Welcome
Registration and Information: Germana e Franco + 39. 348 66 44 073; + 39.348 8629254 info@casinasettarte.org 
See the video
The poetics of touch: NANCY STARK SMITH, a pathway into contact improvisation
shot in Casina in 2003!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Pt0OXK7es
Next event in Casina Settarte:
Improvisation – The Art of Listening within the context of improvised performance.
A workshop with Kirstie Simson
- photo Luka Kito
Kirstie’s classes draw from her knowledge of contact improvisation, dance techniques, Aikido, meditation and her extensive experience of improvisation in performance.
The focus of the workshop will be on exploring uninhibitedly the huge potential of the body’s response to the primal urge to move, inspired by the energy released through human interaction, physical challenge and the excitement of discovering new territory, new sensations and a daring to go beyond inherent ideas of limitation.
The morning classes will be built on very simple physical principles allowing students to explore their experience of moving and understanding their own bodies more profoundly, which is often experienced as joyful and liberating. Students will be absorbing the skills of dancing in partnership with others and improvising with greater sensitivity to each other and the environment.
Kirstie has spent many years researching ways of moving which generate full and fearless dancing. In the afternoon sessions she will be sharing her discoveries with students about how to take that fearlessness into the improvised performance practice whilst simultaneously holding a full focused concentration on listening.
In recent years Kirstie’s focus has been directed towards the art of deep listening within her practice of improvisation. During this workshop she will be sharing her insights and understanding of the essential quality of listening within the art of improvisation, and how this pertains to her experience of improvisation in performance.
Some experience of performance will be helpful for participants in this workshop, although not necessarily mandatory.
For Kirstie the practice of Improvisation is the practice of life. Every aspect of the workshop will be viewed in this context.