Teaching
contemporary dance | improvisation | experiential anatomy
caLENDAR
FREEFLOW AND FUN
ADULT CONTEMPORARY DANCE. at Halifax Dance, Tuesday 7:15-8:30pm
AN OPEN-ENDED MOVEMENT CLASS BASED IN CONTEMPORARY DANCE, MINDFULNESS, AND EMBODIMENT PRACTICES.
DESIGNED TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN A CREATIVE ATMOSPHERE, THIS MOVEMENT CLASS WILL AWAKEN YOUR BREATH CONNECTION, MOBILIZE YOUR JOINTS, AND CHALLENGE YOUR CREATIVE PLAY.
CLASS WILL CONSIST OF A GENTLE WARM-UP DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUR PHYSICAL SENSES AND AWAKEN YOUR USE OF WEIGHT FLOW. WE WILL USE OPEN AND SET TRAVELING SEQUENCES, INCORPORATE IMPROVISED AND SET MOMENTS OF CHOREOGRAPHY AND LEARN TIPS FOR PERSONAL SELF-CARE THROUGH YOUR INNATE BODY WISDOM.
Contact Improvisation - No current classes, please contact to request class series or for more information
Also visit Contact Nova Scotia for CI resources in Nova Scotia.
Theater
Film
Commercial
Education
Smith College | Master of Fine Arts - Choreography & Performance | 2014
Dalhousie University | Bachelor of Science (kinesiology) | 2005
Simone Fraser University | Bachelor of Fine Arts (dance) | 2003
Teaching Dossier
TEACHING EXPERIENCE - Academia
Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala City Winter 2017, 2020
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Center for Dance and Movement Research Teacher Training Program
Holland College School of Performing Arts, Charlottetown, PEI Winter 2015, 2017
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Guest Artist-in-Residence – teaching contact improvisation and creating choreography
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), Halifax NS Fall 2014, 2015
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Guest Lecturer – Walking and Art, Movement Practices and Creative Process, Artist Talk
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Creative Process - introduction to embodied performance techniques
Smith College, Northampton, MA 2012-2014
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Teaching Fellow/Adjunct Faculty
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Courses: Contemporary Technique (beginner and level 4), Contact Improvisation,
Intermediate Composition - Teaching Assistant
Hampshire College, Hadley, MA Fall 2012
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Teaching Fellow/Adjunct Faculty
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Courses: Contact Improvisation
American College Dance Festival Association - Boston University Feb 2014
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Master workshop in somatic-based contemporary technique practices
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Fall 2006
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Alumni Guest Choreographer for Faculty Show, School for Contemporary Arts
TEACHING EXPERIENCE- Professional
Earth Dance College Jam, Plainfield, MA, www.earthdance.net Spring 2014
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Introductory CI class and facilitated the Annual New England College Jam at Earth Dance
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby, BC, www.shadboltcentre.com 2004-2011
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Core Faculty in recreational and pre-professional training for youth and adults
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Courses: Creative Movement, Contemporary, Improvisation, Composition, Adult Beginner Ballet, Pre-Ballet
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Guest Choreographer for Youth in Motion Performance Company and Continuum Adult Dance Company.
Dance Nova Scotia - DANS Summer Dance, Canning, NS, www.artscentre.ca 2006-2011
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Core Faculty for residential two-week summer intensive at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts
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Courses: Contemporary, Morning Conditioning, Stretch and Strength, Contact Improvisation, site-specific
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On-site Kinesiologist and injury prevention specialist
Halifax Dance, Halifax, NS, www.hfxdance.ca 2009, 2011-12, 2014-present
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Instructor for the Pre-Professional Intensive Training Program ages 11-18yrs, Adult Program
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Courses: Contemporary, Repertory, Improvisation, Composition, Experiential Anatomy
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Guest Choreographer for The Young Company of Halifax Dance (pre-professional youth company), 2009, 2014
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Co-Artistic Director of The Young Company of Halifax Dance, 2016-present
Studio course Descriptions
somatic based contemporary dance technique - get off your leg and into the floor: falling, folding, rolling and flying
Class begins with a proprioceptive floor-based warm-up to wake the sense and engage kinetic chains in a supple manner. The developmental movement patterns from the Bartenieff fundamentals are explored with concepts such as yield, tensegrity, stack, coil and release.
The class progresses to standing work and full body movement sequences that focus on leading with a motor pelvis, supported by spongy responsive legs, and clear spatial intent. Shape is not of value and form is found through the dynamic architecture of the body and movement with momentum. Our aim is to harness power and adaptability from impulse through to final action.
Sara’s class draws from her experience in release technique, mobile floor technique (Vladimir Rodriguez), BMC work, contact improvisation and working through the lens of Laban’s BESS (Body, Effort, Shape and Space).
Contact Improvisation
Exploring CI as a question we will explore the principles and practice of contact improvisation through physical skill work, perceptual tuning, body puzzles and practice time for focused dancing. We will tune our bodies to the physical forces and with each other, finding release and new discoveries in the point of contact, falling, following, leading, changing level, and flying. Unlock your potential and adaptability within the unknown, and discover the dance that is already there.
Introduction to Integrated Human Movement and Creative Practices in Dance Kinesiology and Experiential Anatomy
Experiential Anatomy - learning about the body through the body.
Through structured movement activities, drawing, and poetic writing exercises this course will introduce young dancers to the scientific complexities of movement specific to dance. Geared towards children and the young inspiring mind, through embodied exploration we will explore the body’s design and function: focusing on the skeletal and muscle systems, as well as learning how the integration and articulation of the BartenieffTM Developmental Movement Patterns and Laban’s BESS language system will support young dancers to reach their full expressivity. The more dancers know their bodies, the more accomplished they can become. This course will provide a solid foundation for the knowing articulate body and will use creative exploration to unlock new physical potential.