In this workshop, you’ll explore the art of contact improvisation through the lens of microscopic awareness, focusing on the subtle language of touch. This class will guide you in mastering the delicate balance of taking responsibility for another’s body while learning to command, listen, and negotiate through movement.
You’ll delve into key aspects such as building trust and understanding reflexivity—where every action invites a reaction. We’ll also cover self-protection and safeguarding your partner, all while engaging your imagination to intuitively track and respond to your partner’s movements.
In addition to movement exploration, we will dive into biomechanics, physics, and physiology, understanding how forces like momentum, gravity, and inertia influence our bodies in motion. You’ll learn how skeletal alignment, muscle coordination, and nervous system responses shape the way we initiate, absorb, and redirect energy in contact improvisation. By bridging science with sensation, this workshop will deepen your understanding of touch and connection, transforming your dance practice into a refined and resonant dialogue.
📍LOCATION:
CRIPA, Auroville
DATES:
3rd April to 6th April, 2025
SCHEDULE and VENUE:
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM in Cripa Small Hall
FEES:
* (for guests in Auroville)
Early Bird Price For 4 days: 7,500 INR (paid registration before 25th March)
Regular Price For 4 days: 10,000 INR (for beginners and existing practitioners)
* For Aurovillians with contribution.
For registrations and enquiries:
aurovilleartworld@gmail.com
About facilitator:
Shifu Ash is a dance movement researcher, philosopher, choreographer, and visual artist based in Mumbai, India. He has extensive expertise in Wing Chun, Aikido, Modern Contemporary Dance, and Contact Improvisation, with over 20 years of experience. He is the founder of Combat Dance practice, which merges philosophies of martial art, dance, and movement science. He has been teaching under this approach for more than 8 years. He is also a former member of CID-UNESCO Paris (International Dance Council) and the founding member & CEO of ProDancer Infotech PVT LTD
He has also choreographed for a feature film in India, Kalki 2898 AD and is actively involved in co-curating international dance festivals such as the Partner Dance International Festival and India Contact Festival.
He has been invited to teach at some of the prestigious dance festivals & companies in India & abroad like Impulstanz Vienna International Dance Festival, International Contact Festival Freiburg, Nederlands Dans Theater, Tanssille Ry Helsinki, Henny Jurriens Studio Amsterdam, BFM Tallinn University, Saint Petersburg Conservatory Dance, Goa Contact Festival, Divadlo Studio Tanca, Goa Dance Residency, Berlin Contact Festival, Contact Meets Contemporary Festival Goettingen, Tokyo Nomadic Residency, Chinchintalu Festival Dubai, Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company, Nritya Shakti, Institute Of Classical & Modern Dance India, Workshop for friends, Radi Sveta Art, SDVIG Studio, etc.
