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.)

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. (:

Short and sweet party after class Thurs. June 20

Everyone is welcome at the end-of-season celebration: after class on June 20th! It will be short & sweet and happen right after the Summer Ingredients session at Heart & Hands.

NO pressure: it is totally optional to bring a snack to share. There will also be time to share reflections and ideas for what you`d like to see for the Fall.

If you aren`t able to come by at 7:30pm for class, you`re very welcome to stop by at 9pm to celebrate. Looking forward to seeing those who can come to the mini party!

*please note: as the forecast is for rain, the outdoor potluck at 6pm has been cancelled.

 

Outdoor sessions in May: each needs at least a few RSVPs

With the warmer time of year arriving, would you like to get some fresh-air and creative movement in at the same time?

There are a number of sessions planned for this month. All of these outdoor sessions need at least a few people to RSVP ahead of time in order to happen:

Monday May 20th (stat holiday), 2pm-4pm: Hiking & Dancing *needs two more people to RSVP for it to go ahead.

Friday May 24^th, 8:40pm (sunset/ moonrise time): dancing acknowledgments at Summit *if at least a few people RSVP by May 21^st.

Monday May 27^th, 7pm-8pm: Fresh-air Frolic, in a neighbourhood park in North Park or Quadra Village, *needs 3 more people to RSVP for it to go ahead.

Flashmob Frolic for International Dance Day (Monday April 29th)

If you would like to join in the International Dance Day Flashmob on the 29^th, that would be fantastic! (Flashmob = a group of people meeting in a public space for the purpose of doing an unusual or entertaining activity. Frolic = a playful action or movement.

All that’s needed is a willingness to have fun and dance around like various animals – we’re doing a family-friendly activity called Animals A-Z (we’ll call out an animal for each letter of the alphabet and respond with how we think each moves). We’re also looking for a few people to play boomwhackers (rainbow musical tubes -we won’t be rehearsing a song, just playing around with rhythm). Thank-you to everyone at the first two Fresh-air Frolics for shaping the flashmob – so much laughter and playful brilliance.

The plan for Monday April 29th is to meet behind the Fernwood Community Centre at 5:30pm (at the basketball court or field) to do a warm-up. Then we`ll head half a block away to Fernwood Square for the flashmob at shortly after 6pm, and end with a snack potluck (optional: bringing a snack to share). Both locations and the route are wheelchair- and stroller- accessible. The event is free.

Please invite friends and family – to join in or as spectators.

Plants and Dance: Monday April 22

In celebration of Mother Earth Day and National Dance Week, the theme for the session on Monday April 22 is Plants & Dance.

As with the other Fresh-air Fernwood Frolic sessions, we will meet at 5:30pm behind the Fernwood Community Centre (1240 Gladstone) at William Stevenson Park. We’ll start with a warm-up there and then head to Springridge Commons nearby for family-friendly dance improvisation activities and movement games.

Click here for more details.

Flashmob for International Dance Day

This Monday April 15th, 5:30pm: All are welcome to be part of collectively creating a short dance to perform as an International Dance Day flashmob (on April 29th).

To come up with the flashmob together, we’ll meet this Monday at 5:30pm behind the Fernwood Community Centre (1240 Gladstone) at William Stevenson Park – meeting at the basketball court (or the the field next to it if the basketball court is in use). The paved path to the left of the community centre is wheelchair accessible, although it is a bit steep.

We’ll start with some dance improvisation activities, playing with creating shapes and working in small groups to come up with parts of the dance. This session is part of the Fresh-air Fernwood Frolic series of community dance sessions (click here for more details), and is by donation to cover costs of snacks and boomwhackers.

The plan is to do a rehearsal (practice run-through) on Monday April 29th at 5:30pm, and then go perform it (e.g. at Fernwood Square or wherever the group decides). April 22-29 is also National Dance Week, which is where the ‘i love dance’ logo image is from.

“Come, turn off your television, switch off your computer, and come to dance.
Express yourself through that divine and dignified instrument, which is our body.
Come to dance and join people in the waves of pulses.
Seize that precious and fleeting moment.
Come to celebrate life with dance.”
– from the International Dance Day message from Lin Hwai-min

Hiking and Dancing April 14

It’s springtime! With the weather getting warmer, once a month there will be a creative wander (leisurely hike) at a local place in Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ homelands. Each outdoor workshop will include movement concepts and dance improvisation activities for engaging with where we are.

The Sunday April 14^th (12pm-2pm) session is on Shapes, Textures, & Breath. Activities will focus on: creating and mirroring shapes, responding to textures, leading with various aspects of our bodies, following our exhale, and counterbalance. There are 4 spots left. *please note the earlier start time of noon. Click here for all the details.

Fresh-air Fernwood: Mondays April 8-29

In April there will be a weekly fresh-air session in Fernwood: Mondays from April 8th – 29th, 5:30-6:30pm, by donation.

We’ll meet up for a warm-up in the same location each week, and then head to another outdoor space in the neighbourhood, for family-friendly dance improvisation activities and movement games. Please dress for the weather.

Themes for each week:
April 8^th An Unbirthday Party! – Games @ the park
April 15^th Creating a short Flashmob together (to perform on the 29^th)
April 22^nd Plants & Dance – Mother Earth Day & National Dance Week
April 29^th Flashmob Frolic for International Dance Day – rehearsal then Flashmob!

Click here for meet-up location and other details.