Join us for a 3 day immersion in Jamming Contact Improvisation Dance. in an invigorating, playful, participatory & co-created space
Jamming contact improvisation in extended sessions is a gateway to a deep embodiment of the form in its physical, social, emotional, spiritual, non-linear & timeless ways. It is a time to practice what we know and be with what we have yet to discover.
Expect some facilitation, with lots of time for jamming.
We will be drawing inspirations from different scores & jam formats to take us into the dance.
During focused jams we invite non-conversation in the space to help enrich our embodied presence.
There will be a music jam on Saturday evening.
FACILITATORS
Manuel Rochette
Manuel Rochette is a dancer, facilitator, and host of Salt Spring Island Contact Improvisation Festival in Canada. With nearly 20 years of experience with the form of Contact Improvisation, his personal studies got him closer to teachers such as Martin Keogh, Angelika Doniy, Alicia Grayson, Ray Chung, Scott Wells, Vega Luukkonen, Kira Kirsch, Paul Singh, Andrew Harwood and more. His facilitation approach is at the nexus point where skills, states, play and spontaneous composition merge. His dancing style aims at creating ever-changing pathways, opening to novelty, modulating patterns, and the use of momentum and release to ease into authentic movements. Curiosities of the moment: Accessing poly-centricity, how to increase availability & generosity with the body, opening the backspace, falling together, and continuity of movement. He has explored and facilitated CI on many continents and communities, harvesting gems from them all. As an avid jammer while he continues to deepen the practice in classes and workshops. Manuel is also a DJ and a gardener from which he sources inspirations and metaphors.
Selena La Brooy
Selena La Brooy has been dancing in different forms from a young age. She discovered Contact Improvisation in 2014 and has been fascinated with it ever since. She has studied various yoga lineages, developmental movement patterning, BMC, Feldenkrais, the Axis Syllabus, breathwork, vipassana, clowning, functional movement and circus arts which colour the lens of her inquiry of the form.
She is an anatomy nerd, certified rolfer and somatic movement integration practitioner which inform her approach to teaching. Some of her most influential teachers have been Martin Keogh, Kira Kirsch, Frey Faust, Andrew Harwood, Anjelika Doniy, Karl Frost, Alicia Grayson, Nita Little, Ida Rolf and Monica Caspari. She is most passionate about ways to make contact improvisation playful and accessible to all bodies by empowering choice, inviting deep listening and inspiring perpetual curiosity into what else is possible. She is fascinated by habits, pattern-interrupting and choice making.
She is a core member of the Salt Spring Island Contact Improvisation community, Salt Spring Island Contact Improvisation Festival and the founder of Rhizome Springs, a community project hosting multi-day Contact Improvisation festivals and intensives on the unceded terrtories of the Hul’Q’Umi’Num and Sencoten speaking people where she is grateful to work, live, teach and play.
TRAVEL TO SALT SPRING ISLAND
Salt Spring Island is a popular tourist destination. Travel during the summer months can be BUSY! Best to reserve your route as early as possible (reserve your flight or ferry travel).
We will organize a rideshare document for those interested. Great way to meet your fellow attendees before the gathering.
If you are coming by foot (i.e. no car) we can organize a pick up for you at the Harbour Air or Ferry terminals if you let us know in advance.
TRAVEL BY AIR from Vancouver YVR Airport (select Richmond YVR Airport) on Harbour Air into Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island. The travel is 35 mins. This can be helpful if traveling to YVR airport already from elsewhere. You will need to transfer to the South Terminal via airport shuttle (free) or taxi (paid) (may take between 15 and 30 mins depending on traffic).
TRAVEL BY SEA on BC Ferries. There are 2 main options:
Travel direct from Tsawwassen ferry terminal (Vancouver) to Long Harbour, Salt Spring Island (1 or 2 options daily). The crossing is 40 mins. See schedule here
Travel via Swartz Bay (Victoria)
Tsawwassen ferry terminal to Swartz Bay Terminal (Victoria) This option is available every hour daily. he crossing is 25 mins. See schedule here
THEN TRANSFER
Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island). This option available every approximately every 2 hrs daily. See schedule here
TRAVEL TO RHIZOME SPRINGS ON SALT SPRING ISLAND
We are located near the 7km mark of Musgrave Road. The road is not paved, but maintained and graded semi frequently. Although it can be rough, most vehicles can drive it without issue. The key is to DRIVE SLOWLY. We will send complete directions upon registration.
Location Details
Salt Spring Island is a small town community (pop ~10,000). The closest store is 20 min drive (Fulford Harbour). The main town, Ganges, is 35 min drive away with a grocery store, ATM, cafes, pharmacy, small hospital and some general supply stores. There are no big box stores and limited amenities on island. The famous Salt Spring Island Saturday Farmers Market has fresh local produce and lots of famous artisanal food and crafts. There are lots of local farm stands selling home made/grown produce, baking, kombucha, soaps, teas, etc.
Tent/Car camping included. Please bring your own gear (tent, sleeping mat/bag). We have some tents/gear for rent (please inquire prior to coming if interested).
Potable water on site. Bring your own water bottle and mug for coffee/tea.
Bring clothes to dress in layers, as the weather is unpredictable. Sometimes cooler nights/mornings and very hot afternoons/eves.
Simple, basic cabins are available for rent at the Buddhist Retreat Centre next door (7 min walk) for an additional CAD$65/night. Please complete registration if you are interested and we can coordinate this for you. Questions can be directed to: info@rhizomesprings.com
We have showers. Only biodegradable soaps/shampoos please.
The ocean or lake are within a 10 min drive. Sensitive eco systems - no oils/soaps etc.
The land is a sensitive ecosystem and we count on you to respect and honour this by cleaning up after yourself, preserving water, being fauna and flora aware and embodying the animal this land asks for.
Stinging nettle is on the property. Brushing with this is NOT as severe like poison oak. Symptoms are a tingly-burny sensation (like having rubbed against sandpaper) that may last for a few minutes to few hours (depending on your sensitivity).
Bring: headlamp, footwear to meet a rugged landscape, sun hats, sunscreen, layered clothing, water bottle, mug for coffee/tea, journal, pen, tent, sleeping mat, bag, pillow, towel, toiletries.
Food
3 delicious meals provided (breakfast, lunch, dinner) lovingly prepared by our dancing resident chefs!
Always available: tea/coffee
If you like to snack during the day, best to bring your own.
We source from local and organic foods as much as possible.
Meals are mostly octo/lacto vegetarian.
We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, so please complete the registration to let us know of any dietary needs you have.
COST
Price includes tuition, 3 meals/day, camping
PAYMENT
A deposit is required upon registration to save your spot.
To complete registration here please send payment to: ssicontactfestival@gmail.com
This gathering will be capped at 70 participants and we expect to sell out again this year.
REFUNDS
*refund can be made until May 1st, less $50 administrative fee.
** no refunds after May 1st
***In case of cancellation of the event all receipts will be refunded less $50 admin fee.
the Studio
Most classes will take place in the 50-foot diameter zome, with walls open to fresh air and incredible views from Pheonix Domes.