WORKSHOPS

The objective of our classes is to share varied tools we have developed and discovered, to enhance the physical and mental capacity when confronted with different challenges. We aim to prepare the “performing body” by awakening a consciousness of the physical possibilities of each artist connected to the emotional and mental aspects of the body which are inseparable elements of our being; a body that is alive, conscious and in constant movement. Each participant has the possibility of being, remaining, listening and practicing on the basis of his/her own curiosity and personal research, as well as refuse, question or enter into a constructive dialogue with the given information. Our work is in constant change and nothing can ever be completely certain!

Individual Movement

The class is an invitation to explore, train and enjoy the movement of the human body. To do so we explore specific exercises to prepare and protect the body confronted with physical challenges. Transforming it into being a more resistant body, with a wider range of possibilities. Based on the work of controlling the body weight, we look to reach and develop a higher resistance in the performer, to benefit his/her development being faced with scenic challenges. The classes develop various aspects that we see as essential for a dancer/ physical actor/ circus artist. It involves Joint Movement and activation of the muscle tonus through isometric positions or slow movements, awakening the proprioception and making an auto analysis.

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Working on set movement phrases, using the spiral as a basic principal of organic movement; to achieve comprehension of the physical movement on various levels (especially on the floor) and the spacial connections, as well as the motor of the movement, nuances or textures of movement (speed and quality). The movement material can be described as raw, with acrobatic elements, challenging speed, coordination and spacial orientation. Diving into principles of locomotion in positions on hands and feet and rolling motion advancing in space, evolving little by little towards a more complex movement (transitions on hands, elbows, head and shoulders, generating suspensions of the body). By doing so we train the muscular and cardio-respiratory endurance taking the participants out of their physical comfort zone which results in a gain in power and rendition on stage. At the end we develop movement material that searches for a physical challenge through speed and agility, by consciously using the space, the muscle tonus, and bodily isolations or unusual coordinations to re-evaluate one´s physical material.

Partnering Workshop

Identifying the other

 “Identifying the other” as the title already states searches to identify the other human body as a booster of new possibilities of movement. Based on the work of “Partnering” it fuses elements of martial arts and basic principles of “contact improvisation”.

First we begin with the work of recognising the body, executing exercises that help understand the strongest or most stable parts of the other body as well as the weakest ones.

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After that we work with exercises based on the trust of working as a pair, where the intention is to know that the other body offers a wide range of possibilities, when viewed from a pro-active angle and with each partner being equally active, identifying the work as teamwork. In this part we emphasise the state of being “present”, which in physical terms alludes to the way of using the muscular tonus in a specific and adequate way, the application of force, control and listening; simply using only the necessary to function.

In another section of the process we work from a more instinctive way, the relation of Fight-or-Flight and the awakening of the natural physical actions. This means collaborating with my partner taking us out of the comfort zone to explore the instinctive possibilities, leaving aside the “technical” aspects (except for the task at hand) so that it can be the body and its memory that respond to an action through instinctive muscular memory.

At the end of each session we work on applying the developed elements to a preset movement phrase, taking up the identification of the muscles and bones that contribute to the manipulation, leverage and support of the bodies.