After a warm-up of Bartenieff inspired floor work and contact improvisation, we will explore Ensemble Thinking practice, towards an open showing at the end of the week.

While many improvisation practices are focused on articulating the solo body or the duet, this practice is  about working the ensemble – with tuning scores/tools to be applied in the open score form.

Dates, times and location:

A collaboration between Working Class and Foolish Operations:

• Working Class: Mon, Wed and Fri 10am-12pm
• Foolish Operations: Tuesday, Thursday 10am-12pm

Open showing: Friday January 11 form 1:30pm to 2:30pm. (Dancers’ call to re-warm and re-tune is from 12:30 to 1:30). The open showing welcomes dancers who came at least twice during the week.

Birmingham Studio @ The Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street, VANCOUVER BC

Drop-ins: $12/class. If you have a Working Class card, you can use it on Mon, Wed and Fri. All are eligible for CADA West reimbursement. Payment by CASH or CHEQUE (made payable to the Contemporary Dance Training Society of Vancouver on Mon, Wed and Fri and to Foolish Operations Society on Tues and Thurs. Friday showing is free for performers, donation appreciated from audience members).
“Ensemble Thinking is a system of collaborative group performance practices. These compositional exercises refine the individual’s ability to perceive, initiate, and support collective action.” www.ensemblethinking.com

This workshop is open to standing or sitting (wheelchair) dancers and actors of 19yrs+, with experience in contemporary dance, theatre, improvisation, and/or contact improvisation. Dancing barefoot and in comfortable clothes that cover the knees and shoulders is recommended. Please phone the Dance Centre for full accessibility information.

The entire workshop will be filmed – to be shared (only) with Lower Left Company members – Nina Martin, Margaret Paek, Andrew Wass, Kelly Darlymple-Wass, as this workshop completes my (Julie Lebel) Ensemble Thinking Certification.

Photo Credit: ©Julie Lebel, A workshop in Toronto, May 2018 co-thought with Nina Martin, featuring Suzanne Liska, Tess Takahashi, Nina Martin, Tanya Williams and Pam Johnson.