Intensive CI Weekend Workshops 2024
Relational Intelligence through Movement and Physical Contact
21 December 2023
Relational Intelligence through Movement and Physical Contact
1st Cycle of 5 Intensive weekend Workshops deepening into the practice of Contact Improvisation
An educational lab that focuses on the tools of CI practice based on Somatics and Contemplative Movement
To Whom it may Concern
Dancers, improvisers and people with a working experience in movement who wish to develop their skills in CI, based on Somatic practices and physical awareness.
Dates: February 03-04, February 17-18, March 09-10, April 13-14, May 25-26
Hours: Saturday 14.00 – 19.30 (half an hour break), Sunday 10.30 – 16.00 (half an hour break)
Topics to Explore
- Our relationship to gravity, our connection to the earth, exploring the state of being grounded, to support and being supported
- Spiral movement patterns creating flow, yielding to the present moment
- The art of listening through contact
- Counterbalancing, rolling, sliding, surfing
- The investigation of the physical dialogues and the responses based on the language of the muscular tonicity that is reflected through pressure and touch
- The therapeutic and meditative aspects of CI, connecting CI practice with Authentic Movement tools that bring awareness trough experiential work and develop sharing skills
- CI as a performative art
- The transformation of repetitive movement patterns and the habits that we encounter while dancing. The process of change
- Sharing our thoughts, stories and our personal approach to CI practice.
The Framework
We propose the 1st cycle of 5 intensive 10 hour weekend workshops, that take place once a month and explore specific topics. The dates are: February 03-04, February 17-18, March 09-10, April 13-14, May 25-26.
Our intention is to form a stable group for the whole cycle, where the dancers will be able to deepen and develop CI material. Attendance of one or more workshops is also welcomed for people who can not commit to the entire period as long as the participant has already acquired a substantial experience in CI practice. The lab that is happening every Friday is strongly recommended.
Our Aims and our Approach
The intention of this educational training practice program is the creation of a supportive and safe space, where the dancers may discover the sources that empower and nourish their talents and their skills. These meetings strengthen interrelations and a sense of community, where exchange with colleagues is very important for the dancers’ development.
Contact Improvisation is a relational practice, where each person may offer his/her personal connection to the art form cultivating knowledge, the dynamic and creative coexistence that establishes a more fertile ground for the CI community in Greece as a whole.
In the workshop we cultivate self-awareness skills which emphasize connection of the self with the environment, exploring our physicality in depth based on the principles that underlie the teaching methodology of CI. We ask questions wishing to generate new questions through the resulting answers that come up from our experiential work. In the process of each workshop, we discover the personal way in which the participant relates to the practice of Contact Improvisation; how each dancer/performer perceives questions around contact, weight, flow, connectivity, the performative aspect of CI etc. through his/her senses. We share creatively our understanding of the technique and the philosophy of the practice that supports relational expression and inspiring dances.
In these workshops, we discover how the dancer expands his field so that he can become more receptive and available to process with sensibility the stimuli he receives while improvising in contact with a partner. In the laboratory it is important that we create a sense of boundaries and a safe space that enhances trust while deepening into the movement research. Change is continuous and our dances reflect the choices we make while improvising. Entering a state of presence, we constantly manage the physical, but also the implicit messages emitted by each individual and by the whole group.
While the practice of CI embraces a very wide range of techniques derived from other modules such as contemporary dance, Somatic practices, contemplative movement and meditation, martial arts, therapeutic methods, etc. we intend to offer diverse and effective training tools, which cultivate more clarity and physical articulation. Our aim is to support both the analytical and the synthetic abilities of each participant.
In this workshop we apply and explore teaching methods such as:
- The developing practice of CI skills (weekly Friday laboratory at 12:00 is recommended).
- The ways in which feedback in the group is shared with respect, awareness and openness. We use the Authentic Movement approach and methodology.
- Analysis and discussion of CI videos with international contact dancers.
- Theoretical analysis/research of articles and studies by experienced researchers/teachers/academics of the international CI community.
- Exploration of the performative aspect of CI.
- Use of creative media such as writing, painting, singing, playing that develop imagination, presence and connection to the group and the environment.
Cost for each two-day seminar: 120 euros (without VAT 13%). Total: 136 euros.
Early bird, cost for the January workshop: 100 euros (without VAT 13%). Total: 113 euros until 10/01/2024.
The entire cycle costs 570 euros (including VAT) and is prepaid in 3 installments of 190 euros (including 13% VAT), thus earning a 20% discount on each workshop.
Payment dates of the 3 installments: 15/01/2024, 12/02/2024, 3/03/2024.
In case of cancellation by the participant, the money is not returned.
Piraeus IBAN: GR31 0171 0030 0060 0301 0117 551
Alpha IBAN: GR30 0140 3530 3530 0210 1025 504
The fee of 4 euros is borne by the depositor. If the amount is deposited from another bank, it needs to be added to the above amount and the justification to be written: CI workshop date and/or the number of the installment.
Biography
Choreographer, Dancer, Somatic Movement educator, Body Psychotherapist, Gestalt and Trauma therapist, Shiatsu practitioner, Contemplative movement teacher from Athens, Greece
Christina Klissiouni is a movement/Somatics/dance/contact improvisation educator focusing on the embodiment of movement with the aim of developing mindfulness and awareness through improvisation/movement awareness practice. Her work expands in exploring performance tools as well as healing practices. For the past 40 years, she supports the individuals’ evolution towards self-expression, being in contact with one’s self, allowing change and transformation in a creative and therapeutic process.
She studied contemporary dance, Contact Improvisation, Somatic practices, Developmental Movement in New York City from 1986-1991 being taught by the pioneers and founders of CI, and other modules such as Alexander technique, Body-Mind Centering, Authentic movement and Voice.
She introduced Contact Improvisation practice and Somatic work in Greece in 1990-1. She belongs to the second generation of Contact Improvisation teachers being recognized by the international community. She is an active member, being invited to teach and perform at the most prominent festivals and venues in Europe, US and Asia.
Since 1991, she has developed her own methodology in the training of the dancer/performer as well as the amateur who is interested in self-development and training of body-mind practice.
For 25 years now, she has been working simultaneously as a Body and Movement Psychotherapist. She is an active member of PESOPS and EABP (European Association of Body Psychotherapists). She has been trained at the E.I.N.A. (Psychoanalytic approach Wilhelm Reich center in Athens, Greece. She completed 2 two-year Master Courses with the distinguished trainers-therapists, Alberto Torre (Italy) and Barry Simmons (Gestalt technique). She has also been trained as a Body Psychotherapy supervisor by Jenovino Ferri (Italy).
In 2004, 2016 and 2023 she taught labs in EABP conferences in Greece and Bulgaria.
Since 1994 she has been working as a Shiatsu therapist, a practice she creatively applies to movement and therapy groups.
Since 1997 Suprapto Suryodarmo (Indonesia) has been a very important mentor, colleague, spiritual teacher for her. The study of contemplative, meditative movement connects creative expression through dance and body, mind-body connection and healing.
In April 2024 she completes Narm professional training in trauma therapy (Lawrence Heller approach). In 2021-22 she completed the first 3 levels in Cranio-Sacral Therapy (Upledger Institute) claiming that apprenticeship needs to be a lifelong process.
Christina Klissiouni offers individual, group and couple body psychotherapy sessions as well as continuous movement labs for professionals and amateurs at Present Body studio that she created in 2009 in the center of Athens.
Since 1993 Christina teaches and organizes retreats and intensive workshops with prominent teachers from the US and Europe whose work is based on Somatic practices/dance and therapy. She supports sharing of knowledge and embodiment creating space for growth in the Greek as well as in the international communities she is being part of.
Through all these years of her professional life she has been a very active member and acknowledged teacher of the CI community, as well as Suprapto Suryodarmo’s international community. She has also created and supported CI and therapeutic communities in Greece through her work. She has introduced practices of embodiment such as Contact Improvisation and Somatics in Athens, educating professional and non-professional people/artists/therapists, who love movement exploration to bring self-awareness and self-expression in their life process.
Christina understands the complexities that appear in relationships, when we explore ourselves experientially. She strongly believes in what group work can offer in one’s process towards transformation. It is often challenging but she is always interested in human exchange and sharing, the significance of creativity that connects oneself to the infinite possibilities of life.
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