Moor Than Contact

A weekend of dancing in the studio and on the land of West Yorkshire.  Camping in the meadow, hot tub, sauna and song…

Facilitated by Zoë Solomons and Hugh Stanier.

            “Totally mind blowing and magical”

Autumn is a time to harvest and celebrate! Let’s gather to dance, sing and share.

The land is our home. A place to seek in the wild places, listening for stories that ignite our hearts.

The warmth we cultivate in company will germinate seeds of creativity to plant into the coming year.  

Prices:

Low income:                    £190

Standard:                           £230

Generous support:  £280  

What we will do:

Contact Improvisation 

Contact improvisation is a practice that offers us a grounded, tangible way to move our bodies in relationship: in relationship to ourselves, the ground and other bodies.

These practical skills for weight distribution, sharing and weight bearing (lifting) serve us to strengthen our physical body, but also to generate resilience of attention, presence and play, which serve us in our outdoor dance- both on the moor and in life outside.

Axis Syllabus

Specific tools for specific tasks: the axis syllabus is a body of information regarding human movement function. We will draw on this resource to explore the function of our bodies in locomotion. In order to step into ourselves more fully as we walk the moors. 

The heritage of our bi-pedal ancestry meeting the rock, mud and grit.

Body work

Both Zoe and Hugh are quailifed body therapists who know the deep gentle supportive power of touch.

Working with touch supports us to process and integrate the movement, nature and collaborative work. As well as to continue to settle more deeply into our bodies- the place from which rest and creativity can spring.

Body work forms part of the restorative aspect of this intensive. We will also include restorative practice. In the sauna, by the fire, on the dance floor and with the land.

Land practice

 The dance studio is set in eight acres meadow and woodland, which provides space and support for deepening and softening into the body.  The moors surrounding Fell Edge are rugged, powerful and home to Englands’ largest number of prehistoric rock carvings, which we will have chance to work with.

The weather can change very quickly- sometimes you can see for miles, and the next moment you’ll be immersed in clouds, the wind can be very strong and the light is epic as it moves over the hills. The land practice is the chance to confront this landscape alone, at your own pace.

Suitable for all levels of experience from beginner to advanced.

Your Facilitators.

Hugh Stanier

Hugh is a Contemporary Dance Artist specialising in Contact Improvisation. He has been teaching & performing internationally since 2008. He began dancing when he was 15 as a break dancer and moved into Contemporary dance, graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD).  He has worked with companies such as 2Faced Dance, Tom Dale, STAN Won’t Dance, and most recently Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez. 

Presently, what interests Hugh most about teaching and facilitating is holding spaces for people to find a deeper connection to themselves through playful exploration. Whether through improvisation, contact Improvisation or choreographed movement, Hugh’s focus and intention lies in finding joy and power in a movement practice connected to presence, awareness and breath.

Zoë Solomons

Zoë is a dancer/mother/teacher/Osteopath and activist. Zoë has been practicing and performing improvisation since 2000 and considers it a life practice as well as a professional skill. She has performed for Felix Ruckert, Tino Seghal and Simonetta Alessandri among others.

Zoë qualified to teach Axis Syllabus universal motion principles in 2008, when teaching she combines this knowledge with anatomical understanding from her work as an osteopath with dancers and athletes. She has taught at major dance centres and schools and festivals in the U.K. and internationally. Her eclectic training in medicine, bodywork and nature based practices and a dance background including improvisation, tango, folkdance and contemporary inform her embodied approach to functional movement pedagogy.

Food, Accommodation & amenities:

• Fully catered with 3 delicious vegetarian meals per day.
• Beautiful warm dance studio with views across the valley
• Camping on the land with fire pit and indoor hot showers.
• Private rooms available in the Farmhouse for at extra 40£ per night. (Subject to availability)
• More luxurious B’n’B options also available (to be booked separately)
• There is a Hot Tub and Sauna that we can enjoy on alternating evenings over the weekend.