Choreo Lab

Choreo Lab is an experiment in short-term, low-stakes creative processes that mutually benefit dancers and dancemakers. Led by a new choreographer each session, we create instant ensembles, giving the choreographer an opportunity to test out creative ideas on bodies other than their own and dancers the opportunity to meet collaborators, learn new movement styles, and be in a process-oriented environment. Dancemakers might ask participants to create their own material, play with spacing/facing, and engage with other compositional elements.

Each session will start with a 15-30 min warm up depending on the needs of the process. Before each session participants will receive more details about what to expect including notes on apparel and other elements that might be involved like writing, speaking, and/or physical contact. A sliding scale of $5-15/person for each session will help cover the cost of studio space and admin.

Choreo Lab was conceived by Lauren Kravitz with considerable support from Rai Barnard. Together, we’ll facilitate and develop this series.

Schedule:

• Tuesday, May 12 at Arts Mission Oak Cliff (410 S Windomere Ave Dallas, TX 75208)

  • 6 PM - 9 PM

  • Choreographers: Lauren Kravitz & Rai Barnard

  • It’s all about spontaneous composition, baby! We’ll explore the range of relationship between sound and movement through improvisational scores and games. We’ll work within clear constraints to uncover our natural patterns/tendencies in response to sound and work to clarify or subvert them. We’ll get tedious and break our own rules, allowing a dance to emerge through practice, time, and play. Arrive with a willingness to stick with an idea, remember rules/constraints and simple movements, and collaborate with other participants.

• Saturday, May 23 at Oak Cliff Cultural Center (223 W Jefferson Blvd Dallas, TX 75208)

  • 11 AM - 2 PM

  • Choreographer: Renuka Rajagopalan

  • We'll work with the idea of the body as an archive, exploring what movement we carry without being asked, and what happens when a codified classical form meets bodies with entirely different relationships to it.
    I'll bring specific Bharatanatyam (classical Indian dance) material--a gesture, a weight, a rhythm--which we'll work with through structured improvisation. This lab will ideally have 8-12 dancers with mixed training backgrounds. The diversity is the point!

• *CANCELLED* Tuesday, June 16 at Arts Mission Oak Cliff (410 S Windomere Ave Dallas, TX 75208)

  • 6 PM - 9 PM

  • Choreographer: Emma Browning

  • Arrive ready to explore the polarities of acceptance and rejection–through space, our individual bodies, and in relation to one another. We’ll start with improvisational exercises, then dive deeper into the work through choreography. This session is rooted in contemporary dance with influence from Laban and Bartenieff movement analysis. Some contemporary dance experience is preferred.

• Saturday, June 20 at Oak Cliff Cultural Center (223 W Jefferson Blvd Dallas, TX 75208)

  • 11 AM - 2 PM

  • Choreographer: Jenna Davis

  • We'll be working with text and subtext to build movement, exploring the natural and more unnatural speeds of how our bodies take in and use that information. We will explore this in duration as well as in relationship to one another, and then pour what we find into making some material.

• Tuesday, July 21 at Arts Mission Oak Cliff (410 S Windomere Ave Dallas, TX 75208)

  • 6 PM - 9 PM

  • Choreographer: Claire Augustine Hixson

  • Come ready to explore exercises inspired by Merce Cunningham and other improvisational methods. We will generate material together, then participants will coach each other through the process of devising original solos. Some movement and compositional experience is preferred.

• Saturday, July 25 at Oak Cliff Cultural Center (223 W Jefferson Blvd Dallas, TX 75208)

  • 11 AM - 2 PM

  • Choreographer: Joty Collet

  • Together we’ll dive into the interpretation of words and music through movement. We’ll explore what it looks and feels like to transform a song or piece of text into movement that is a reflection of our individuality, then blend over movements together into an ensemble dance. We’ll create choreography from an honest and organic place. Some movement experience is preferred, but not required.

Registration:

$5-15, sliding scale for all participants. Registration includes one 3-hr session.

DFW dance artists! We are excited to offer a rolling open call for local dancemakers to lead upcoming sessions of Choreo Lab. Learn more and submit here.