In these classes we will practice directing attention, choosing tone and quality and appreciating our experience; these classes are suitable for those with experience of any kind of movement or presence practice; dancers, musicians, actors and artists. I will be drawing from my experience in practicing and teaching Alexander work, Contact Improvisation and collaborative movement practice. I am very interested in how vision and proprioception relate and how we can develop a unifying field of attention which includes our own movement and our relationship to others and the environment around us. Aiming to consciously co-operate with our design, our co-ordination and our desire to dance, we will develop our abilities to be both soft and strong, calm and lively, spontaneous and safe. We will practice ‘not doing’ some of what arises automatically in order to access more possibility in our responses to stimuli and the creativity to be found with ease in the present. These classes will include quiet and subtle work as well as energetic and playful movement. Some of the sessions may take place outdoors in local parks and green spaces as well as the studio. Please bring appropriate shoes and layers.
Lucia Waler was introduced to Contact Improvisation in 1985, studying with the originators. She has been practicing and teaching the form since then. She worked for many years with Jointwork Dance Group, working with schools and community groups of all abilities then continued the practice and performance of improvisation in collaborations with other artists. She taught summer schools with Gill Clarke and Scott Clark for a span of 10 years and has been involved with Independent Dance since its beginnings.
Lucia qualified as a teacher of Alexander Technique in 1987. Since then she has taught individuals, groups and on teacher training courses in Europe, America, Japan, and Australia working with students of a wide range of interests, ages and abilities. She continues to work as an independent movement artist and and teacher, teaching and collaborating in dance, physical theatre, communication and movement research projects. Since returning to South Africa in 2012 she has been a guest facilitator at Harambee Youth Employment Project leading workshops on confidence and self-care and with Flatfoot Dance Company, Durban. She has been involved with ForgottenAngleTheatreCollaborative since June 2016, finding connection to their expressed values and aspirations. She has facilitated on their Artists in Residence programme, the trainee and intern programme, and has performed at several of the MY Body My Space festivals.