We are delighted to have Nancy Stark Smith & Mike Vargas here at Ponderosa this summer. Please read through thoroughly so you understand the different offers and application processes of both workshops!

Week 1 (held during P.O.R.C.H see P.O.R.C.H. Guest Workshops) is also open to the public and those who have not worked with Nancy previously.

Week 2 (held during TanzLand Festival) is only for those who have already worked with Nancy. For those who have worked with her previously you are more than welcome to apply for both weeks, to refresh your skills and deepen your contact with Nancy and Mike's work. We are very glad to be introducing their work to those who have not had a chance to discover Contact Improvisation on this level or depth.

June 21-June 25
States of Grace Week 2: Making the Mystery visible
with Nancy Stark  Smith (dance) & Mike Vargas (music)
An opportunity for dancers who have participated in previous intensive workshops and/or workgroups with Nancy and Mike to go further with the study and practice of the States of Grace materials: contact improvisation, solo and group improvisation, composition, contemplation, the Underscore, listening, and performance.

In this week, we will pay special attention to the delicate transition from intimate, private authenticity to artmaking intended to be viewed by the public. During the week, we will regularly invite outside observers, to give us an opportunity to practice while being observed. Are the subtle experiences of perception and action inside improvised dance visible to a watcher? What are we paying attention to (as dancers and as watchers)? What makes something inspiring to do? to see?

Using Nancy’s Underscore as a conceptual and kinesthetic foundation, we will isolate and integrate these materials in various ways.  We will also experiment with “seeds” that focus, limit, and illuminate the improvisations, in order to improvise more consistently from “states of grace”—embodied, awake, articulate, generous, ready for contact improvisation and solo and group relationships, artful, and human.

During this week, we’ll touch the mystery as often as possible as we dance, watch, listen, talk, are watched, think, feel, share, and dance some more.

Requirements: Intermediate level CI (at least) and has participated in other intensive workshops or workgroups with Nancy. Selected from applications. The workshop will be taught in English, participants must have some degree of fluency with the English language.

Application: Please send a brief description of your background with CI, dance, and improvisation, where you’ve worked with Nancy/Mike before, and your specific interest in this course to s.maher@k77.org
Workshop fee 210€

Application deadline: May 1,
Sunday evening, June 20, workshop orientation
Monday – Friday, June 21–25, 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 19:00