Teachers

 

Dancing with and through connection // Benjamin Vandewalle

 

During this transformative workshop led by Benjamin Vandewalle, participants are immersed in a captivating blend of contact improvisation and a practice known as "Circling," which involves engaging with one another from a place of authenticity and genuine connection.

 

In the realm of contact improvisation, dancers often engage in a mesmerising exchange of energy and expression through their bodily movements. However, despite the physical closeness shared in these interactions, there is often a sense of withholding, a hidden part of ourselves that remains unexplored. This untapped aspect has the potential to profoundly enhance the connection experienced between dancers.

 

By incorporating elements of Circling into the practice of contact improvisation, Benjamin creates a space where participants are encouraged to embrace and invite that hidden part of themselves into the dance. This transformative approach fosters an environment where the authentic connection between dancers is deepened, allowing for a more profound exploration of their shared movement. As a result, the dance becomes infused with a vibrant sense of aliveness, as the participants unlock new dimensions of their embodied expression and forge deeper connections with one another.

 

Through this workshop, participants embark on a journey of self-discovery and interpersonal exploration, peeling back layers of inhibition and vulnerability. They learn to trust their instincts and embrace the moment, enabling a genuine and unfiltered exchange of energy with their dance partners. 

 

By intertwining the practices of contact improvisation and Circling, Benjamin's workshop serves as a catalyst for personal growth, cultivating a space where participants can dive deeper into their own authenticity and connect more intimately with others.

 

Benjamin Vandewalle attended the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp and graduated in 2006 from P.A.R.T.S. Since his early work, 'perception' has been the central theme. He creates movement – not only in the body of the dancer, but also in that of the spectator.

With his work he wants to share new experiences and perspectives with a wide audience.

The basis of his work lies in his meditation practice, which he has been practicing intensively since 2006 and in which the question "Who am I" is central. Since a few years he has also been bitten by "We space" practices of which "Circling" is a part and he also interweaves this knowledge in the dance workshops he gives.

 

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Contact & Movement Workshop // Yentl de Werdt

 

In this workshop, we embrace a creative approach to movement and delve into the art of improvisation. Throughout the workshop, the focus is on expanding the participants' understanding of movement by exploring different qualities and nuances. Together we explore the realms of fluidity, strength, subtlety, and the connections that can be formed with fellow movers. 

 

Learning principles like touch, momentum, shared weight, and following points of contact, gaining tools to improvise and create intuitively. In these principles, you not only gain technical skills but also cultivate a deeper sense of embodiment and artistic expression. Getting attuned to the intricate language of movement, allowing yourself to communicate, collaborate, and create a level of sensitivity and responsiveness. 

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By embracing the freedom to explore and experiment, participants unlock new layers of their artistic abilities and cultivate a deeper sense of self-expression..

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Yentl de Werdt studied at the Royal Ballet School in Antwerp and at P.A.R.T.S, Anne-Teresa De Keersmaeker's training in Brussels. Since 2007 she has been active in the Brussels, Flemish and international dance field. She has collaborated with, among others, Akram Khan for the opening of the Olympic Games in London, fABULEUS & Randi De Vlieghe, Rosa Mei in China and she is currently dancing in Studio Cité by choreographer Benjamin Vandewalle. In 2015 she returned to Hasselt, where she & Bhumika Parekh develop her own connecting dance projects under the wings of AYU vzw.

 

AYU's ambition is to connect people through dance and is fascinated by the impact of body language and movement. Moving together – moving something together. The focus is always on the creative approach to dance and movement.

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