We are trying out a series of monthly earlier Sunday class & jams to enable dancers with children to come, and bring their children too if they want.
Beginner friendly pre-jam warmup class 2-3pm followed by the jam 3-5pm. Children Welcome. Doors will be closed for the duration of the class to keep the focus, so please arrive early to attend the class, you can arrive at any time for the jam. Dancers can come just for the class, £5, or stay for the jam, £8.
For more information feel free to contact the teacher/facilitator or info@contactdance.co.uk. We send out regular emails of class descriptions, to get these, please sign-up to our mailing list.
Class Description
Flying Angels: Contact and Christmas
Focusing on the power of centering, we will begin by practicing flying angels in the ground, with the support of another and in the air, and celebrate the spirit of Christmas in our contact dancing. Beginning with some fundamentals of weight sharing and partnering we will work to build trust between us and develop full expansive dancing where we release the angels within. The class will be energetic, fun and suitable for all ages. You are invited to wear something sparkly and join us for a christmas drink and nibble after the jam.
Tamara Ashley’s Bio:
Tamara’s improvisation practice is focused on durational, site-specific, digital and environmental performance. She has undertaken several large-scale durational performances in landscapes and places, such as Performing the Pennine Way and The Garden, as well as working as a choreographer for theatre companies, community groups and youth dance programmes. She holds an MFA in Choreography for which she developed a series of stage works that explored the politics of social rituals in everyday situations. Her PhD investigated dance improvisation in the context of ecological activism and environmental change. She has enjoyed fruitful collaborations with other artists including Simone Kenyon, Lilly Picts, Tim Rubidge, Fiona Wright, and Nala Walla. Tamara has practiced improvisation in performance for over 15 years, taking inspiration from mentors and teachers such as Nancy Stark Smith, KJ Holmes, Andrew Harwood and Janis Claxton, and has performed at Earthdance, West Coast Contact Improvisation Jam, Contact Festival Dartington, NottDance, and at other venues nationally and internationally. Her work has also been informed by somatic practices, through her teacher training certifications in yoga and pilates, and performer training in body mind centering. She was previously the programme leader for BA(Hons) Choreography at Northumbria University. She is currently the artistic director of dancedigital and programme leader for the MA in Community Dance Leadership at the University of Bedfordshire.
The Jam
A jam is an informal gathering of dancers. There is no teacher, but space and time to develop skills and confidence. You are free to dance, rest, or sit and watch, as you wish. The jam provides an opportunity to explore and integrate techniques you have learned, and to find your own routes into dancing.
At some jams a teacher will facilitate a score to follow such as a focused (silent) jam, the Underscore (developed by Nancy Stark-Smith), or a blindfold (or eyes-closed) jam, this will normally be advertised via our regular mailout – so sign-up if you want advance notice.