This session is informed by Action Theater™, a training for improvisation in performance. In it participants will engage with simple exercises and scores that use movement, voice and language. You will pay particular attention to the ways that listening can help us orient ourselves as the improvisation unfolds, helping us participate more deeply with the present. Drawing on composer Pauline Oliveros’ ideas of Deep Listening, you will ask if sound can act as a partner, drawing us into action, helping shape performative decisions? Participants will extend listening outwards through the space, and inwards, to the flow of feeling states. You will consider the ways listening can become a well, deeply sustaining us in your movement and stillness, in your speaking and pauses. Participants will discover how by listening you practice attention, what philosopher Simone Weil called ‘the rarest and purest form of generosity’.
Rebecca Mackenzie (she/her) is a performer, writer and teacher of improvisation. A certified teacher of Action Theater™, her performance practice interweaves movement, imagination, voice and the present moment. Rebecca created Book Club for Dancers for Independent Dance and developed Moving into Writing, a workshop for writers with Kirsty Alexander for the University of Glasgow. Recent performances include Brora Y Station at Sapienza University in Rome, and Swimming for Submarines at Tramway, Glasgow and Choreographic Instructions for People and Paintings at Brown’s Gallery, Inverness. Rebecca lives in Scotland where she is completing a PhD in Theology through Creative Practice.
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 9650, to speak to a member of the Independent Dance team.
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.
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.