Workshops & Intensives
San Diego Dance Theatre Summer Intensive
Light Box Theatre
San Diego, California
Naftali Method
The Naftali Method is a contemporary dance technique that blends softness and speed with a focus on effort. In this workshop, dancers will explore a range of exercises, improvisational tasks, and choreographic sequences designed to cultivate a deep understanding of effort levels and their impact on movement dynamics. Through thoughtful guidance and exploration, participants will refine their ability to maintain a desired pace with precision and grace. From across-the-floor passages to intricate phrase work, we'll delve into the nuances of the body's potential, offering valuable tools for confidently navigating shifts in direction, orientation, and levels. Whether you want to challenge yourself or enhance your technical proficiency, this class provides a supportive and playful environment where comfortable risk-taking is encouraged.
Malashock Dance School
Light Box Theatre
San Diego, California
Community Movement Class
The "Popup Community Movement Class" allowed participants to explore softness as a foundational element of movement. Through the mindful embodiment of anatomy, imagery, and metaphor, participants were guided through exercises designed to deepen their understanding and experience of softness in motion. These exercises were carefully crafted to harness the inherent qualities of softness, allowing participants to cultivate swift and efficient movement patterns. The class aimed to instill a sense of availability, lightness, and agility in participants' movement practices by emphasizing the integration of softness into their physicality. Through guided exploration, participants learned to navigate their bodies with greater fluidity and grace, tapping into the inherent potential for dynamic movement within themselves.
Improvisación / Contacto +
ConnectArte Espacio Multidisciplinario
Tijuana, Mexico
Playground Series
The "Playground Series" offers a community movement class series that serves as a vibrant exploration of improvisation, designed to invigorate the creative spirit within each participant. Grounded in the belief that our creative selves are at their most dynamic when given the freedom to explore, the series seeks to cultivate a sense of comfort within our own skin and foster pathways to uninhibited self-expression. Crafted exercises encourage participants to tap into their senses, heighten their listening skills, and rediscover the joy of creative play. Each session promises a dynamic journey of self-discovery, where spatial dynamics are in constant flux, inviting participants to adapt and respond fluidly to shifting environments. "Playground Series" welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and skill levels who share a passion for movement and a desire to explore the boundless possibilities of improvisation. Whether seeking to reconnect with their innate creativity or simply embracing the joy of movement, participants are invited to join this inclusive and empowering community class.
Improvisación / Contacto +
ConnectArte Espacio Multidisciplinario
Tijuana, Mexico
Soft as a Cat, Quick as a Bird
"Soft as a cat, quick as a bird" represented a pioneering exploration into developing the Naftali Method, a novel approach to movement practice. Drawing inspiration from the principles of Gaga and contact improvisation, this pilot class aimed to refine participants' understanding and embodiment of swift and efficient movement techniques. Central to the Naftali Method was maintaining a consistent speed throughout the dance, akin to the fluidity of a cat's movements and the rapidity of a bird in flight. Participants were guided through a series of exercises designed to cultivate agility and speed, all while remaining grounded in the present moment and fully engaged with the tasks at hand. The class strongly emphasized maximizing activity within the body, encouraging participants to explore the full range of motion. Through structured exercises and improvisational tasks, participants were challenged to move with precision and intentionality, embodying the dynamic qualities of both softness and quickness.
Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT)
Festival De Danza Transfronteriza
Tijuana, Mexico
A Glimpse into the Creative Process of Portal
Participants will delve into the methods from Portal, an evening-length performance curated by Jess Humphrey. Through thought-provoking questions, we embarked on a physical journey, uncovering the impact of perception on movement. By investigating queries such as "What if what we see informs our physical choices?" and "How does our body respond before we fully comprehend meaning?" dancers navigated the depths of their creative potential. Individually, participants will engage in question-based prompts, igniting a playful dialogue between body and mind fostering a deeper understanding of their artistic process. Through group interactions, we will investigate how the body-mind relationship evolves in collective exploration, discovering new realms of expression and connection.
Melvin Garb Hillel Center
San Diego, California
Pesach and Dance
Hillel of San Diego State University hosted a community movement class that woven elements of the Gaga movement language with improvisational partner work. This innovative approach merged the fluidity and sensory exploration of Gaga with the dynamic interaction of partner improvisation. Participants engaged deeply with the principles of Gaga, exploring sensations, textures, and rhythms within their own bodies before extending these concepts into partnered movement. Through peer-to-peer engagement, participants honed their ability to communicate non-verbally, respond intuitively, and co-create movement sequences that were both spontaneous and deeply connected. As each partnership developed its own unique language of movement, characterized by shared understanding and mutual trust, the class evolved into a dynamic exploration of collaboration and creativity. The result was a physical experience and a deeply personal and expressive journey for each participant, highlighting the power of movement to foster connection, communication, and community.
French Hill Community Center
Jerusalem, Israel
Creative Movement
"Creative Movement in Jerusalem" provided a unique and transformative improvisation workshop tailored specifically for Hasidic women, strategically timed before the Jewish High Holidays to infuse the upcoming new year with vitality and renewal. This workshop served as a sacred space where participants could engage in a playful and uninhibited exploration of creative movement, fostering a sense of connection to themselves, their bodies, and the world around them. Through crafted exercises and activities, participants were invited to delve into the rich tapestry of movement possibilities, allowing them to express themselves authentically and entirely within the confines of their own bodies and the space they inhabited. The workshop encouraged participants to embrace spontaneity, curiosity, and experimentation as they navigated various movement explorations. More than just a physical experience, "Creative Movement in Jerusalem" provided a holistic journey of self-discovery and empowerment, allowing participants to tap into their innate creativity and connect with their innermost selves. The workshop encouraged participants to explore the depths of their movement potential and cultivate a more profound sense of presence and embodiment by fostering a supportive and nurturing environment.
Tikvah Studio
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
Creative Movement
"Creative Movement in Ramat Beit Shemesh" offered an enriching improvisation workshop tailored specifically for the vibrant community of Hasidic women residing in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Inspired by Deborah Hay's visionary concept of "ways of seeing while dancing," the workshop delved into the profound interplay between perception and action, inviting participants to explore the intricacies of their movement experience in a deeply embodied manner. Throughout the workshop, participants were guided through dynamic exercises carefully crafted to deepen their awareness and expand their sensory perception. Drawing upon principles of depth of field and proprioception, participants were encouraged to explore new ways of engaging with their environment and fellow participants, fostering a sense of connection and kinship within the group. Each exercise was a gateway to unlocking new dimensions of movement potential, empowering participants to tap into their innate creativity and expressiveness. Through mindful exploration and playful experimentation, participants discovered the transformative power of dance as a tool for self-discovery and connection.