About
8 Day Intensive in Holistic Dance Pedagogy - 100 training hours toward an independent track application at ISMETA
Holistic Dance Pedagogy focusing on Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, Somatics, Ecosomatics and Contemporary Dance Improvisation
We will be accepting applications until April 1st and making final acceptance of students by April 15th, 2025.
This retreat will be capped at 30 students.
What is the difference between a good dancer and a good teacher?
Pedagogy is the art of Teaching. It is a craft that if fully embodied can make a huge difference in the way content is delivered, the student-teacher relationship unfolds and how individual skills can develop. Most dancers stumble into teaching, because they need to make a living or they are passionate about sharing what they know. They pass on what they have been taught by their teachers, what feels good in their bodies, the techniques, lifts, exercises that work for them. But there is more to teaching dance than just demonstrating and being a stunning example yourself. Especially in the field of Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement and Somatics the issues of trauma activation, touch, consent, and unconscious projections teachers need skills in order to be able to create and hold a safe container.
How do improvisational dancers learn best?
How do students move into a learning zone, rather than a stress zone?
How do we empower our students to really strive, rather than just copy us?
How can we lead with clarity, without being neither authoritative nor narcistic?
Sabine has taught dance for more than 30 years from the age of 19 years old in modern and contemporary dance, ballet, creative movement, aerobics, improvisation, contact improvisation, authentic movement, somatics and more. Sabine has worked with children, teenagers, lay people, professional dancers, people with severe disabilities and injuries during rehab and their caregivers, doctors, coaches, psychotherapist. She has taught teachers trainings for 15 years, from which more than 500 students have graduated internationally and many have gone to teach professionally. She is happy to share a set of pedagogy tools that can be applied but are not limited to improvisational dance and touch practices.
Course Content
In this training you will learn:
· Setting up a safe environment for learning
· Establishing yourself as a figure of expertise
· Developing an organic authority
· Creating rapport with your students
· Shaping the flow of a class/ workshop
· Preparing and letting go of content (improvising as a teacher)
· Writing descriptions and setting the tone for content
· Setting up poles of activity/ rest within your class/ workshop
· Warmups, themes, sub-themes, cooldowns
· Use of music, rhythm, silence and everything in between
· Getting feedback and giving feedback
· Dealing with wonderful and challenging participants
· Knowing and accepting your limits as a teacher
· Working with consent, directly and indirectly
· Keeping your energy flow during class/ workshop
· Creating a composition as a way of teaching class
· Dealing with your specific teaching experiences and questions
Sabine’s approach to teaching is Holistic Dance – a blend of CI, AM and somatics that works best to create an environment of releasing, activating and connecting. We will work in solo explorations, duets, groups, study and teaching labs with these forms. Additionaly we use creative writing, non-violent communication, systemical coaching and elements of the polyvagal theory.
Certification:
At the end of the completed Intensive you will receive a certificate of completion from the Holistic Dance Institute. You will be able to apply 100 training hours of the Principles of Teaching Intensive toward your independent track application at ISMETA (International Somatic Movement and Therapy Association).
Pre-requisites to participate:
In order to participate in Principles of Teaching Intensive, we require all participants to have a certain degree of skill and experience with Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, Somatics and Contemporary Dance Improvisation (ie well versed in the fundamentals of these forms). This is to ensure that everyone has the capacity to fully take part and reasonably integrate the material. In order to assess if this is the right fit for you to participate, we require all participants to fill out an application before registering. After doing so, we will respond with an invitation and registration link by April 15th.
Some general guidelines are:
· Minimum 3 years in Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, Somatics and Contemporary Dance Improvisation (ie well versed in the fundamentals of these forms).
· Actively teaching and or researching these forms for at least 1 year
· Completed application and interview process
· Participate in one 2-hour zoom session (2 options will be available in the June TBC)
· Commit to participate in the full event (part time attendance not possible).
Applications accepted until April 1, 2025.
Commitment:
We will ask you to prepare sample teaching sessions and read some of the related material before the training. You will need to be fully committed to the process at the time including extra time outside of the sessions to research and prepare for teaching, labs and discussions during the training. (No other work or training commitments during the eight days.)
Take-Away materials
You will receive a booklist, related articles and a manuscript of the Holistic Dance pedagogy during the training, as well as the certificate of completion.
Teacher
Sabine Parzer, (AT), B.A., MSME
Is head and founder of the Holistic Dance Institute (founded 2010), she has been recognized as Master Somatic Movement Educator by ISMETA. In 2012 she created the Contact Festival Austria, which she has been the artistic director of until 2017. Her professional experience spans over 30 years of teaching, performing, choreographing and researching in the USA, Canada, Europe, Russia, Israel and Brazil.
Sabine has a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College Chicago in Modern Dance, and an education in Systemische und Integrative Bewegungslehre® (an extended Feldenkrais® Training). The in-depth practice of Contact Improvisation and Authentic Movement begins 1997. Ongoing trainings since 1995 in Kleintechnique, ZenBodytherapy®, Yoga, White Crane Silat, Rosen Method®, Kashmirian Massage, visionary Cranialsacral Work by Hugh Milne, Psychotherapy, Shadow Work by Robert Masters, Integrative Trauma Therapy and family constellations a.o. .
Sabine is a dancer, choreographer, dance-pedagogue, bodyworker, organizer and author. In her Holistic Dance Institute people from all different kinds of backgrounds, such as dancers, artists, bodyworkers, social workers, coaches and psychotherapists are trained in Holistic Dance Teachers Trainings, Advanced Teachers Trainings, Retreats, open workshops and single sessions.
Her professional dance career began in Chicago, IL, in 1990, where she danced professionally in Mordine & Company Dance Theatre and in many independent productions. She was a co-founder of Loop Troop and has been presenting her choreographies and improvisational scores since 1990 in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Tel Aviv, Moscow and Vienna, amongst other cities.
Sabine teaches regularly at international dancefestivals such as Impulstanz Vienna, Tanzfabrik Berlin, Tanzquartier Wien, Potsdamer Tanztage, Israeli Contact Festival, Moscow Contact Festival, Kontakt Budapest, Contact in Rio de Janeiro, Ibiza Contact Festival and more. Between 1999 and 2013 she was employed as dance therapist at a rehabilitation center for people after work and traffic accidents in Austria.
Sabine is considered to be a pioneer of the somatic and healing dance field and is highly regarded for her humorous, down- to earth approach in her teachings
Testimonials
Sabine has an approach to teaching ... that is comprehensive. From her experiences in clinical, educational, and institutional settings, her years of experience as a contemporary dancer and choreographer she brings a well-rounded approach that includes the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ones' being into her teaching. I would highly recommend taking a class from Sabine.
RAY CHUNG
Performer, Contact Improvisation + Shiatsu teacher
**********
Sabine’s work is so fundamental and ... invisible that it took me years to unfold its depth. In these years I found out her work deeply rooted in my patterns of movement, in my daily reactions, in my breath.
ALFIYA SAMSUTDINOVA,
performer, dancetherapist and organizer of Teachers Training No. 9 and No. 12
**********
Sabine is ... an excellent teacher and attentive trainer for everyone: competent, personal, clear, powerful, appreciative. With the TT excellent methods are linked to an effective and outstanding new blend.
JOHANNES SCHARF
Teachers Training No. 7
**********
Rich, articulated, deep, professional...Sabine Parzer as a person, dance artist and trainer brings delight into the complex, multilayered somatic and dance performance world!
With her magnanimous teaching, many could get to places that could only dream of.
ESZTER GAL
dancer, choreographer, educator
**********
Sabin is equipped with the special ability...to perceive the needs and dynamics of a group very clearly in order to then act accordingly and intervene pedagogically.
CHRISTIAN FINDEISEN
Team Manufaktur, Teachers Training No. 7
Travel DETAILS
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 for those interested. Its also a 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 to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Victoria YYJ Airport.
TRAVEL to Salt Spring Island 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).
OR
TRAVEL to Salt Spring Island from Victoria Airport by ferry (take a bus or taxi to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal). Take ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island. See schedule here
TRAVEL BY SEA on BC Ferries. There are 2 options:
Travel direct from Tsawwassen ferry terminal 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 questions? please ask: info@rhizomesprings.com
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. Questions? info@rhizomesprings.com
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.
Glamping Tents or Simple, basic cabins are available for rent for an additional cost/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 hot 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 as 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/fruit.
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 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
The total cost for tuition, materials, meals and camping accommodation is CAD$2,000
We will be accepting applications until April 1st and making final acceptance of students by April 15th, 2025.
Once accepted, you have 2 weeks to send in your deposit of CAD$1,000 to secure your place.
The balance of payment (CAD $1,000) is due 1 month prior to the intensive: July 10th.
*Payment plan is possible. Inquire further to: info@rhizomesprings.com
Partial Work Trade Positions
A few partial work trade positions are available for a reduced price. Inquire further to: info@rhizomesprings.com
PAYMENT
Once you have been accepted to the program, please send full payment to:
Canadian participants: via e-transfer to: info@rhizomesprings.com
Password: Rhizome
International participants can send payment with WISE
This retreat will be capped at 30 participants.
**Payment plan possible. Inquire further to: info@rhizomesprings.com
REFUNDS
*Refund can be made until July 10th, less $300 non-refundable deposit.
**no refunds possible after July 10th.
***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 dome, with walls open to fresh air and incredible views or at various outdoor locations.