Registration for MR Friends opens March 16! >>>Become an MR Friend!
Registration for the general public opens on March 23.
This workshop is offered on a sliding scale of $160-$250.
Participants must register for the full workshop, there are no drop-ins.
This workshop invites you to refine and deepen your Contact Improvisation practice by turning attention itself into a tool. We will explore how sensation informs choice, how readiness shapes what’s possible, and how a more responsive body opens the door to dancing that is both daring and easeful.
Through structured improvisations, weight-sharing studies, and physical problem-solving, we will develop practical tools for navigating shared balance, timing, and support. We will investigate the mechanics that allow for continuity, fluidity, and adaptability in partnering — where is the support, where is the momentum, and how can we allow the body to ride our attention? Exercises will focus on tuning into states of readiness and the relational space between bodies as something palpable and navigable — not merely the gap before contact begins. From there, we refine touch as a form of communication and expand our range of physical responses.
This workshop is intended for dancers with prior experience in Contact Improvisation. If you are a seasoned mover looking to sharpen your physical intelligence, a dance-maker drawn to the possibilities of genuine physical dialogue, or a CI practitioner ready to push further into risk and responsiveness — this workshop is for you. Come ready to study carefully, play seriously, and take up more space in the dance.
What to expect:
Participants should have some prior experience with Contact Improvisation or partnering-based movement practices. Classes will include warm-up and conditioning, structured exercises in weight-sharing and partnering, solo and duet improvisation scores, and time for open practice. We will work with attention as a physical skill — tuning into readiness, developing sensitivity in touch, and learning to navigate the relational space between bodies. Expect detailed study alongside open, exploratory dancing.
For MELT-related questions, please email melt@movementresearch.org.
Accessibility Notes
- This workshop includes auditive guidance.
To request ASL interpretation or Audio Description, please email accessibility@movementresearch.org, subject line “ASL/Audio Description Request, MELT Bradley Teal Ellis” at least three (3) weeks prior to the first date of the workshop.
For access-related questions and requests, please contact accessibility@movementresearch.org, subject line “MELT Bradley Teal Ellis.”
