In this Monday night Improvisation session, we will work towards some group improvisations of instant composition. We will spend the first half of the session developing connection between everyone in the room, mainly through my signature way of working that I call threading. This is where dancers hold hands throughout, and weave in and out with each other, initially finding flow, and then later being able to negotiate other dynamics.
We will work on some of the technical aspects that facilitate how dancers listen and respond to the demands and situations at every instant, developing a profound sense of presence and connection, leading to moments of magic. There will be physical contact in the session and as this is a one-off, I would encourage anyone attending to embrace the contact element (not “contact improvisation” as such). The work is adaptable to different levels of skill. Key words: Human connection, listening, and skills building.
Cancellations and refunds
Prices for classes are kept very low and are subsidised by ID in order to support artists to attend. To keep admin manageable for our small team, we don’t offer refunds if you cancel or can’t attend a class, and we can’t transfer your booking to a different class/event. We hope this is understandable. If a class is cancelled or changed by ID however, we do offer refunds/transfers to everyone who has booked.
Susan Kempster (she/her) is an award-winning choreographer, teacher, and performer. From Australia, her career has taken her to Japan, the USA, and Spain where she spent two decades. Since living in the UK, she has completed an MA and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy while continuing her practice as an independent dance artist. Her teaching includes contemporary dance, ballet, and somatic practices for vocational training institutions, along with workshops in improvisation, composition, and choreography. She is also a movement coach for actors and musicians. Research interests include body-mind states for improvisation practices and her current movement research is centred around a practice of contemporary dance partnering called “threading” as a vehicle for creation and improvisation. Her most recent choreographic work includes commissioned work for the company Borderline Danza based in Salerno, Italy, and an intergenerational duet commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, with support from Central School of Ballet and Arts Council England.