[PhiladelphiaDANCE.org Listserv] Contact Improvisation class will be taught by Loren Groenendaal on Sundays May 5th and May 19th

[Curt Haworth]

Contact Improvisation class will be taught by Loren Groenendaal on Sundays
May 5th  and May 19th

WHEN: This Sunday 5/5 1-3 pm
WHERE: Headlong Studios, 1170 S. Broad St. (near Broad/Federal SEPTA stop)
$10 drop-in, Please arrive in time to dress and be ready to go at 1pm



Class Description

These classes will focus on inspiration from nature imagery, particularly
the elements of water and trees, separately and together. These natural
elements will inform our practice of fundamental and esoteric skills and
principles of contact improvisation. Water will support our abilities in
free flow in space, to connect to each other, and to follow gravity in
unexpected directions (not just down). Trees will help us find grounding,
structure, and strength to support ourselves and others. Trees, water, and
the inter-relationships between water and trees will both inspire us to be
more collaborative and responsive partners, while also maintaining
integrity of self. Loren is currently exploring this subject matter in her
creative work and has for many years, and has rich research to share.
Additionally, this work will support kinesthetic listening, weight sharing,
grace with the unexpected, extending into more dynamic dancing without over
extending one's self. This class is appropriate for both beginners and more
advanced dancers. There will be guided explorations and some time for open
dancing.



Loren Groenendaal is a Philadelphia-based dance artist and educator,
specializing in contact improvisation (CI), contemporary modern dance,
Balinese dance, the Laban/Bartenieff Movement System (LBMS), creative and
STEAM visual arts and dance. Loren has been dancing CI for 19 years and
teaching CI since 2009 to adults in the communities of Philadelphia,
Boston, and Baltimore as well as a guest at Arcadia University, Juniata
College, Towson University, UNC Greensboro. She has been improvising her
entire life, but her formal studies in CI began at Oberlin College with Ann
Cooper Albright. She holds an MFA in Choreography from the UNCG, where she
continued her CI studies with John Gamble. She has studied intensively with
Nancy Stark Smith, deepening her knowledge of CI, The Underscore, and
States of Grace. Loren is a Certified Movement Analyst from the
Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, which informs her practice
of teaching CI with understanding the macro principles of the form and
micro coordinations for successful movement. Loren is the artistic director
of Vervet Dance; the work is steeped in contact improvisation and inspired
by nature. In Philadelphia, she has also danced with Gamelan Semara
Santi, The Naked Stark, From the Earth Dance Project, Graffito Works, Curt
Haworth, and Lacy James. She is a founding member of the Thursday CI Jam,
monthly Underscore, Mascher Space Cooperative, and the Impermanent Society
of Philadelphia.

-- 

Curt Haworth

Artistic director, Movement and Performance

Artist in Residence, Mascher Space Cooperative

Curator, Impermanent Society of Philadelphia

Coordinator Contact Improv Philly

Professor, University of the Arts