Choreographies of Care and Pleasure

 

This workshop shares some of the movement practices used by Sarah Hopfinger in the creation of Pain and I and dance approaches developed in collaboration with artists Raquel Zafe Meseguer (she) and Laura Fisher (she/they).

 

Guiding participants through a series of practices that focus on care and finding pleasure in the body, this workshop involves free and improvised movement in response to the intentions: ‘move as a practice of care for your body’ and ‘follow the thread of pleasure’.

 

A relaxed, warm, and welcoming workshop that offers gentle prompts to connect with your body as it is and to explore your own movement, rather than following set steps or routines. The exercises have been particularly designed to embrace diverse bodies, disability, and those with chronic pain, however, the workshop is open to all who are curious to explore moving gently, with no previous dance experience required. Participants are invited to move in ways that are most caring and comfortable for their bodies and can opt in or out of the session as they choose.

 

The practices shared in this workshop have been developed by Sarah in response to living with chronic pain. She has developed ways of approaching choreography in response to the questions: What does it mean to collaborate creatively with pain? How can we work creatively with our bodies as they are? What kinds of movement emerge when the intention is to care for your body? 

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This workshop has been presented with Studio 303 in Montreal, and with venues and communities across Scotland.