People of all experience levels, movement backgrounds, and ages are welcome.
*Please arrive 10 minutes early to get settled so we can begin on time. Participants stay for the duration of the event.
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Dearest dancers,
An Underscore led by Sarah Young is a Contact Improv bucket list item, in my humble opinion! The Underscore is deep, captivating, and fun, and Sarah is an expert facilitator who is coming all the way from Northampton to guide us through it. Our beloved Shir Meira Feit will improvise with us, with music.
You do not need any special knowledge or set of experiences to participate; you only need to bring your curiosity and some level of exposure to Contact Improvisation.
Time and Date: We'll start promptly at 2pm on Sunday, June 22, so please arrive by 1:50 so that you have time to settle in. We'll end by 5pm. It is recommended that you participate in the entirety of the Underscore, from beginning to end.
Location: The Underscore will be held at Score Studio, 59 O'Neil St., Kingston, NY.
Cost: $35 (or more if you can sponsor others. Reply to this email if you need to pay less -- we can arrange a trade)
Below is an explanation of the Underscore by Sarah young. If you have additional questions, please email and we'll do my best to answer them.
UNDERSCORE (_)
The Underscore is a framework for group dance improvisation originated by Nancy Stark Smith. On Sunday, June 22, our practice will be part of the Global Underscore, a yearly event in which 75+ sites around the world do the Underscore (nearly) simultaneously!
In many ways, the Underscore resembles a contact improvisation jam: We arrive into the space, then gather together to agree on the parameters. We ground ourselves by refreshing our connection to the earth and continue warming-up through solo dancing and short connections with others—until we find ourselves in the Open Score. Once the dancing resolves, we have time for quiet reflection and sharing as a group.
Something unique about the Global Underscore are the Facings: We will do the Stand/Small Dance (as developed by Steve Paxton) twice during our practice while “facing” another Global Underscore site. At the beginning, we stand towards a site to the east. At the end, we stand towards a site to the west. This connects us with dancers worldwide across space and time—creating a spiral that circles the earth 5 times from the most southern site to the most northern! As Nancy would say, the Facings are “our dates with the world.” So, bring your curiosity and we will "telescope our awareness" as we dance together.
For more information, visit:
www.globalunderscore.com
www.nancystarksmith.com
https://contactquarterly.com/cq/rolling-edition/index.php#view=the-small-dance-stand-audio
Sarah Young studied with Nancy Stark Smith from 2013–2020. She has been co-coordinating the Global Underscore since 2020, is a co-coordinator of Seasonal Underscores in Northampton, MA, an ongoing member of the Underscore +/- Group in Northampton, MA, and participated in GLIMPSE 2, a performance installation based on the Underscore, NYC, 2014. She's a former Director of Earthdance Creative Living Project, a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Morocco, and has a BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She's currently pursuing her MFA in Dance at Smith College and will teach Finding the Sparkle, a 6-day CI Intensive, near Berlin, Germany in July.
Music/sound by Shir Meira Feit
Shir is a musician, composer, ritual facilitator, and spiritual director. Shir has released several solo and collaborative albums of Jewish mystical music and has facilitated countless circles of communal ritual prayer and song, helping people of all backgrounds connect with their inner wisdom and joy.
https://www.shirmeira.com/albums
Additional event details TBA.
Thank you for contributing promptly upon arrival, rather than waiting till the end:
~ Cash is best, but if you forget, Venmo is an option
* As always, if you'd like to do a work exchange in place of (or to reduce) payment, please contact us in advance by email
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These contributions help cover the space rental, class facilitators, and musicians, and allow us to continue. Giving more is appreciated to help sponsor those in need of extra support at this time.
Score Studio, 59 O'Neil St., Kingston, NY 12440 (up stairs)
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Please:
~ Our Hudson Valley Contact Improv JAM is a bit atypical in that we make the effort to start together at 2pm (as opposed to people flowing in at any point). Why? Because we notice that a friendlier, more welcoming, and more trusting/trustworthy community is built when we take time to say hello, hear each other's voices and names, and look each other in the eye before dancing.
For the Underscore, it is especially important that we start together.
Please come up to 10 min before 2pm and join us in the opening circle. If you can only join us for the jam at 3pm, of course we understand!
~ Follow @hudsonvalleycontactimprov on IG and Hudson Valley Contact Improvisation on FB for updates and to show you support.
~ Join our email list
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Email us for any questions / Whatsapp Group link too.
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Requests for help:
~ On the day: sweep before/after the jam, greet at the door, welcome and orient newcomers, turn lights on/off at start/end.
~ We can always use help spreading the word about our regular jams. Invite friends who might be interested!
~ Please email or Whatsapp us if you'd be interested in sharing our posts and other communications with your networks.
~ Follow, share & interact with us at:
IG: @hudsonvalleycontactimprov
Facebook: Hudson Valley Contact Improvisation
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GENERAL JAM DETAILS:
People of all experience levels and movement backgrounds are welcome.
We meet at Score Studio in Kingston, NY (59 Oneil St, 2nd floor).
When navigating to Score Studio at 59 Oneil St, Kingston, look for a Wayfinders sign and a "61" address of a small industrial building on Oneil street. There is a parking lot next to it. Park here or on the street. The studio is at the back end of the parking lot, up an outdoor flight of stairs. There's a big 'Score Dance Studio" sign in pink above the studio door.
For anyone with particular access needs, please let us know how we can support you to make your attendance possible and comfortable.
* Note for people who may be allergic: a cat lives in an apartment adjacent to the studio. The studio will be vacuumed before the jam.
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Some FAQ:
When are the upcoming jams?
In 2025, generally we'll continue on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. Classes 2-3pm, Jams 3-4:30pm. Some exceptions on holidays and special events. Watch our FB Events and/or join our email list to stay in the loop!
I haven't done Contact Improv in 20 years! Is this jam right for me?
We invite dancers/humans of all levels of experience and types of ability to this jam. We trust you to know your limits and we encourage you to observe and rest as you'd like. If you have questions or need help, please feel free to approach the jam facilitators.
I've never done CI and barely know what it is. How can I participate?
Absolute beginners should let the host know that they are new to the form so that proper support and guidance can be provided. You are welcome to watch for the first jam, if you'd like, or if you'd like to join in, we will make sure you are buddied up with someone who can show you some basics. Witnessing other dancers is always welcome and is a valued contribution to the dance environment.
Can I bring my kid/s?
Kids are magical beings and we welcome them heartily. If you bring yours, please stay near them and make sure they are safe and respectful of all jam guidelines.
What are your guidelines regarding COVID and other illnesses?
Please don't come to the Jam if you have any symptoms of a contagious illness, have tested positive for COVID or have recently been substantially exposed to a known Covid case. We will have hand sanitizer available, hand washing is encouraged. Masks, testing and vaccination are at your own discretion. There is an air purifier in the studio.
Is the studio accessible by wheelchair?
Unfortunately, it is not, although there may be a lift installed next to the stairs. We will keep you posted.
Any other questions? Reach out!
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photo credit: @Honey Sweet Harmony IG @honeysharmony
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