Ok, I don’t how most of you may feel about contact improv, I know how I feel about it…. eew, don’t touch me, Hello?  Swine flu!!  But, I have to say, when guided by a charming, intelligent, and beautiful dancer such as Jill Johnson of the Forsythe Company, it is a completely different experience.

It is a nasty, cold, rainy, Saturday morning, and to be honest, I may still be feeling the effects of my Friday night, so I am not looking forward to three hours in a dance studio after spending the last 40 hours of my week rehearsing…. but I schlep my way down to Baryshnikov Studios anyway.  (I mean what is it with these dance studios being all the way over on 10th Avenue anyway?)   After getting myself warm and ready, she pops in some music by Ray Charles and begins with some basic body crossing exercises that she says stimulates both the right and left side of the brain.  We carry this idea of cross body/brain stimulation into circular exercises focusing on how to relate the hips to the shoulders, elbows to knees, and hands to feet.

We work on this through an individual group improv exploring new pathways for ourselves and extending this idea into folding our bodies, using this for getting down to and up from the floor.  Through all of these different exercises, she plays a variety of music ranging from Korean rap music to even Justin Timberlake.  Before I know it, I am partnered up with a very talented dancer and we are flying through the studio across the floor creating some beautiful and fun movement using everything we have worked on…. and BAM… It is 1:00pm and the workshop is over.

Hearing Forsythe one never really knows what to expect, but what you can expect is an excellent caliber of whatever it is you’ll be doing.  Although I am not a fan of contact improv, I am definitely excited and now inspired by Jill Johnson’s workshop, and I highly recommend checking her out when she’s in your neighborhood!  She is just what the Doctor ordered; after Jill’s class, I am feeling refreshed and magically cured of my ails from dancing all week (and partying all night).  Take 2 of these and call me in the morning!

Workshop Fee: $40
Student Discount: $29.99
(Use code STUD online www.smarttix.com or by phone 212-868-4444)
Group Discount (3 or more): $25 each (Group reservations can only be made by phone 212-868-4444)
This workshop series continues through June 2010.

FUTURE DATES
Dec 12, 2009, 1 PM – 4 PM
Jan 23, 2010, 3 PM – 6 PM
Feb 13, 1 PM – 4 PM
Mar 13, 1 PM – 4 PM
Apr 3, 1 PM – 4 PM
May 15, 1 PM – 4 PM
Jun 5, 1 PM – 4 PM

 
iDANZ Critix Corner
Official Dance Review by Dante Puleio
Workshop:  Forsythe Workshop with William Forsythe protégé Jill Johnson
Instructor:  Jill Johnson

Venue:  The Studios of Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC)
Review Date:  Saturday, November 14, 2009
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