Falling Bodies: From Walking To Dancing
Wednesday Sept 10 & 17
5-7PM
Single class: $15-25 (NOTALF)
St. Luke’s Church on the Avenue
Directions:
The class is upstairs at St. Lukes (. Enter the building through the courtyard off of 36th Street. When you enter the building there are stairs to your left. Go up the stairs. When you reach the top of the stairs, turn right and you will see the room our class is in. Got questions? email tammrwilliams@gmail.com
Matthew Williams (they/them/theirs) is a Baltimore-based dancer, somatic facilitator, and lifelong student of the body. Their performance practice is inspired by the human body as a site for choice, liberation, and a means to be in relationship with place and community across differences. Matthew is engaged with Western Somatics, choreographic and improvisational movement arts, voice work, and the study of functional anatomy. They are currently a student of Somatic Experiencing and the Axis Syllabus. They are a longtime member and organizer of Move Move Collaborative, an annual movement intensive where artists gather in Baltimore to make a performance by consensus. Matthew has taught in various universities and organized community-based educational opportunities. Their performance work has been supported by residencies at the Ucross Foundation and Playa Summer Lake, Labbodies Performance Art Review, Transmodern Festival, Baltimore Independent Dance Artists, Move Move Collaborative, and Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts. Matthew holds a BA in Cultural Studies from Bates College and MFA in Theatre Arts from Towson University.
About this class:
In this all levels two part workshop we will explore our relationship to the floor, and the ways that walking patterns can provide a foundation for dancing. We will look at basic foot and spine anatomy and joint mechanics through the lens of the Axis Syllabus to support easeful (and hopefully joyful) dancing. Class begins with a guided somatic warm up, a brief anatomy discussion, followed by movement explorations ranging from simple motifs to more open improvisational structures with plenty of space for discussion. This class is open to all levels of experience/curiosity around dance/movement.
Note: There may be an invitation to be in physical contact with other class participants to guide body awareness. This is not required.
For educational purposes, parts of this class will be recorded. No footage will be shared publicly. It will only be used by myself. If there are participants who are not comfortable with this, we will work something out.
