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Sharing Lingo's creative process

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Physical Practice with KT

Seattle, WA - Wednesdays at 9:30am - Velocity Dance Center
$15/class - Drop-ins only; no pre-registration required.

The intellectual goal of class is to cultivate unique artists interested in artistic dialogue. The physical goals are maximum joint range of motion, rebounding in relationship to gravity, and the investigation of directional energy's correlation to expansion, counter tension, momentum and torque. We practice the balance of having an inner dialogue with the biology while maintaining an external awareness, and contextualize the political, personal and artistic meaning behind why we move, to find a deeper resonance when we move.

"As a teacher, my Wednesday morning class goal is to create an atmosphere that allows for personal practice in a community context. It is important for Seattle's professional dance community to harness our energy on a regular basis, reminding us of our collective power to go forth and make dance. Class is a simple, on-going way of cultivating this strength. I have been teaching at Velocity on Wednesday mornings for many years, and it continues to be one of the most affirming and fulfilling two hours of my week." -KT

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Making Dances: Thoughts on Starting Right Out of the Gate

Sometimes the most daunting part of making a dance is how to begin. The first moments in a studio where anything is possible can be overwhelming. This class looks at strategies sidestepping the pressures of needing to have a "brilliant" idea by diving straight into the pool of the subconscious mind. We will ask the question, "What is an idea?" practice using external stimuli for generating material and break down the myriad of paths there are to follow as our ideas start to develop.

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Constantly Conscious Movement

CCM pokes at the diametrically opposed demands placed on the improvising performer: how to balance the rigor of external and internal awareness. Through detailed intellectual and physical structures, we will cultivate the emotional, kinetic root of the dance, while simultaneously adhering to the compositional craft and external awareness required for strong performance.

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Re-invent Your Eye: Tools for Abstract Composition

This work uses improvisational scores to examine the components associated with creating non-linear, non-narrative performance art. Structures are designed to dissect elements such as, personal movement vocabulary, space / architecture, theatrical elements, time / timing, identification of an idea and development, risk and wild card. Participants focus on defining each element's parameters and universal properties, as well as individual likes / dislikes and aesthetics. Over time, the elements combined in multiple configurations, allowing the work to develop in complexity and possibility. Because the class uses improvisational scores as the exploration device, the group also focuses on working effectively with an ensemble, maximizing opportunities for intelligent, in the moment decision-making, or spontaneous composition.

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KT has studied with many visionary minds over the years who have deeply influenced her own working process. Thanks, love, respect and admiration to Joy Kellman, Laurie DeVito, Lynn Simonson, Katie Duck, Nina Martin, Susan Rethorst, Victoria Marks, Michele Miller, Amii LeGendre, Alia Swersky, Bianca Cabrera, Aaron Swartzman, Janine Tiede, Scott Davis, Aiko Kinoshita, Dustin Haug, Ricki Mason and Sarah Gamblin.