Itcush into Dance
with Ashley Johnson, 9:00am-10:15am

Itcush Method aims to improve posture, align the skeleton and build functional movement patterns. The Itcush Method uses principles of the Mitzvah Technique to teach self maintenance exercises. The outcome is improved physical function, freedom from pain and renewed connection with daily movements.

Itcush into Dance is a faster paced mobility focused class covers intermediate to advanced motion patterns on a stool, standing and the floor.

Ashley Johnson is a Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist trained in group facilitation and hands on bodywork as a teacher of the Mitzvah Technique/Itcush Method and Continuum Movement.  She works with diverse populations in movement re-education, and injury rehabilitation with a focus on shifting postural patterning and increasing movement efficiency.  As a dance artist and educator she creates interdisciplinary site specific creations that blend embodiment practices with creative process.

www.constantlyseekingsoftness.ca

---

Subtle Awareness
with I-Ying Wu, 11:00am-12:15pm

Way to practice in an online class:
Please find a quiet space with internet access where you feel free to move. During the online session, listen to the instructions as part of the space rather than looking at your screen. Listen to your body and focus on your own state in the moment.

Subtle Awareness is a contemporary improvisational somatic practice inspired by ancient Chinese Daoist concepts of bodymind integration. The aim is to soften the bodymind from the interior, enhance internal sensitivity to heightened awareness, unite movement (body) and consciousness (mind), and improve connection between the inner and outer worlds. The notion of subtle awareness is a form of intuitive sensitivity that exists prior to the process of interpretation, and is achieved by nurturing a calm, relaxed, and focused state of consciousness. For this reason, this somatic approach listens to subtle emergence from inside and outside, allows intuitive reaction that arises from within, which gives rise to improvisational movement.

I-Ying Wu is an improvisation practitioner and researcher. She completed a PhD at the University of Northampton, UK and postdoctoral research at the Improvisation Studies Centre, University of Regina. Her PhD practice-led research employed a Daoist understanding of qi to develop a system of improvisational movement. Informed by Contact Improvisation, Chinese traditional qigong and martial arts, and Daoist philosophy, I-Ying’s somatic/improvisation practice focuses on subtle awareness of the very moment when an improvisational phenomenon emerges. To her, improvisation is itself interdisciplinary, or to be more exact, it is beyond any particular art form.

---

Intro to Contortion
with Anastasia Evsigneeva and Anna Protsiou, 4:00pm-5:00pm

Intro to Contortion
In this one hour class you will learn basic principles of back-bending and working on leg flexibility. After a 10 minute warm-up, students will be introduced to skills such as splits, leg scales, bridges and movement in them, elbow stands and more. Body movement qualities depend a lot on understanding the connection between the brain and the rest of the body through the spinal cord. Alternative organizations of the spine are key to increasing the range of motion in both dance and contortion. The spinal cord provides a means of communication between the brain and
peripheral nerves, therefore back-bending can help in releasing emotional tension and even improve your mood. Anastasia and Anna will teach you progressions of exercises that would target your hip flexors and help to improve your back flexibility. You will learn breathing approaches that are used in contortion, and conditioning exercises that would keep your joints stable and make your practice safe and enjoyable. The workshop is open to all the levels, 8 years old and up.

Click here for Anastasia's artist-in-residence page

Click here for Anna's artist-in-residence page

---

Street Dance For Kids
with Tessa Rae Kuz, 5:30pm-6:30pm

Street Dance for Kids Introduces students to the FUNdamentals of hip hop, house, breakdance, and freestyle through groove music and creative play.
For Children ages 6-12.

Click here for Tessa's Artist-in-residence page

---

Zumba & Sculpt
with Tessa Rae Kuz, 6:45pm-7:45pm

The reason people LOVE Zumba is simple: every class feels like a party!

A Zumba class combines Latin and international music with dance moves. Zumba routines incorporate interval training — alternating fast and slow rhythms — to help improve cardiovascular fitness.

Click here to Tessa's artist-in-residence page

Click here to register for giving tuesday movement classes