Feb - May, 2007
Five Saturdays - Contact Improv with Kirstie Simson
We are lucky enough to be able to host a series of classes with a world-class teacher of dance improvisation,
Kirstie Simson. She will be teaching a series across five Saturday afternoons, blending improvisational movement and music. The classes will be held at the
Channing/Murray Chapel on the University of Illinois campus. (classes offered individually)
"Very Exciting Improvised Dance and Music Collaborations"
led by Kirstie Simson,
Jason Finkelman, and John Toenjes
Five Saturday afternnoons from February through May, 2007
*
12 - 5pm
February 3rd
March 3rd
March 31st
April 7th
April 28th
Cost per day is $15 ($5 for university students).
Concept for the series
Each Saturday Kirstie will lead a two-hour movement session to attune the members of the group to each other and focus their energy to a place of fully embodied moving.
After a short break the dancers will be joined by musicians featuring a different style for each class. Dancers and musicians will work together on a mix of scored and open improvisation.
It is not necessary to attend all classes, however participants are encouraged to attend multiple events for a deeper experience and a sense of continuity.
All students are welcome, however a basic understanding of improvisation or movement will be helpful. Please come ready for full immersion in a fun and exciting movement and sound experience.
To register: You can fill out the
registration form, or email the appropriate information to:
todd [at] cu-improv [dot] com.
Because of space restrictions there is a limit of 20 dancers per class
Please fill in the following form to register
Registration for this event is over
Kirstie Simson
Kirstie Simson has been a continuous explosion in the contemporary dance scene,
bringing audiences into contact with the vitality of pure creation in moment after
moment of virtuoso improvisation. Called "a force of nature" by the New York Times,
she is an award-winning dancer and teacher who has "immeasurably
enriched and expanded the boundaries of New Dance" according to Time Out
Magazine, London. Simson’s eternal subject is freedom, as she dares to go beyond
the boundaries of form and structure to create movement out of the rhythm of life itself.
She is renowned today as an
excellent teacher and captivating performer who is a leading light in the
field of dance improvisation.
Image courtesty of thedancecurrent.com. (original article)
John Toenjes
John Toenjes is Music Director of the U of I Department of Dance. He has many
years experience playing music for dance classes, and composing for dance.
John plays keyboards, percussion, and electronics.
Jason Finkelman
Philadelphia born percussionist Jason Finkelman specializes in the Afro-Brazilian bow instrument berimbau, and performs on a wide variety of African and Brazilian instruments handcrafted by Adimu Kuumba. His continuing interest in combining unusual instrumentation in the art of improvised music led to the formation of several musical groups, including the Nu Orbit Ensemble, which blurs the boundaries of jazz, world, and experimental music. Jason has a long history of teaching improvisation, composing and performing for dance, and has received repeated recognition for his work including several Meet The Composer awards and a 'Bessie,' a New York Dance and Performance award.
The Channing Murray chapel
1209 W Oregon
Urbana, IL 61801
map
"
Channing/Murray is known throughout the UIUC campus community for its good music, great food, and the opportunity to engage in nonjudgemental spiritual exploration. Writing, dance, and arts workshops flourish, and the chapel hosts a wide array of community forums, concerts, poetry slams, and student theatrical productions."
*On all other Saturdays from January - May, 2007 there will be a contact jam from 1 - 3pm
