Fluid Spines and Flying Spirals
Pathways of Spirals and Spine-led Flight
This workshop focuses on the intelligence and expressive power of the spine, and how spirals create pathways for fluid, dynamic dancing. We will begin by waking up the spine with undulation, articulation, and a renewed awareness of how the head, pelvis, eyes and feet relate. Spirals will become both technique and poetry as we explore how they live in our solo bodies and how they travel through shared weight, contact, and momentum. We will also bring our attention to the backspace, learning how to sense it, orient to it, and trust the support it offers.
Exploring:
Warming and mobilising the spine through waves, curves, folds and rotations
Subtle points of initiation that create clear pathways for movement
How the head, tail, eyes and feet communicate through spiralling patterns
Spirals that travel through contact in duets and trios
Helix rolls and rolling points that support easy transitions
Table and standing explorations that invite flying spirals to appear without strain
Using backspace awareness to find stability for dynamic movement and surprising lifts
Moving from a spine-led curiosity rather than muscular effort
Why it matters:
The spine is one of the most powerful generators of movement, yet many dancers only access a small part of its potential. Connecting with spirals allows movement to feel more continuous, intelligent, and efficient. It reduces effort, lowers the risk of strain, and opens new creative pathways in duets.
Spine-led dancing also creates the conditions for safe and surprising flight. When spirals are trusted and well-organised, they naturally lead into lifts, rolling up, rolling down, and shared momentum that feels playful rather than forced.
Working with the backspace deepens both safety and presence. Many dancers underuse or ignore the space behind them, yet it is essential for dynamic pathways and resilient balance. By learning to feel and trust this space, dancers become more confident, more adaptable, and more able to follow the spontaneous invitations that arise during contact.
This workshop supports dancers in building both technical skill and creative freedom. It offers a strong foundation for dynamic movement while inviting each person’s dance to unfold with ease, curiosity, and confidence.
Timings
Morning Workshop: 10am - 1pm
Lunch: 1pm - 2.30pm
Afternoon Workshop: 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Jam: 3:30pm - 5pm
Live Musician
We are also thrilled that Bela Emerson is joining us with her beautiful Cello, she will play for us during the Jam in the afternoon. Bela is an innovative musician who uses the cello to support people’s well-being and to create responsive sounds and textures to inspire and support movement.
Level:
This workshop is not suitable for individuals with no prior experience in Contact Improvisation. It is ideal for beginners who have already explored the basic principles of CI, and for dancers with intermediate and advanced experience who wish to deepen their technical clarity, dynamic capacity, and comfort with spirals, rolls and flight.
Venue & Travel:
The Studio is on the outskirts of Brighton city centre with free on-street parking and only a 20-minute walk from Brighton Railway Station. Upon booking you’ll be sent more info about how to find us, parking and given access to a lift-share document.
The venue has a sprung wood floor, plenty of heating and natural light, with access to a kitchen.
Friday Night Jam:
Deepen your experience by coming the night before for the Brighton Class and Jam. I’ll be leading the session. It’s a perfect way to connect with the local dance community, warm up, and ease into the weekend. Reach out to the local community for possible places to stay and make it a full weekend of movement and connection. They have a local Brighton WhatsApp group.
For more details and to book separately for Friday night, check out their website.
(Please note this is in a different venue from the Saturday workshop)