Feb. 24 to 28, 2020 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.)
$75 with the support of *Emploi-Québec (or $125, non-eligible rate)
$17 drop-ins Monday only, unless full (or $27, non-eligible rate)
Open to artists of all disciplines / In English
Capacity: 15 people, priority for full week attendance
“Excellent way of making contortion accessible- understandable to everyone.” – Anonymous
“Andréane Leclerc presented “Contortion for All”, a deep and subtle investigation of interiority and bodily limits. With direct and sophisticated cues to build awareness of healthy joint mobility and space within the body, Leclerc presented a grounded yet phenomenological approach to building a contortion practice. With a fundamental focus on the cleansing of the spine, a deepening of the core of all dimensions through the use of spirals, figure-8’s, and half-circles reminiscent of the foundations of gyrotonic, Andréane Leclerc’s process emerges from an intuitive standpoint that reflects a depth of conceptual research in her own practice. This combination provides a unique perspective and example for artists with interest in extending flexibility into the concept of their work.” – Brandy Leary, Contemporary Circus Art Festival of Toronto
Contortion is a corporeal technique, in a constant dialogue with one’s own body, and is looking for openness rather than wanting to bend. Never pushing the boundaries, we learn to collaborate with them in total respect of the body – your tool, your partner. Contortion is also a hyper consciousness of the sensations of the body’s interior and a dialogue between its limits and its aides. This workshop is about demystifying contortion and making it accessible to everyone by sharing a technique that avoids possible injuries. This technical workshop (specific warming up, alignment, endurance, specific reinforcement followed by cool-down exercises) is based on active flexibility exercises and deep stretching of the hips and the back. We will work the body’s awareness, breathing, posture and endurance. This workshop addresses all body artists who wish to improve, use, or control their flexibility; to discover a new approach to the body; to open itself to new tools to work in better ways; to develop confidence and knowledge about its own body limits that allows them to venture into a specific and particular work with the spine; to dip into the interior sensation of the body and to open a new approach using this knowledge. Contortionism doesn’t signify “being flexible.” It is a physical technique that one learns and works with. There is no secret.
Founder of Nadere Performing Arts, Andréane Leclerc graduated from the National Circus School of Montreal in 2001. Driven by a desire to harness contortion technique as a malleable material that is capable of generating a world of sensation and imagery beyond the spectacular, she now creates her own experimental and conceptual performances – Di(x)parue (2008), Insuccube (2012), Eat Me (2013), Bath House (2013), Cherepaka (2014), Sculptural body (2014) and The Whore of Babylon (2015). In 2013, she finished a masters degree in circus dramaturgy in the Theatre department at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) under the direction of Marie-Christine Lesage. Actually in a co-creation with the dancer and choreographer Dany Desjardins called Sang Bleu, Andreane has a particular interest in the scenes that pushes limits out (cabarets, Edgy Women Festival, Short and Sweet, Piss in the Pool, Salon K). She continues to interpret for choreographers and directors such as Peter James (Famille Déjantée), Angela Konrad (Variations pour une déchéance annoncée) and Theatre Republique in Denmark (The Tiger Lillies performs Hamlet, 2016). Since 2014, Andreane gives workshops around the world for circus artists: Acrobatic dialogue and Contortion technique. Recently, Andréane also offers Contortion for All that aims to demystify and undo clichés inherent to the art of contortion by introducing a strong technique and giving tools to allow movements throughout the whole spine.
www.nadereartsvivants.com
All workshops are for professional performing artists. Some require advanced dance training.
Registration – Please contact (514) 393-3771 or at info@studio303.ca. To reserve your spot, payment is required 2 weeks before the start of the workshop.
Payments – check, cash, credit card (3% fee) or by Interac transfer (write to info@studio303.ca for procedures)
Who can benefit from the subsidized rate by Emploi-Québec?
– Artists or cultural professionals, Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Montreal
– Foreign workers with a temporary work permit living in Montreal
– Employment Insurance or social assistance recipients are welcome (please notify your agent at Service Canada or MTESS)
– Part-time students
Who has to pay the full rate?
– People residing outside Montreal
– Full-time or foreign students
Reimbursement policy– No reimbursement possible without a good reason (ex: sickness or injury).
Studio’s accessibility – Consult this page for detailed information.