Over and Under
Levels and Pathways within Contact Improvisation
Workshop with Richard Parker
This workshop focuses on exploring the pathways that move us between levels in Contact Improvisation. We will work with clear, learnable, and fundamental routes that take us under, over, around, and through each other’s dances. These pathways build ease and confidence in transitioning between standing, mid-level, and floor-based movement. Attention will be given to safety, timing, and how weight is organised as we change levels together, including how to make the body feel lighter and easier to receive when offering weight. We will also explore how opening to the backspace supports safe descent, ascent, and dynamic level changes.
The emphasis is on learning specific pathways and techniques that support body surfing, lifts, and dynamic level changes, and then allowing these pathways to open into improvisation. We will explore how these transitions are offered, invited, and co-created, creating dances that feel alive and responsive, where structure supports freedom rather than limiting it.
Level
This workshop is not suitable for complete newcomers to Contact Improvisation. It is open to dancers with some basic experience of CI and beyond.
Venue & Travel
Venue: Our workshop will take place at the Nailsworth Subscription Rooms in Nailsworth, near Stroud, featuring a sprung wooden dance floor and well-heated space.
Nailsworth is located 10 minutes south of Stroud
Parking: There is a free long-stay car park on New Market Road situated a short walk away.
Inclusivity
At Emerging Hearts we hope to make our events as accessible as possible. We understand that while we try to price our events reasonably, support may still be needed. If you are on a lower income, we offer the option of paying in instalments, or at a reduced cost if the price is truly out of your range. Please visit our inclusivity page and we will be happy to assist you. Please note that while we offer further support beyond instalments, only a certain amount of these spaces may be available.