ʻIke is a Hawaiian word that weaves together seeing and knowing – not just with the eyes, but with the whole body and the relationships around us. I’m using it here with respect for its Hawaiian origins, as a way to name a gentle research into how we perceive ourselves and each other.
In ʻIke, seeing is not a cold act of observation or consumption. It is a tender, risky practice: I let you exist fully in my eyes, and you let me exist in yours. The work moves between subtle, intimate encounters and larger group constellations, tracing how attention travels through a room, how trust is built or withheld, how proximity can both soothe and unsettle.
Join us for an 8-week research series exploring human connection through movement, presence, and improvisation. No dance experience required.
The Series:
Over eight weeks, we’ll build a community of practice investigating what it means to really see each other. Through guided contemporary dance improvisation, reflective dialogue, and embodied research, we’ll create a shared exploration that culminates in an optional public showing.
This isn’t about performance perfection—it’s about presence, discovery, and the ember•kind research into human connection.
Who This Is For:
∙ Anyone curious about movement and human connection
∙ Experienced dancers seeking deeper relational practice
∙ Researchers interested in embodied inquiry
∙ People who’ve never danced but want to explore
∙ Those seeking authentic community
What to Expect:
∙ Weekly 60/75-minute sessions combining movement exploration, research documentation, and community building
∙ Accessible improvisational practices (all bodies, all experience levels)
∙ Absolutely Optional participation in the final showing—a collaborative co-created piece open to witnesses
∙ A supportive container for risk-taking and discovery
Schedule & focus
Tuesday 9:30–10:30 am – Gentle Morning Series
A welcoming practice space for all levels, focusing on grounding, simple phrases, and feeling more at home in your body.
Thursday 6:00–7:15 pm – Evening Research Series
A slightly deeper dive into Ember·kind scores and small group tasks, exploring how we move together and support each other.
Friday 10:00 am–12:00 pm – ember·kind Training & Creation
A 2‑hour block that combines deeper training (technique, floor work, phrasework) with guided creation time toward the final open studio sharing.
ʻIke is an international research/creation: we will be examining the same questions in two very different environments – urban European and rural Canadian – under my artistic and educational supervision. The focus is not on an end product, but on how we share the process and what we discover on the way. I can’t help myself: I think in projects and in meaningful questions, and I’m deeply curious about the different “glasses” people watch the world through.
Across both locations, ember·kind offers a safe, professional space for adult bodies to train, research, and create. ʻIke invites dancers to deepen contemporary technique with honesty rather than perfectionism, and to practise the rare, necessary skill of looking at another human being without armour.
Link to website:
https://www.yolone.ca/dance/ike-emberkind-series
Also check out other Workshops in Nelson, Dance events in Nelson, Arts events in Nelson.
