EMBRACING AUTUMN 2023
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th November 2023 10.00am-5.00pm
This immersive weekend will celebrate the elements and the autumn season through dance technique, dance creation and somatic movement, including working indoors (rural dance studio) and outdoors.
Following on from the strong foundation created last year with our seasonal day retreats we are looking forward to developing the experience further into a weekend of movement and dance.
Saturday 4th November
Morning-Ballet Technique and Contemporary Dance Technique Extended Classes.
Afternoon– A collaboration of Ballet and Contemporary Dance Repertory, Choreography and Creation of Dance inspired by the Elements and the Autumn Season.
(Dance Studio)
Sunday 5th November
Morning-Somatic Movement Creative Workshops inspired by the Elements and the Autumn Season (Outdoors and Dance Studio)
Afternoon-Authentic Movement Practice (Outdoors and Dance Studio)
Ballet- a healing mixture of conditioning exercises and technique formulated with the classical ballet structure in mind. The class addresses and respects the complexities of the body as we change with age, injury and workload. The changing dancer’s body is embraced and whole heartedly expressed. We will commence with a continuous barre with attention on careful placement and intention. This will encourage the body’s natural desire towards alignment and coordinated movement to create an uninterrupted flow throughout the entire body. As the class progresses there will be reference to element of air and the season, we find ourselves in.
Facilitated by Clare Novaes.
Contemporary Dance- a release-based class with a somatic sensibility. Focusing on breath, the use of the weight of bones and muscles and connection to skin. Taking the opportunity to re-engage with our body and spatial awareness, ourselves and other. Imagery and finding a sense of flow and connection within the space will be a feature of the movement and choreography. As the class progresses there will be reference to the element of earth and the season, we find ourselves in.
Facilitated by Sandy Cuthbert.
Ballet and Contemporary Dance Creative Class-the facilitators will collaborate to create a dance inspired by the elements and the autumn season. It will include learning some set repertory and choreography as well as offering the participants the opportunity to create their own choreography within given tasks, connecting to the theme, under the guidance and support of the facilitators.
Facilitated by Clare Novaes and Sandy Cuthbert
Somatic Movement Day-exploring the creative and transformative aspects of movement and lived body experience-how moving from a deeply felt experience of the living body can stimulate creativity and facilitate wellbeing and self-awareness. The sessions will explore aspects of experiential anatomy, embodying the season and elements through creative movement, visualisation, developing authentic movement practice.
Facilitated by Clare Novaes and Sandy Cuthbert
Lunch and refreshments provided from locally sourced organic produce, freshly prepared with ingredients and recipes to compliment the season and activity of the day.
Cost: For one day £120-early bird £108. For two days £240-early bird £180. Early bird closing date 15th October. Limited places available so book early!
Venue: Rural dance studio near Moira.
To find out more information and book contact clarenovaes@btinternet.com
Recent participants of event said:
‘It was a really enjoyable, enriching, and interesting experience set in a truly beautiful location’
‘I loved the Somatic work both inside and out, I loved the group work especially being held and supported by people who were committed to holding and supporting. There was a perfect balance of all aspects of dance.’
‘An outstanding opportunity to encounter a ‘Re:Treat’ with a difference… movement and more, meaning and me-time’
‘A full day of immersion in creativity, spontaneity and learning whilst sharing with others. In the hands of two very skilful facilitators, both Clare and Sandy are intuitive, attentive and just great to be around!
About the facilitators:
Clare Novaes
Clare enjoys the classical aesthetic values of alignment, purity and balance in ballet. Owner and ballet teacher at Clare Novaes Ballet School for 23 years she believes teaching ballet it is not about transmitting knowledge, but enabling, challenging and nurturing dancers until they are more fully themselves, and better at what they do-whatever their age or background. She respects individuality and the risk each artist takes in class each day with no judgement.
Clare’s first job after graduating from 3 year teacher training at The Royal Academy of Dance in London was at Crystal Palace London, teaching body alignment to the Olympic high board diving squad with a continuous body conditioning ballet barre created by John O’Brien. At RAD Clare worked with Dr Ann Hutchinson Guest, the director of the Language of Dance Centre, London on Laban notation and used this research when teaching dance in Brazil, South America. Returning from Brazil Clare was inspired by John Blacking at QUB to study Anthropology with Ethnomusicology.
Clare worked with the highly skilled multidisciplinary team at Blackstone Physiotherapy and Sports injury clinic to develop a Barre Tone class. She also worked with Clare Guss-West at the RAD developing dance and lifelong wellbeing. She is now director of Ballet Retreats.
“I continue to develop my own relationship with dance and explore movement with the ageing body”
Sandy Cuthbert
Sandy is a freelance dance and somatic practitioner with a background in contemporary dance and movement improvisation. Qualifications include a BA (Hons) Creative Arts (Visual Art & Dance), PGCE, Post-graduate Certificate in Contemporary Dance & Choreography-London Contemporary Dance School and a MA in Dance and Somatic Well-Being. As a professional dancer she has worked as a commercial dancer, a circus performer and as a contemporary dancer, companies include: The National Dance Company of Wales, In Transit, Maiden Voyage Dance, Off The Rails. Sandy recently returned to performing in ‘Epilogue’ premiered at the Belfast International Arts Festival 2021. She has over 20 years FE & HE dance lecturing experience. She continues to work as a choreographer and movement director for theatre companies. Sandy is a professional member of ISMETA-Registered Somatic Movement Educator. Sandy works for Maiden Voyage Dance as freelance ‘Engagement Coordinator’ including facilitating the Seasonal Somatic programme. She has a BAFTA in Costume Design (film), is a qualified Garden Designer and has recently rekindled a passion as a textile artist.
“As a mature dancer I am interested in the wisdom of the body, opening to how the body wants to move, connecting more deeply to the elements and the natural world”
We will be holding a Spring Weekend Retreat ‘Spring Unfurling’ on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April 2024 so get those dates into your diary!!