Movement in Music
Through personalized, interactive workshops, Anne works with musicians to connect their often-unconscious knowledge of embodiment to their musical practice. Participants use this knowledge as a new way to understand their practice habits, ensemble communication, and artistry in performance. All workshops are designed for newcomers with no prior dance experience, and may draw from everyday "found motion" or the partnering and beginning technique principles of ballroom.
Current Workshop Offerings:
Gesture and Pulse: Found Movement Exploratory
Participants brainstorm movements already familiar to their daily lives and learn to notice the minutia of their mechanics. Mapping these details of pressure, momentum, direction, and character onto musical phrases supports artistic decisions and gives participants a concrete vocabulary for articulating abstract concepts.
"This masterclass changed the way I think. Seriously. Performing is something that for the longest time I viewed in a vacuum, disconnected from every other thing I do in my day-to-day life." ​
-Hero C.
"Most of the physical movements we perform on a daily basis are taken for granted or are performed without much thought. Anne coached us to be aware of these basic motions and explore how we use our bodies to interact with the world around us. This is an incredibly useful way of thinking when applied to the physical aspects of playing an instrument, especially when facing bad habits, and interpreting musical phrases."
-Sam H..
"This masterclass took music and everyday tasks and combined them into one artform."
-Connor B.
Personalized Ballroom Consultation and Workshop
Ideal for small ensembles, this two-step masterclass helps participants deepen their musical communication through the structure and vocabulary of ballroom dance.
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Step one: Consultation
A 15-20 minute meeting scheduled with the group, or a point person within the group, to discuss current performance and ensembleship goals and select repertoire for study.
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Step two: Workshop
A 1-hour session teaching fundamentals of ballroom relevant to the group's goals, followed by 15-20 minutes of rehearsal and feedback on target repertoire.
"I didn’t know what to expect when we decided to use movement to understand our music playing. Anne explained the impact of movement and dance and how our innate body movement for something as basic as walking can influence our efficiency and grace of motion. It was a joy and an education and has influenced the way that I hear and play with our group."
-Paula G., Trillium Flute Choir
"This new way to learn about the intricacies of music was not only ear-opening but delightful. I walked into our session not knowing what to expect, and Anne guided us through a whole body dance experience to understand the flow of musical phrases in a new way. I've been playing music since the workshop with a renewed sense of joy that comes from new insight. Plus, it was a fun, adventurous group activity with fellow musicians. Anne is an extremely talented musician and dancer, and it was beautiful to spend time with her enthusiasm and intellect."
-Tara C., Trillium Flute Choir