This three part workshop series lead by London based dance artist Jack Thomson, dives into the multifaceted nature of being a contemporary dancer. Participants will have their physicality pushed by the technically driven, critically approached and experimentally underpinned 2 hour sessions, that aims to stretch the dancer as wide as the ‘term contemporary dance is in 2024’, which is wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide. Over the two hour sessions, we will cultivate a ‘base form’ in a class like structure. After a short water break, the session will shift focus to learning and embodying repertoire and/or creative research. The individual ‘themed’ sessions have a collective pursuit in developing our artistry and identity, a space for us to both embrace and forget what we already know. 

Workshop 1 : The Departure

We will dig into a duet co-choreographed by Jack that was commissioned by the Royal Ballet in 2023. Looking at how contemporary can be a departure from tradition. 

-Technical focus on ‘technique’.

-Critical focus on traditions. 

-Experimental focus on ‘breaking and following the rules’.

Workshop 2 : The Novel

Tackling the opening structured improvisation at the start of the solo, ‘OFF’. Exploring how ‘the new’ plays a role in making something contemporary. 

-Technical focus on quality of movement.

-Critical focus on committing to values. 

-Experimental focus on improvisation. 

Workshop 3 : The Political

With a choreographic focus, participants will use political themes to create small group works. Acknowledging how contemporary dance can be utilized to address issues of today. 

-Technical focus on floor work. 

-Critical focus on reading movement. 

-Experimental focus on the act of creating meaning.

*50% refund available for cancellations before July 3rd. After July 3rd none of the payments are refundable.