Isaac’s class focuses on practices that act as keys to unlock and connect the body-mind-spirit. Through somatic exercises focused on breathwork and movement exercises drawing from hip hop, contemporary, Acogny, and Agbadza techniques, the class explores ways to notice and positively respond to our inner self, build embodied confidence, and expand creativity.
The class begins with sensory scans of the body and its environment. Once this awareness is felt through grounding, movement practices are introduced to explore responding to internal sensations. Isaac draws from his ongoing training in somatic trauma therapy and mental health research, to hold space to navigate these sensations. Expect a gentle approach that grows into playful, rhythmic, and collective improvisation.
Access
Independent Dance is resident at Siobhan Davies Studios. To find out more about accessibility and the amenities available within the building please see here.
If you have any questions about the accessibility of our programme and would like to discuss any specific access requirements, please feel free to reach out to us via email info@independentdance.co.uk or by phone on 0207 091 9665, to speak directly to a member of the Independent Dance team. Alternatively, you may phone the main reception at Siobhan Davies Studios on 0207 091 9650.
During class, all participants are welcome to take breaks, observe, exit and enter the space as they wish. Lounge areas are available on the first and ground floors of the building. Yoga mats, blocks, cushions and ear defenders are available for use. We also welcome you being in contact if you would like to discuss the option of bringing your access support worker. Please speak to a member of the ID team if you require any assistance.
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.
Isaac Ouro-Gnao (he/they) is a Togolese-British multidisciplinary artist, somatic trauma therapist, mental health scholar-activist, and freelance journalist.
He has trained in hip hop, contemporary, and Africana dance styles since 2008, leading him to work with renowned choreographers and companies including Alessandra Seutin’s Vocab Dance and Punchdrunk.
He completed an MSc in Creative Arts and Mental Health in 2022 at Queen Mary University of London, the Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy programme by The Embody Lab and MHFA England’s Youth Mental Health First Aid training in 2023, and is a member of survivor-led Traumascapes Arts Collective (CAT) where he continues research on how dance, art, and psychology intersect to aid the healing of trauma.
Dance credits: Father Figurine, 2018 (Body Politic); Family Honour, 2019 (Spoken Movement); Boy Breaking Glass, 2021 (Alessandra Seutin/Vocab Dance); It Begins In Darkness, 2023 (Seke Chimutengwende); The Burnt City, 2023 (Punchdrunk).
Film credits: BOAT, 2018 (Film 4), A Very bR*T*SH Museum, 2022 (Seeta Patel Dance); #BlackBoyJoyGone, 2022 (Panoptical / BFI Doc Society).