CI & WAR:
5-11 August 2024
with: Inna Falkova, Rabeah Murkos, Ines Pérez-Wilke, Peter Pleyer
Studio 24
Contact Improvisation – Politics – Somactivism
Three curated weeks of dance, study, jams, labs
N.B.: This is a text in progress that will be continuously edited and reworked by the curating group
With constraint, and at the same time with a feeling of urgency, relevance, necessity, a parenthesis of collective search is proposed and offered, of common actions, of spaces of attention to a doing beyond, but through the context that the great violence of the world imposes on us.
The planet is not that big.
There are a thousand of wars within our bodies.
The question is about life and death in a large scale of space/time. But what is death and life? What is that biological vibrations? Is it about an all-cost defense of certain conception of subjects? At the same time, we need to see the faces to understand, and we need to go beyond us. Can dancing take us there?
It is about offering a space to enacting intuitions to find again, through dancing, through the collective bodies, through the remembering rituals, the spiritual (well) being in the world with our ghost and future children, future old people and forest, and rivers. There is knowledge that we can activate. just as pain is inscribed in us, so is the knowledge of what is possible to keep: spirituality, laughter, life. Ways of connection and re-recognition as fellowship, as ecology, as a large living tissue.
Just as there once were used to be institutions of rituals and initiations, — we seek the possibility of creating models of experience, — a step in advance. Just before the experience happens in life itself. We find ourself dancing with ghosts. In this time together in the studio, we invite us to let the ghosts in. This is not about healing or solving or repairing anything. It is about re-membering.
It is a political action, not in the (habitual) sense of expressing our stand about an issue or forming a common front with other like-minded people. It is political because movement is political, and the ways we chose to move or not to move and the ways we are made to move or not to move, are, at the core, political choices or conditions. It is political because we are in the midst of a strong wave or de-membering that is undoing our collective sense of being human(s).
We can say, like anthropofagists do, that to eat the others is normal, but like the yoruba tradition, if the accords are made.We can nourish each other voluntarily, without theft, without invasion, like a mother to her child, like lovers, like trees. Even offering one’s life is not always the result of violence or madness. Offering life is part of the great cycles. The protection of individual life at all costs can be an obstacle to the continuation of life and can be the origin of violence. Mature experience includes facing death, strength, and consciously gained peace. Enacting a peace, It is the experience where we embody the feeling of living again and again.
We need to approach to the germinal gestures. Breath, pulsation, vibration, voice, can bring us to reconnect us with forgotten sources, which we can drink in an always new way, depending on each context. Like myths, a long breath, beginning, immobility.
This is a proposal for a collaborative research for movement practitioners.
The unfolding of the forthcoming is underway now. This is a request for creation not on an individual level, this is a potentiality for communities, societies, and human intelligence, that can become an act of intentional offering of life.
The format is a long jam: from dawn to late night, two studios, a dance deck outside, a luscious forest and river, 25 to 50 people and some dedicated dancing. Workshops in the mornings, laboratories in the afternoon, jams all day every day. Sprinkled throughout we will have offerings by facilitators: readings, collective conversations on CI & political practices, and deep listening to the human and more than human world around us.
You do what you need: long afternoons at the river, gardening, sauna, reading, writing, making your own offerings, doing-nothing, dancing into transaffective spillages, …
The curators:
Inna Falkova
Choreographer by the first higher education. Studied physical theater and performance techniques in Europe. Teacher at the Theater Department of Kharkiv National University of Arts. Teacher at the Dance Department of the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture. Second higher education – Dance-Movement Therapy ( Institute of Integrative Psychology of Professional Development). Completed a post-graduate program at Kiev Academy of Psychological Sciences. I’m leading trainings and development programs in Integrative Dance-Movement Therapy, body and somatic therapy. I’m certified in the programs: Body Mind Gestalt Therapy (Arye Bursztyn, Israel) and Integral Body-Mind Therapy (London Somatic Institute) based on Body-Mind Centering. I was studying in Trauma Somatic Education method. Participant of annual conferences of CI teachers in Europe and America. Organizer of the Kharkov Laboratory of Contact Improvisation. Leading a regular Authentic Movement group. Creator of the performative experimental group « DANCELAB ». Director of the plastique and choreography for dramatic plays. I have been working with people since 1995. Working with art projects since 1997. Moving in improvisational dance styles and CI since 2000. Working in psychology and therapy fields since 2005 20 years’ experience of teaching in higher educational institutions. Since the beginning of the full scale invasion I have been working as a crisis psychotherapist with humanitarian and volunteer organizations in deoccupied territories. I have experience of working in the « Mental health » department of MSF, Doctors Without Borders. During this 2 years of war, I took part in the creation of six performances on the theme of war. An important work for me was the creation of the research process « Alfa of death » for ImPulsTanz festival. Now I’m leading an Authentic Movement group and a somatic practice group “Nervous system: nutrition, support, lifehacks” in Kharkiv, 40 kilometers from Russian border, and a therapeutic group of support and recovery in the de-occupied territories adjacent to the Russian border. Surprisingly, I continue combining both of my professional interests: psychology and art projects.
https://youtu.be/gPjpjsQjbYQ?si=Kc7U8bN-qi1bkThQ
Rabeah Murkos is a palestinian A creator in the fields of dance and theater and movement education for all ages,and she is a choreographer and teacher of contemporary dance and contact improvisation and sufi whirling. She is the director and founder of the center of dance and movement Rabeah Morkus Dance Studio located in KAFER YASSEF palestinian village in the north of Israel \ Palestine . She was considered the first professional Palestinian dancer who went far with the art of dance and worked and created with many artists in Israel and the world and participated in many festivals in the world. Rabeah brings her rich knowledge in dance and theater and education and creates a safe and exciting space where participants can meet themselves and others to experience a joyful journey of expression through dance. She offering various tools for mind, body, and spirit work Her agenda is to raise a generation of mainly Palestinian dancers and build a community that will continue to develop dance among the Palestinians, raising the first generation that continues to dance and creates a supporter and helper and guide.
Inés Pérez-Wilke Lecturer and performer vénézuélienne interested in the process improvisation based on her studies in interculturality. Winner of the PAUSE program of the Collège de France and the Scholar Rescue Fund of Institute of International Education 2021-2023 to scholars in exil. Titular professor at the National University of Arts (VZLA) and Associate Researcher at the Centre for the Epistemology of Literature and the Performing Arts of the University Côte d’Azur (FR). She has developed collaborative creative works, transmission and research in the performing arts in Latin America in Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia where she worked with groups and community associations in research-creation processes through the performing arts. In this way she develops improvisation performative strategies of agency based on popular principles of tunning and collective action. This work has been developed and tested in contexts of social tension such as marginalized, racialized populations, and offers forms of resourcing, based on historical knowledge and experiences of this population Fields of study: Improvisation, decolonial aesthetics, social transformation, interculturality. Based in France since 2021, she continues her collaborations in Spain, Italy and Austria, with the European Improvisation Network.
Offering experimental sessions of heterological process in improvisation (blocos/alterimprovisation), explorations of performative resources for improvisation based in popular manifestations (layers and flux), and collective talks about Latin-American decolonial thought and presence.
https://youtu.be/g130YTi8UMM?si=3HhOtNyvOb6jEDYn
Peter Pleyer studied dance and choreography at the European Dance Development Center (EDDC) in the art academy in Arnhem/NL. He worked as dancer and choreographic assistant for Yoshiko Chuma (New York) and Mark Tompkins(Paris). Since 2000 he lives in Berlin with a strong interest in new methods of training dance and composition, where improvisation plays a central role. He teaches internationally, his workshop „history in practice“ that focused strongly on the „post-judson-avantgarde“ was held in the alternative dance academy in Poznan, the Polish Theatre-Institut, Warsaw, MA Choreography ArtEZ/ Arnhem, HZT-Berlin and Tanzquartier Wien. From 2007-14 he was the artistic director of Tanztage Berlin and from 2012 -14 in the programming team of Sophiensæle/Berlin. In 2014 he successfully picked up his choreographic career with the solo „Ponderosa Trilogy“ (Life-Legacy-Project Tanzhaus NRW, Impulstanz Wien), group research and choreography „visible undercurrent“ (2014/16) and „cranky bodies dance reset“ (2017). The solo „triton tanzt – twisted trident“ about the history of release technique, deconstructing masculinity and the death of his father, was performed in Berlin and Prag (2019/20 and 2024). In 2020, in a short break between two corona lockdowns, he founded, together with his partner MIchiel Keuper the Cranky Bodies a/company with the aim of developing a practice of improvised group performances that bridge the dance vs. fine arts divide. In 2022 they realized the traveling project „terrestrial transit“. He was a guest professor at HZT/UdK Berlin in 2015/16
www.crankybodies.com
https://forms.gle/bP1kJEYjGQTNcvnU9
https://www.helloasso.com/…/larret…/evenements/studio24
The price of the event includes studio space, evening classes, lodging and all the food necessary for the preparation of the meals. We will prepare the meals as a group and we will collectively take care of the life and the spaces (cleaning etc..).
Departure sunday (morning shuttle to train station)
DOBST‧NOTAFLOF (Doing Our Best So That No One’s Turned Away For Lack of Funds): You may ask for gratuity or a reduced price (no justification needed) upon registration. If the functioning cost of the event is paid for, Larret will give away free and reduced-price spots. If you need financial help to get to Larret, please let us know.
LOMTSOFLOF (Leaving Our Money To SomeOne Lacking of Funds): You may give more money so as to help others to get reduced pricing.
23 Impasse du Chalard, Larret – Saint Saud Lacoussière 24470
contact: studio.larret@gmail.com
History:
Since June 2020 Larret is a place of collective life, creation and hosting where projects around dance, farming, cooking, building, thinking are developed in their ecological dimension. An eco-somatic place for those who live there and those who come, dancers, researchers, philosophers, craftsmen, the curious..
Accessibility and life on the land
The studios and collective space are 25 minutes by car from the nearest train station (a shuttle will be in place). The studios, collective dining areas, showers and dry toilets are not wheelchair accessible, and the circulation paths are a mix of dirt and pebbles. There are stairs to access the three-people bedrooms and the 10-people dormitory, but not the studios. From the studios, the river is a 15 minutes walk through the forest, with sometimes steep paths.
Larret-en-Mouvement is a collectively run space on a land that is privately owned by two self-identified cis straight white men. The land is stewarded by a (majority-white, majority-queer) collective and involves dancing, gardening, building, cooking food, and engaging in group-decision training.
Surrounding the studios is a forest, a small part of which is privately owned (not by us), and the most part of which is stewarded by the Parc naturel régional du Périgord Vert. Downhill, the river Dronne runs amid volcanic rocks and regional trees. Its stream and banks are public spaces, although there’s a large part that is seldom visited by locals or tourists. Nudity has been known to happen at the river, please check with your neighbors if that’s okay with them (coz consent is beautiful)!
[Transparency on budget spending]
- 2900€ renting of studios & land (* the land that is hosting us was purchased in 2020 and is still under construction, and loans are still being reimbursed to banks; part of the daily price goes to this, as well as to the functioning costs for electricity, water, gas (=450€)…)
- 2100€ food (* including cook salaries)
- 1500€ logistics (* including salaries for Larret’s logistical team, emailing, etc.
- 1400€ facilitation (* including salaries + transport + food for (4) facilitators)
-
= 7800€
This amounts to 314€/person (if 25 people register).
Brought down to a ratio per person per day, this means: approx. on average 53€/per/day, of which
20€ go to renting spaces (38%)
14€ go to food (27%)
9,5€ go to logistics (18%)
10€ go to facilitators (17%)
Any extra money will go to reduce the pricing or helping for transportation for those needing it.
.
Francais:
L’inscription est ouverte !!!
1) Fill up the form-remplissez le formulaire :
https://forms.gle/bP1kJEYjGQTNcvnU9
2) Book your spot-Reservez votre place :
https://www.helloasso.com/…/larret…/evenements/studio24
Informations pratiques :
Nous pouvons accueillir environ 40 participants. L’hébergement sera disponible dans des chambres/dortoirs partagés ainsi que dans l’espace de camping (ou dans votre propre camion).
Le prix de l’événement comprend l’espace studio, les cours du soir, l’hébergement et toute la nourriture nécessaire à la préparation des repas. Nous préparerons les repas en groupe et nous nous occuperons collectivement de la vie et des espaces (nettoyage etc.).
Arrivée le lundi (navette à la gare en fin d’après-midi)
Départ le dimanche (navette matinale vers la gare)
Economie :
Prix : Le prix général est de 48.3€- 55€ par jour = 290€-330€ pour la semaine, incluant la nourriture, le logement et l’accès aux studios et à toutes les activités (voir budget ci-dessous).
DOBST‧NOTAFLOF (Nous faisons de notre mieux pour que personne ne soit refusé par manque de moyens) : Vous pouvez demander un pourboire ou un prix réduit (sans justification) lors de l’inscription. Si le coût de fonctionnement de l’événement est payé, Larret attribuera des places gratuites ou à prix réduit. Si vous avez besoin d’une aide financière pour vous rendre à Larret, n’hésitez pas à nous le faire savoir.
LOMTSOFLOF (Laisser notre argent à quelqu’un qui manque de fonds) : Vous pouvez donner plus d’argent afin d’aider d’autres personnes à bénéficier de tarifs réduits.
Géographie :
23 Impasse du Chalard, Larret – Saint Saud Lacoussière 24470
Contact : studio.larret@gmail.com
Histoire :
Depuis juin 2020 Larret est un lieu de vie collective, de création et d’accueil où se développent des projets autour de la danse, de l’agriculture, de la cuisine, de la construction, de la pensée dans leur dimension écologique. Un lieu éco-somatique pour ceux qui y vivent et ceux qui y viennent, danseurs, chercheurs, philosophes, artisans, curieux…
Accessibilité et vie sur le terrain
Les studios et l’espace collectif sont à 25 minutes en voiture de la gare la plus proche (une navette sera mise en place). Les studios, les salles à manger collectives, les douches et les toilettes sèches ne sont pas accessibles aux fauteuils roulants, et les chemins de circulation sont un mélange de terre et de galets. Des escaliers permettent d’accéder aux chambres de trois personnes et au dortoir de dix personnes, mais pas aux studios. Depuis les studios, la rivière se trouve à 15 minutes de marche à travers la forêt, avec des chemins parfois escarpés.
Larret-en-Mouvement est un espace géré collectivement sur un terrain appartenant à deux hommes blancs cis et hétérosexuels qui s’identifient comme tels. Le terrain est géré par un collectif (majoritairement blanc, majoritairement queer) et comprend des activités de danse, de jardinage, de construction, de cuisine et de formation à la prise de décision en groupe.
Autour des studios se trouve une forêt, dont une petite partie est privée (pas par nous), et la plus grande partie est gérée par le Parc naturel régional du Périgord Vert. En aval, la Dronne coule au milieu des roches volcaniques et des arbres régionaux. Son cours d’eau et ses berges sont des espaces publics, bien qu’une grande partie soit rarement visitée par les habitants et les touristes. La nudité est connue pour être pratiquée le long de la rivière, veuillez vérifier auprès de vos voisins si cela ne les dérange pas (parce que l’accord est magnifique) !
[Transparence sur les dépenses budgétaires]
2900€ location des studios et du terrain (* le terrain qui nous accueille a été acheté en 2020 et est toujours en construction, et les prêts sont toujours en cours de remboursement aux banques ; une partie du prix journalier est consacrée à cela, ainsi qu’aux coûts de fonctionnement pour l’électricité, l’eau, le gaz (=450€)…)
2100€ de nourriture (* y compris les salaires des cuisiniers)
1500€ de logistique (* y compris les salaires de l’équipe logistique de Larret, emailing, etc.)
- 1400€ facilitation (* including salaries + transport + food for (4) facilitators)
= 7800€
This amounts to 314€/person (if 25 people register).
Brought down to a ratio per person per day, this means: approx. on average 53€/per/day, of which
20€ go to renting spaces (38%)
14€ go to food (27%)
9,5€ go to logistics (18%)
10€ go to facilitators (17%)
Tout argent supplémentaire servira à réduire les prix ou à aider au transport pour ceux qui en ont besoin.