SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF DANCE + IMPROVISATION

RESEARCH WEEK

AUGUST 4-11, 2024

FULL RESEARCH WEEK INCLUDES:

One Morning Intensive / Drop in Track
One Mid-day Intensive
One Afternoon Intensive / Drop in Track
Unlimited Drop ins
Unlimited Jams
One Ticket to each Dance Innovators Show
One Ticket to a Documentary Screening at NWFF
Admission to Book Club
 

$750

The RESEARCH Week is a full eight days of intensives, workshops, and events centering improvisational dance practice and research. This interdisciplinary and intergenerational gathering brings together both local and inter/national faculty in Seattle each year to share their practice with movers new to improvisation alongside artists who have been dancing for decades. Immerse yourself in a nurturing and rich environment where embodied research in somatics, contact and group improvisation, and creative and social practice create a week of extraordinary possibilities.

Registration for the full Research Week lets you create your own immersive schedule of intensives, classes, jams, and events. Choose between the morning 4 day intensives and morning dropins, one of three midday 5-day intensives, and one of two afternoon 3-day intensives or afternoon dropins. You’ll also get tickets to all sharings + events, and be able to participate in all the jams, morning practices and drop-ins your schedule can hold!

INTENSIVES

Sign up for full research week to choose one morning, midday AND afternoon intensive/drop-in slot from the options below. Registration for individual intensives opens June 20th.

ANYA CLOUD + MAKISIG AKIN

A Queer High-Risk Love Practice

MIDDAY 5-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

ANYA CLOUD + MAKISIG AKIN

The core of this contact improvisation workshop is a queer love centered survival practice of time travel/communion/habitat/performance/ritual where everything deserves to breathe. Drawing from our individual and collective identities, CI research, and choreographic research we dive into the possibilities of what rigorous and playful contact improvisation can be. We will work with different qualities/types of touch, intention and impact, technical skill building, falling and falling together, bonding/grappling/napping/fainting, soul shaking practices, professing love, failure, and hot sweaty dancing. We will work in different constellations including solo, duet, trio, small group, and whole group. We will take on contact improvisation as a generous and high-risk practice. We will build skills for navigating around that which has potential to be fatal. We will work with a kind of bonding that is only possible through bathing in one another’s sweat. We will keep re-inventing ways to be wet and pleased. The central questions of our research are: What can we do together that we cannot do alone? How many ways can we move – move with – be moved by – each other? What is possible when love is stronger than fear?

We will practice taking care as we traverse the complex realities of being racialized and gendered bodies in relationship with one another. This will be a queer, trans, and BIPoC centered space.

Photo of the artists by Tim Richards

JODY KUEHNER AKA CHERDONNA SHINATRA

No Noise

MIDDAY 5-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

JODY KUEHNER AKA CHERDONNA SHINATRA

Within our own creative process, how can we attune to our personal inspirations and impulses without all the noise? I’m finding the importance of rigorous mindfulness, relating to how our internal landscape supports our external landscape as well as our physical body. In this workshop we will be focusing on the creative process as enhanced by mindfulness, meditation, play, and present moment possibilities. We will debunk predictions, pull some tarot cards, laugh, eat a snack, talk about our obsessions and our intrigues. We’ll move somatically, improvisationally, rhythmically, and experimentally with and without noise. We will discuss recent developments in neuroscience that help us to understand how the brain processes pain and anxiety through the body. This scientific knowledge helps reinforce the power of mindfulness practices and lays the groundwork for self-compassion to enter one’s practice. If we intentionally create a state of wellbeing this week, what kind of work is possible? In this workshop there will be room for solo investigation and time to create some material to take with you.

Photo of the artist by Jenny May Peterson.

TERE O'CONNOR

MOVING MEANING

MIDDAY 5-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

TERE O'CONNOR

The political, cultural and social temperature of the present, together with elements such as personal history, that of the performers, human behavior and everything else, converge in my dances to shape the dense choreographic constellations I create. The nature of consciousness is unruly and fragmentary yet in our daily lives we are fueled by an unrealistic organizational mania. My work harnesses both qualities and favors neither. I make dances to advocate for the interrelatedness of all things and to give vision to the specific music of their relativity. I look to dance as a location of freedom, where specifics are melted into the illusory and dogma is eroded by the unending fountain of pluralism at the center of dance. The capaciousness of dance has taught me how to learn.
In this workshop, we will consider how movement and its manipulation can bring us to meaning production. What lurks behind the sign systems of body and shape that we can use to create layered choreographic statements? We will make work daily and use the material to examine foundational questions about where information emanates from in movement-based choreographies. What are we “reading” from a dance and how can we shape this? Central to this examination will be the use of time-sculpting, using velocity as a tool for making.
How can meaning be stable when time is constantly running forward. We will apply these questions into our work.

Photo of Tere’s choreographic work by Maria Bartanova

SHANNON STEWART

not about thing

MORNING 4-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

SHANNON STEWART

A small protest to always having to explain/propose/know/articulate in language what work is about, in Not About Thing, we will witness and expand meaning making that comes through the language and archives of our performing bodies–switching modes, researching theories, moving continuously, making and breaking small works together. What does our work tell us about what it is rather than the other way around? How do we create more unknown spaces in a pressurized culture to make quick content and access readily available algorithmic answers to every question? “Our work” can be how we engage in a warm up, how we show up as a collaborator, how a prompt manifests in motion, how objects, technology and form intersect with identity and place, how we build a community of practice and approach work as part dialogue, ritual, relationship, and care.

Photo of the artist by Jingzi Zhao

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PE Workshops

MORNING 4-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Each day of the Physical Education Workshop will be taught by a different member of P.E.

MON, Aug 5 | Curiosity Collection

with Allie Hankins

Allie is invested in the non-linear development of ideas when it comes to making performances. She tries to stay present with desire and dive into whatever strikes her fancy in the moment. So, let’s gather in a studio and briefly celebrate studio practices. We will likely dance/improvise, sing, write some things down, document things to revisit at some future time, and have some conversations. The workshop will continue to take shape between now and August and will be informed by Allie’s experiences dancing with ensembles, her step-aerobics expertise, her recent singing lessons, and her curiosities and where they meet yours.

TUE, Aug 6 | ~intricate tension~

with Lu Yim

In this class you can expect something slow, specific, and introverted as we explore a threshold between practice and performance. I will be guiding the class through somatic scores and pathways, based on an interest in experiencing time as a spatially dysphoric/dynamic entity.   

Together, we will take on the shape of an inverted funnel, attuning to almost-imperceptible expressions. We will play in a performative range that exists half-way under water.  

Most of class will be performed at ground level, with touch and non-touch options available for each score.

WED, Aug 7 | Surrender and Agency

with Takahiro Yamamoto

This workshop introduces breathing exercises and solo and group improvisational movement practice that utilizes metaphysical/spiritual trust and the commitment to surrender. At the end, group discussion will be held to explore participants’ physical experiences in relationship to their personal backgrounds. The idea of ‘post memory’ will be discussed – delving into the interconnectivity of things that we don’t know, things that we physically experience, and things that we don’t articulate. 

FRI, Aug 9 | divergent strategies 🙂

with keyon gaskin

Through guided personal explorations, group movement exercises and discussion; we will play with practices that explore the usefulness of our neuro/emotional-divergences, in our lives and performance making. Attempting to develop strategies that reframe our relationship to oft negatively coded aspects or hindrances like: anxiety, embarrassment, depression… Can we play with these aspects of our being and practices to use them to propel rather than stifle us and our making? All people interested in movement / performance welcome.

Photo of the artists by Mario Gallucci

HARUKO CROW NISHIMURA

Embodiment + Presence

EVENING 3-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

HARUKO CROW NISHIMURA

This class will hone attention deep into the body’s interior and we will learn to work with the states that emerge.
We will explore what it means to be moved when we let go of our individual will to manifest outer shapes and tune into our dances using the tools of somatic awareness.
It will explore what it means to be moved through deep listening and to
be guided by sound and specific imagery. We will surrender ourselves to the richness of our present moments. My training
is rooted in butoh dance, physical theater, improvisation and music.
We will practice tuning into how the space, our body’s subtle energies and our  physical memories can move through us, heightening our internal listening and discovering what instincts we can entrust to go deeper.  We will practice both playfulness as well as pushing ourselves to our edge.We will hone our embodiment and observation, bearing witness to each other’s discoveries. In addition to dancers and performers, creative and curious people from all walks of life are welcome  including those with no movement experience.

Photo of the artist by Maria Baranova

BLACK COLLECTIVITY

A Practice of Return: Choreographing Archives

EVENING 3-DAY INTENSIVE | REGISTER À LA CARTE

BLACK COLLECTIVITY

During this workshop, participants will be introduced to the physical and archival research from the creative work of Black Collectivity. The workshop will begin with exercises to activate the senses and warm the body, including movement meditations, task based and improvisational exercises, as well as rhythm centered explorations. Class will be informed by Black archival practices within the performance project A Practice of Return. Participants will use movement to investigate their responses to these practices. Finally we will experiment with collaborative choreography as a tool to hold stories and memories that live within the body.

Led by Black Collectivity Artists: Nia-Amina Minor, Akoiya Harris, marco farroni

Photo of the artists by Chloe Collyer

DROP-INS

SFD+I 2024 contains eleven drop-in classes that are available for pre-registration on June 20th, or in-person walk-up (space permitting). Click on the artists’ names to learn more about them and their drop-in class and registration link.

JODY KUEHNER /

LET’S CHANGE THE SUBJECT

BLACK COLLECTIVITY /

A PRACTICE OF RETURN

PHYSICAL EDUCATION /

SHARED PRACTICE

RACHAEL LINCOLN + LESLIE SEITERS/

FICTION | FRICTION | FLOW

TERE O’CONNOR /

INTUITIONAL CERTAINTLY

SHANNON STEWART /

THE DIFFERENCE IS SPREADING 

HANNAH SIMMONS /

BODY + SITE

SOLVEJ AMELIA NOA /

JOY OF DANCE EXPERIENCE (JODE)

ANYA CLOUD + MAKISIG AKIN /

A QUEER HIGH RIST LOVE PRACTICE 

HARUKO CROW NISHIMURA / EMBODIMENT + PRESENCE

PEGGY PIACENZA /

INTIMATE SPACES

RESEARCH FACULTY

HARUKO CROW NISHIMURA

BLACK COLLECTIVITY

RACHAEL LINCOLN

ANYA CLOUD

SHANNON STEWART

HANNAH SIMMONS

KAREN NELSON

SOLVEJ AMELIA NOA

JODY KUEHNER AKA CHERDONNA SHINATRA

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

LESLIE SEITERS

MAKISIG AKIN

TERE O’CONNOR

PEGGY PIACENZA

MARGIT GALANTER

FOX WHITNEY

EVENTS

Morning Tuning

Mon-Wed + Fri, AUG 5–7 + 9 | 8:30 – 9:30 AM

A tuning wake up. Activate somatic intentions and attention using finely crafted scores that manifest forms, imaginings, and ensemble play. Co-facilitated by margit galanter and Karen chuki Nelson, long-time teacher-practitioners of Tuning Scores originated by Lisa Nelson.

FREE and open to all.

RE-COLLECT: DOCUMENTARY SHOWING

AUG 8 | 1-3 PM

Northwest Film Forum | 1515 12th Ave

RECOLLECT is an experimental dance documentary that traces an embodied exchange of intergenerational dance artists. Recorded in 2022 at a research symposium calledThink Gravity Dance Tank: Celebrating & Reckoning with Contact Improvisation and Performance, RECOLLECT honors and interrogates the revolutionary dance form Contact Improvisation. The film serves as a time capsule during a pivotal moment at the intersection of COVID-19 and racial justice uprisings in the United States. Considering the gravity of these times, RECOLLECT questions Contact Improvisation’s historical narrative and brings unspoken histories to the forefront to invite a more inclusive future of the form. The documentary will be followed by a post screening panel discussion with artists involved in the film.

TICKETS

Access to the documentary showing is included in Full Research Week packages.

PE Reading Group

AUG 8 | 10 AM – 12 PM

With Physical Education

PE started as a small hang-out reading group among friends, and we maintain the social yet critical nature of its origins. By providing libations, refreshments, and a comfortable atmosphere, we create an environment that is playful and relaxed, immersive, investigatory, and critical of content. We encourage all to come and eat, drink, listen, and participate. We assert that all levels of engagement contribute to the conversation. Materials range from articles, essays, videos, and podcasts. Past examples of readings include “Delusions of Whiteness in the Avant-Garde,” by Cathy Park Hong, “Delusions of Progress,” by Daniel Borzutzky, “Looking for My Penis” by Richard Fung, “A Dialogue on Racial Melancholia” by David L. Eng & Shinhee Han, “The Company That Never Comes” by Renee Gladman & Lucy Ives, Excerpts from Rammellzee’s ICONIC TREATISE GOTHIC FUTURISM, VIDEO: The Otolith Group in Conversation

DANCE INNOVATORS IN PERFORMANCE

Thu-Sat, AUG 8-10 | 8 PM 

Dance Innovators: Research in Performance is a festival-style showcase that provides a glimpse into the current explorative work of celebrated choreographers and faculty of the 2023 Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation Research Week. Join us for an evening where national and local dance artists come together to share short, experimental performances.

Tickets to all three performances of Dance Innovators are included in full Research Week packages. Individual tickets are on sale now!

PAYMENTS + DEPOSITS + REFUNDS

PAYMENT OPTIONS

To reserve your spot you can either pay in full* or hold your place with a non-refundable $350 deposit. Full payment to confirm your registration is required by June 19.

Registration for a la carte intensives, classes, workshops, and jams will open on June 20 and spaces will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. To register a la carte you will pay in full, though let us know if you need to discuss a payment plan. 

Please contact Shirley Wong, operations@velocitydancecenter.org, for any questions or clarifications about registration or payment. 

*ULTIMATE SFD+I, PERFORMANCE Cohorts, and RESEARCH Week payments include a $350 non-refundable deposit.

 

REFUND POLICY

Velocity’s refund policies were created to offer as much flexibility to our community as possible, while still protecting SFD+I from risk and instability. 

The refund schedule for the Ultimate SFD+I, Performance Cohorts, or Research Week is: 

  • Before June 19: All registration fees, less the $350 non-refundable deposit, are fully refundable for any reason. 
  • After June 19: All registration fees, less the $350 non-refundable deposit, are 50% refundable for any reason.
  • After your first class begins: All registration fees are non-refundable for any reason, including illness or injury. 

The refund schedule for all a la carte intensives, workshops or classes (available after June 20) is:

  • After you register: All registration fees are 50% refundable for any reason.
  • After your first class begins: All registration fees are non-refundable for any reason, including illness or injury. 

ARE THERE ANY SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS AVAILABLE?

WORK STUDY

Velocity’s Summer Work/Study program provides the opportunity for participants to receive discounted attendance to the Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation in exchange for festival support. The deadline for this program is February 1st. Please email operations@velocitydancecenter.org with any questions.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.

 

TBIPOC TUITON WAIVER

As a part of Velocity’s Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation we are providing $10,000 in fee waivers to dancers who identify as Transgender, Black, Indigenous, and/or as People of Color, in an effort to shift power to Transgender and BIPOC communities. The deadline for this program is February 1st. Please email operations@velocitydancecenter.org with any questions.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.

IS HOUSING AVAILABLE DURING THE FESTIVAL?

PARTICIPANT HOUSING

In response to the rising housing costs in Seattle during the summer, SFD+I + Velocity is hosting a Discord Server for SFD+I Participants + Seattle Locals to work together to find housing opportunities for a cheaper price.
 
Looking to sublet your place or need housing for SFD+I?
 
 
What is Discord?
Discord is a voice, video, and text chat app that’s used by tens of millions of people ages 13+ to talk and hang out with their communities and friends.
People use Discord daily to talk about many things, ranging from art projects and family trips to homework and mental health support. It’s a home for communities of any size, but it’s most widely used by small and active groups of people who talk regularly.
The vast majority of servers are private, invite-only spaces for groups of friends and communities to stay in touch and spend time together. There are also larger, more open communities, generally centered around specific topics such as popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite. Users have control over whom they interact with and what their experience on Discord is.
People love Discord because it’s a home for all their communities and groups of friends. It’s a place where they can be themselves and spend time with other people who share their interests and hobbies. Conversations on Discord are driven by the people you choose and the topics you choose to talk about.
 
How to sign up?
1. Visit discordapp.com.
2. Click Login > Register.
3. Fill your Details > Complete Captcha.
4. Account Created.
5. Verify your Email.

ARE INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR SFD+I?

INTERNSHIPS

Velocity is honored to partner with NW Folklife to provide one Summer Programming Internship from May – October. This internship will help program two international festivals, SFD+I and Mouthwater Festival.

APPLY

HOW DO I ACCESS CLASSES AS A DROP-IN PARTICIPANT?

DROP-INS

Morning technique classes and Intermediate evening technique classes are open for drop-ins. Registration for these classes will be through Jot Form, where drop-in participants can register and pay. Registration for Drop-In classes will open on June 20.

REGISTER FOR YOUR IMMERSIVE SUMMER EXPERIENCE

ULTIMATE SFD+I

Velocity’s best summer dance experience combines your chosen PERFORMANCE Cohort and the full RESEARCH Week for a money-saving, bundled price of $1200 $995 with early bird pricing before Feb 15!.

 

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