Immersed Workshop — Iris Company

The day, as it ran

When · Sunday, October 20, 2019
Who · Intermediate/Advanced dancers, ages 13–19
Length · One full day, 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Faculty · Casey Gonzalez, Carissa Songhorian, Bryanna Brock, Joan Holly Padeo & Sophia Stoller

Held in Los Angeles in October 2019, Immersed brought together intermediate and advanced dancers for a full day of classes with Iris Company faculty — moving from morning conditioning through ballet, contemporary, company repertoire, and improvisation, and closing restoratively with C-I Training.

Class schedule

10:30–11:30

Gyrokinesis®

with Casey Gonzalez

Originally named "Yoga for Dancers," Gyrokinesis® is a full-body movement modality focusing on balancing the body through expansion. Creating functional strength through rhythmic, flowing movement sequences, a dancer’s coordination, range of motion, body awareness, and concentration are all challenged — enhancing their understanding of movement and energy.

11:30–12:45

Ballet

with Carissa Songhorian

Focusing on ballet technique and terminology, dancers will build an understanding of body alignment, the execution of exercises, individualism within movement quality, and the role that ballet plays in current popular dance forms.

12:45–1:15

Lunch

1:15–2:15

Contemporary

with Sophia Stoller

Sophia’s Contemporary technique class combines principles from release technique, yoga, and Pilates, with a focus on the body’s relationship to gravity and space. Her classes encourage dancers to find efficiency in movement, initiate movement from the bones while letting go of superficial musculature, and build an understanding of alignment. Creativity, exploration and inquiry are encouraged.

Sophia Stoller teaching contemporary technique

2:15–3:15

Company Repertoire

with Sophia Stoller

Dancers will have the opportunity to learn Iris Company repertoire that has been danced by the company onstage and in immersive environments. In addition to learning the physical movement, we will explore the intention behind the piece and qualities of performance, storytelling, and emotion that are foundational to the work.

Dancers learning Iris Company repertoire

3:15–3:25

Break

3:25–4:25

Improvisation

with Bryanna Brock

Come step outside of the norm. Let your body take over as you explore new pathways, new decision-making practices, and a connection to your community. Stand still. Listen. Feel. We will hone our listening skills as we learn to listen to our body, the space, and our peers — challenging and informing our intentions as we explore space, time, and energy through movement.

4:25–5:25

C-I Training™

with Joan Holly Padeo

C-I Training™ (Conditioning-with-Imagery) is a body conditioning system made for dancers that addresses muscle imbalances and efficient patterning, and helps prevent injury by promoting correct alignment. Ending the day restoratively, Joan takes a meditative approach, combining conditioning with long, breath-filled periods of assisted and unassisted stretches.