the workshop in detail…
A two-day intensive during which students take a deep dive into embodied storytelling through the use of intention and effort. Dancers will learn to create story by combining motion factors with the needs of a character. Learning how to use these tools in combination will deepen not just their ability to tell story through choreography, but will allow them greater freedom onstage.
The work happens in four classes spread over two-days. Class size is limited to sixteen dancers per workshop in order to ensure focused, personal attention for each student during the three hours of instruction each day. However, if there are more than sixteen students, two separate cohorts of the workshop can be held over the two days, accomodating a total of thirty-two students who will have eight hours of dedicated learning time.
Detailed descriptions of each class are found below.
day one.
class one.
2 Hours
An introduction to the work that includes the why, what and how of ADFD. Dancers participate in exercises that introduce the elements of intention and effort as well as fostering deeper connections to music. Using center and across-the-floor work, they will learn how these components can be implemented to create character and tell story with choreography.
15 minute break
day one.
class two.
2 hours
We go deeper into what was taught in Class One, brainstorming ideas around intention and effort, playing with time and space, learning where emotions live in the body, how this work helps access them and how they can be layered onto choreography so it translates to story and character. Dancers learn a combination that will be used over the following classes and we end with a bit of fun homework that will help these techniques to settle into the body in preparation for Day Two.
day two.
class one.
2 hours
We begin with exercises that connect the breath with our emotional life and continue with a review of the core materials of Day One. We return to and build on our combination, incorporating the homework in order to deepen our understanding of intention and effort and how they naturally lead to bold character choices and ultimately create an embodied story that culminates in a dynamic and fulfilling performance for the dancer and thereby the audience.
15 minute break
day two.
class two.
2 hours
The final class is determined by the needs of the studio and is meant to be designed with the school’s director beforehand. It can be a continuation, a deepening of the work from the previous sessions or the time can be used to work on solos or an ensemble piece. If it is an ensemble piece, everyone in the class must already know the choreography, even if it’s not something they normally perform. No matter the structure of the class, we will work in smaller groups so dancers can practice workshopping for themselves as learning how to give and receive helpful feedback is part of this process.