Thursdays at Heart and Hands this Fall

Thursday evening sessions (7:30-9pm) will start up September 5th! There will be three free workshops in September, and then two series of classes. The sessions are at the lovely Heart & Hands Health Collective (851 Cormorant Street, downtown) in Lekwungen territories. (Detailed overview of what Thursday sessions are like). To RSVP for the weeks you would like to attend, please be in touch.

Upcoming series of classes:

Dance Improvisation for Fun
Thursdays 7:30-9pm, October 10, 17, 24 (join any week)
The will be a variety of dance improv activities and games to encourage moving in new ways. Each class will focus on a couple of dance concepts (e.g. shape, time, space, consent, flow, focus).

Dance for Wellbeing
Thursdays 7:30-9pm, November 7, 14 & 21
There are a lot of intense things happening on this planet, and sometimes November – with winter approaching – can be a rough month for people locally. Each dance class will include: movement activities for self-care and connecting with personal sources of strength, creative dance games for fun, and crayons & art supplies available for (optional) doodling or writing after dancing.

Workshops:

Dance as Self-Care/ Mutual-Care: Sept. 5
This workshop will include various creative movement and dance activities for grounding, connecting with personal sources of strength, and supporting each other as a group. (Full description). FREE.

*FULL* Intro to Creative Dance: Sept. 12
This workshop is for people who are new to dance improvisation, who think they “can’t” dance, or who feel ‘awkward’/’rusty’/’shy’ about dancing in front of anyone. The focus is on accepting and celebrating our unique selves and ways of moving. (Full description). FREE.

*FULL* Dance Games Night!  Sept. 19
There will be a whole bunch of creative movement games, and we’ll take turns picking the next game from a basket. (Full description). FREE.

*For all sessions, RSVPing is recommended, as space is limited. For people with unpredictable schedules, drop-ins are welcome as long as there is room (if a session is full it will be noted as “FULL” in that night’s title on the calendar).

For details about the location, logistics and accessibilities, click here.

Fresh-air Frolic Aug. 20 and 21 at ROMP!

FRESH-AIR FROLIC! (free sessions for all ages & abilities)

Tues. August 20, and Wed. August 21

5pm – 5:30pm

Creative movement & dance improvisation games

at ROMP Dance Festival, Centennial Square in Lekwungen Territories

Everyone is welcome at this playful dance improvisation session. There will be creative movement activities and games, such as a dancing version of ‘Go go go stop!’. All that is needed is an openness to having fun and creating a supportive space together. People of all ages are welcome, including children accompanied by an adult.

Dancing outdoors August 12th (No classes in July)

Summer is finally here! Would you like to dance outdoors in a park in August?

There will be a Fresh-air Frolic session Monday August 12th at 7pm, at Mason Street Park (also known as Franklin Green Park – behind Wellburn’s and the Gallery at Mason & Cook), meeting beside the bench swing. This session is free, and donations to the Community Tool Shed are welcome.

The session involves 45 minutes of dance improvisation activities and movement games, followed by sharing snacks and an optional 10-minute open improv. No dance experience needed. See the Fresh-air Frolic page for more info.

(There won’t be any dancing with integrity sessions in July, as Joanne is away at dance-movement therapy courses and preparing for autumn.)

Over the next few months…

Over the next few months, i will be transitioning from the non-profit, volunteer teaching of dancing with integrity sessions, to starting a little business under a new name.

This change means that i will be able to offer many classes each week around town, starting in October.

If you know of a group or venue that might be interested in a weekly class in the Fall or 2014 – e.g. dance improvisation for fun & fitness, dancing while sitting for older adults, creative dance as self-care, or a theme tailored to your group – please be in touch. Thank you!

Happy Solstice to those who celebrate it, and warm wishes to everyone for an excellent summer!

Thursdays 7:30pm at Heart and Hands this autumn

Thursday evening sessions (7:30-9pm) will start up September 5th! There will be three free workshops in September, and then two 5-week series of classes. The sessions are at the lovely Heart & Hands Health Collective (851 Cormorant Street, downtown) in Lekwungen territories.

Full details are here.

Thank-you for a beautiful, creative year

Thank-you everyone for your creative playfulness, nourishing dancing and excellent ideas! It has been fantastic to move and improvise with everyone at the 50 sessions since July 2012.

Around 70 participants have come to the Thursday dancing with integrity sessions at Heart & Hands since January, including some wonderful people who have participated practically every week. As well, there have been approximately 45 people at outdoor sessions and 75 for dance improvisation at various other indoor locations since last summer.

It has been an honour to witness participants’ confidence, spontaneity and freedom of movement expand. And I have had so much fun being in supportive community with all of you. Thank-you SO much!

Wishing everyone the best for an amazing summer. (:

Dance as Self-Care/ Mutual-Care June 13; Summer Ingredients June 20

There are only two more Thursday night sessions at Heart & Hands (851 Cormorant St.) before the summer break…

Thurs. June 13, 7:30-9pm: Dance as Self-Care / Mutual-Care: Various creative dance and movement activities, around grounding, breath, connecting with personal sources of strength, and supporting each other as a group. First-time-dancers very welcome!
This session will include an ’emergency response kit’ resource from Capacitar with activities for stress and overwhelm, and dancing to kitchen-utensil percussion, as requested. (:

Thurs. June 20, 7:30-9pm: Summer Ingredients: Revisiting some of the movement ingredients we have looked at over the past couple months (dance concepts like space, shape, time, locomotion, emotions), and applying these to what we’re each interested in for summertime.

Please note there is no class June 6th (the first week off after 20 Thursdays in a row!)

By donation. To RSVP, send a note. Drop-ins are welcome (so long as that night’s title doesn’t say “FULL” on the calendar.)

Click here for details about the location and accessibilities. Click here for a general description of the Thursday classes.

Ideas, suggestions, feedback?? (little survey)

What would you like to see for future dancing with integrity community sessions – in terms of themes, locations, music, and times (e.g. in the Fall)?

Do you have any suggestions for spreading the word, who might be interested, fundraising, etc.?

There is space awaiting your ideas, suggestions & feedback at this Survey Monkey link (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BHB9T3B) …or chatting in person/ by email/ by phone also works well.

Only answer the questions you feel like answering!

It would be great to have your input even if you haven’t made it to any sessions yet. (:

Thank-you!

Thursday themes until June 20th

The Thursday night community classes at Heart & Hands (851 Cormorant St.) continue until June 20th and then will break for the summer.

The dancing with integrity sessions include various dance improvisation and creative movement activities. The focus is on having fun, being curious, and renewing how we want to be with ourselves, each other, and the world. No prior dance experience needed. (Click here for a general description of the Thursday classes.)

Upcoming themes for Thursdays 7:30-9pm:

May 16: Dance Improv Ingredients

May 23: Boardroom Dance Theatre

May 30: Dance Games Night

(No class June 6)

June 13: Dance as Self-Care / Mutual-Care

June 20: Summer Ingredients

Drop-ins are welcome, so long as that night’s title doesn’t say “FULL” on the calendar.

For a shorter summary of upcoming themes, click here and scroll half-way down for the Themes section.

Click here for details about the location, sliding scale and accessibilities.

Dance Improv while Sitting: Fridays 3:30pm

Dancing while Sitting: dance improvisation activities while sitting in a circle:
Fridays, May 17-24, 3:30-4:30pm, at James Bay New Horizons (234 Menzies Street, wheelchair-accessible) in Lekwungen Territories.
Drop-ins are welcome. The class is by donation.

(original image randomly borrowed from: http://anne-thewindwhispers.blogspot.ca/2012/08/just-this-day.html#.UZcfu8rrSSo)

The focus is on having fun, being curious and renewing how we want to be with ourselves. No prior dance experience needed.

Everyone is welcome. All ages welcome, and there will be art supplies available for if any children who are joining you do not feel like dancing.

Click here for more info, themes and accessibility info.