In this Monday Night Improvisation session, you will work towards some group improvisations of instant composition. Participants will spend the first half of the session developing connections between everyone in the room, mainly through Susan’s signature way of working, called ‘threading’. This practice of holding hands throughout, and weaving in and out with each other, to initially find flow, and then later being able to negotiate other dynamics. You will work on some of the technical aspects that facilitate how to 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). Key words: Human connection, listening, and skills building.
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.
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.