Contact Improvisation and Floorwork Fundamentals Workshop with Lewis Wilkins
Doors open 10:00am:
Morning Session : 10:30 to 1pm
Afternoon Session: 2pm to 4.30pm
At 5:30pm the regular Bristol CI jam will take place in the same space followed by a pot luck food share. The evening jam is FREE for anyone attending this workshop
This CI and technique workshop centres on foundational approaches to cultivating awareness, efficiency, and competence in dancing that takes us into and out of the floor. We will consider how building a modest repertoire of solo floorwork skills can expand our creative choices and reduce the likelihood of injury when dancing in contact—particularly through learning to absorb and redirect forces by organising the body to fall, roll, and slide.
The day will include time dedicated to combining a small number of floorwork maneuvers into a short sequence. This work will be facilitated in small groups, with an emphasis on getting creative with momentum and sequencing, rather than on learning choreography.
The structure of the practice will move fluidly between solo, contact, set patterns, guided improvisations, and scores
This workshop is best suited to those with some existing experience in contact improvisation and/or contemporary dance floor work
About Lewis: Born and raised in Dartington, Lewis completed his professional training at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) from 2006 to 2009 and has since worked as a performer, collaborator, and rehearsal director with a range of choreographers and companies. His credits include Jean Abreu, Richard Alston, Riccardo Buscarini, Bregenzer Festspiele, Tom Dale, Stéphanie Dufresne, the National Theatre, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Joel O’Donoghue, the Royal Opera House, Scottish Dance Theatre, Lea Tirabasso, and TrashDollys.
Teaching since 2014, Lewis specialises in contact, ensemble, and solo improvisation, as well as in floorwork and soft acrobatic techniques. In 2022, he completed an MA in Dance in Education at London Studio Centre. Lewis has taught at contact improvisation festivals, and for Agitart Figueres es Mou, B12 Berlin, DV8 Physical Theatre, National Dance Company Wales, and Scottish Dance Theatre. He regularly teaches at LCDS, Nuova Officina della Danza, and the University of Limerick, and has previously worked at London Studio Centre, Middlesex University, Rambert School, and University of Roehampton. As a teacher, Lewis is committed to a progressive, learner-centred pedagogy, creating inclusive, supportive and focused environments where creativity and playfulness can thrive.
Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bristolcontactimprovisationdance/2218561