Facilitator(s): Amber Borotsik

In this physical class we will explore movement improvisation as a way to practice moment to moment awareness.   In my personal acting practice, a deep experience of the body is equal to script analysis in terms of its direct impact on my ability to bring myself into a scene.  For years I experienced real struggle trying to connect emotionally to scripted work but then I did a bunch of yoga, a bunch of dancing and discovered that, for me, the answer is physical. I’m now very interested in how movement and the body can activate, not only honest emotion, but also new ideas, imaginings and writing.  Artists from many disciplines are welcomed and encouraged.

You can expect:

• Major moving.
• Sometimes sweating.
• Sometimes partner work.
• Some exploration of weight sharing.
• Some speaking and/or sounding.

We will move the body, open to the moment, and see what happens.

Please work in bare feet and clothes that you can move in.  The floor is slippery so no socks please. Strange cut up sock contraptions so you don’t freeze are totally welcome – whatever works. This work will also open and strengthen the body, as well as addressing pattern breaking.

The work will be rigorous but I encourage everyone to bring themselves to the work in the way that feels most natural for their body. Haven’t moved for a while? Perfect.  Dance professionally?  Perfect.  Need to miss a class?  Perfect.   Need to modify movement in order to rebuild after injury/illness? Perfect.

I am looking forward to challenging my own methods and pedagogy within this context as well.  Intentional experiments may happen.

-amber

Bio:

Amber Borotsik is an Edmonton based creator and performer keenly interested in the intersection between theatre and contemporary dance practices. To date, Amber has created three full length works (Scythe, Backwater, The Moon at Midnight) and numerous shorter works (Here. Like this.) in collaboration with her husband Jesse Gervais. The Moon at Midnight premiered in Edmonton then toured to Winnipeg (Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers), Calgary (The Fluid Festival) and Regina (New Dance Horizons) as a part of the Prairie Dance Circuit.

Amber has performed in both theatre and dance across Canada, the United States and in Japan; and has received three Sterling Awards (Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role – Little One, Choreography/Fight Direction and Independent Production – Scythe) and the TELUS Courage to Innovate award at the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts. Last fall she remixed choreography with Studio 303 in Montreal and Neighbourhood Dance Works in St. John’s Newfoundland as a part of the REMIX Exchange.

Facilitator(s): Amber Borotsik

In this physical class we will explore movement improvisation as a way to practice moment to moment awareness.   In my personal acting practice, a deep experience of the body is equal to script analysis in terms of its direct impact on my ability to bring myself into a scene.  For years I experienced real struggle trying to connect emotionally to scripted work but then I did a bunch of yoga, a bunch of dancing and discovered that, for me, the answer is physical. I’m now very interested in how movement and the body can activate, not only honest emotion, but also new ideas, imaginings and writing.  Artists from many disciplines are welcomed and encouraged.

You can expect:

• Major moving.
• Sometimes sweating.
• Sometimes partner work.
• Some exploration of weight sharing.
• Some speaking and/or sounding.

We will move the body, open to the moment, and see what happens.

Please work in bare feet and clothes that you can move in.  The floor is slippery so no socks please. Strange cut up sock contraptions so you don’t freeze are totally welcome – whatever works. This work will also open and strengthen the body, as well as addressing pattern breaking.

The work will be rigorous but I encourage everyone to bring themselves to the work in the way that feels most natural for their body. Haven’t moved for a while? Perfect.  Dance professionally?  Perfect.  Need to miss a class?  Perfect.   Need to modify movement in order to rebuild after injury/illness? Perfect.

I am looking forward to challenging my own methods and pedagogy within this context as well.  Intentional experiments may happen.

-amber

Bio:

Amber Borotsik is an Edmonton based creator and performer keenly interested in the intersection between theatre and contemporary dance practices. To date, Amber has created three full length works (Scythe, Backwater, The Moon at Midnight) and numerous shorter works (Here. Like this.) in collaboration with her husband Jesse Gervais. The Moon at Midnight premiered in Edmonton then toured to Winnipeg (Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers), Calgary (The Fluid Festival) and Regina (New Dance Horizons) as a part of the Prairie Dance Circuit.

Amber has performed in both theatre and dance across Canada, the United States and in Japan; and has received three Sterling Awards (Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role – Little One, Choreography/Fight Direction and Independent Production – Scythe) and the TELUS Courage to Innovate award at the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts. Last fall she remixed choreography with Studio 303 in Montreal and Neighbourhood Dance Works in St. John’s Newfoundland as a part of the REMIX Exchange.

Facilitator(s): Amber Borotsik

In this physical class we will explore movement improvisation as a way to practice moment to moment awareness.   In my personal acting practice, a deep experience of the body is equal to script analysis in terms of its direct impact on my ability to bring myself into a scene.  For years I experienced real struggle trying to connect emotionally to scripted work but then I did a bunch of yoga, a bunch of dancing and discovered that, for me, the answer is physical. I’m now very interested in how movement and the body can activate, not only honest emotion, but also new ideas, imaginings and writing.  Artists from many disciplines are welcomed and encouraged.

You can expect:

• Major moving.
• Sometimes sweating.
• Sometimes partner work.
• Some exploration of weight sharing.
• Some speaking and/or sounding.

We will move the body, open to the moment, and see what happens.

Please work in bare feet and clothes that you can move in.  The floor is slippery so no socks please. Strange cut up sock contraptions so you don’t freeze are totally welcome – whatever works. This work will also open and strengthen the body, as well as addressing pattern breaking.

The work will be rigorous but I encourage everyone to bring themselves to the work in the way that feels most natural for their body. Haven’t moved for a while? Perfect.  Dance professionally?  Perfect.  Need to miss a class?  Perfect.   Need to modify movement in order to rebuild after injury/illness? Perfect.

I am looking forward to challenging my own methods and pedagogy within this context as well.  Intentional experiments may happen.

-amber

Bio:

Amber Borotsik is an Edmonton based creator and performer keenly interested in the intersection between theatre and contemporary dance practices. To date, Amber has created three full length works (Scythe, Backwater, The Moon at Midnight) and numerous shorter works (Here. Like this.) in collaboration with her husband Jesse Gervais. The Moon at Midnight premiered in Edmonton then toured to Winnipeg (Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers), Calgary (The Fluid Festival) and Regina (New Dance Horizons) as a part of the Prairie Dance Circuit.

Amber has performed in both theatre and dance across Canada, the United States and in Japan; and has received three Sterling Awards (Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role – Little One, Choreography/Fight Direction and Independent Production – Scythe) and the TELUS Courage to Innovate award at the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts. Last fall she remixed choreography with Studio 303 in Montreal and Neighbourhood Dance Works in St. John’s Newfoundland as a part of the REMIX Exchange.