music will be provided by Mary Price O’Connor.
Julia Pond is an interdisciplinary, independent dance artist. She has created 3 full-length expanded choreographic works incorporating musicians, which were presented in London, Rome and the U.S., and between 2001-2018 performed and taught the Isadora Duncan technique and repertory internationally. Julia’s fictional company and performance project BRED, has recently been presented at TripSpace’s Make Movement Matter festival and the Calm Down Dear Festival. Julia is a co-initiator of the podcast DanceOutsideDance, featuring interdisciplinary conversations.
As a performer Julia has worked with visual and dance artists including Serena Korda, Julie-Rose Bower, Colleen Bartley, Zorka Wollny, Tina Croll and in Lori Belilove’s Isadora Duncan Dance Company (2001-2005). Teaching credits include Lincoln University, Intercultural Roots, People’s Friendship University Moscow, and others throughout the UK and Europe. She co-organised the Isadora Duncan International Symposium (2014-2018) and has presented her research at TaPRA (2022), Trinity Laban’s Parallax 15 Symposium and Art.Earth’s Borrowed Time Symposium (2021). She holds an MFA Creative Practice (Dance Professional) from Trinity Laban and is currently involved in TECHNE-funded Phd research.