Advanced Movement
with Molly Shanahan of Mad Shak Dance Company
February, 2006
Ongoing, through February 27
Mondays, 9.30am-11:00am
$12 per class

Shanahan's advanced movement classes stem from her improvisational, compositional, and pedagogical research, study of the Feldenkrais Method, mindfulness, and a softening of muscular holding to release the skeleton for increased expressivity and articulation.
www.madshak.com

Introduction to Circuit Bending
with Patrick McCarthy of Rubber Monkey Puppet Company
February 4, 2006
Saturday, 2:00pm-5:00pm,
$30

Circuit Bending is the art of modifying electronics (children's toys, guitar effects units) to create unique musical instruments by adding wires, knobs and switches to control new connections within the device's pre-existing circuitry. Learn about electronic "bends" such as looping, glitching, random sequencing, distortion and body contacts. Please bring a battery-operated electrical toy, such as a Texas Instruments "Speak-n-Spell," "Speak-n-Math," or Casio sampling keyboard. Toys that talk, bark, or have different instrument sounds can be found at thrift stores and are best for curcuit bending. No prior knowledge of electronics required. Patrick McCarthy is the Director of Rubber Monkey Puppet Company (home of the world's only 3-D shadow puppet theater), and a Founding Member of The Chicago School of Contraptionism (a group that constructs machines that autonomously create art and sound). www.rubbermonkey.org

Dancers Direct with Molly Shanahan
of Mad Shak Dance Company, and others
February 6, 2006
Monday,6:00pm-8:00pm,
$10

Artist/administrators need greater harmony in balancing their myriad roles, and Dancers Direct is a series of four monthly gatherings designed to explore efficient administrative prwactice, along with an opportunity for movement exploration. The first hour includes information exchange and discussion about Boards and Staffing, with the final hour devoted to silent, unstructured, movement practice. Designed for artist/administrators at any stage of their careers. Limited to 15 participants. Subsequent sessions will focus on Budgeting & Finance, Grantwriting, and Marketing.

Dramaturgy and Dance
with Ain Gordon
Writer and dance director Ain Gordon (NYC) leads two three-hour workshops with local choreographers, to understand how the notion of dramaturgy can be morphed for use in dance. Artists interested in either workshop should be willing to show 8-10 minutes of work. There will be some workshop slots open for artists simply interested in observing the process, however everyone should expect to participate in the moderated discussion. Part of a series sponsored by the Chicago Dancemakers Forum on Dramaturgy and Dance.

Character:
February 11, 2006
Saturday, 10:00am-1:00pm,
$30

Focusing on developing character or persona in movement-based work.

Narrative:
February 11, 2006
Saturday, 2:30pm-5:30 pm,
$30; or $50 for both workshops

Focusing on the use or inclusion of narrative in movement-based work.

Generating New Performance Writing
with Beau O’Reilly and
Curious Theatre Branch
February 25, 2006
Saturday, 9:00am-2:00pm,
$50

One of Chicago's all-original theater companies, founded in 1988 by Jenny Magnus and Beau O'Reilly, Curious Theatre Branch has consistently worked with an ensemble of artists in a non-hierarchical decision-making process, where the philosophy of collaboration as a social force is explored on every level. This workshop focuses on the generation of new performance writing: create, read, and receive feedback. Limited to 8 participants.