Spine in Motion: Falling, Flying & the Spaces Between

The spine is more than a structural pillar; it is a river of movement, a bridge between stability and fluidity, a living archive of our developmental journey.

From our first undulating explorations in utero to the spirals, arches, and folds that shape our movement through life, the spine carries both memory and possibility.

A responsive system—each vertebra a point of articulation, each curve a whisper of past and future motion. Like a snake sensing its environment or a wave rolling to shore, our spine can shift between yielding and resistance, softening into gravity or rising with buoyancy. A supple spine allows for ease, adaptability, and the freedom to move without unnecessary effort—where skeletal support replaces muscular tension, and movement unfolds with intelligent grace.

In the dialogue of Contact Improvisation the spine becomes a relational force—a hinge between self and space, a compass guiding us into flight or grounding us in shared weight.

The interplay between flexion and extension, rotation and undulation, allows for both precision and surrender, giving us access to momentum, suspension, and surprising pathways. Our proximal centers—the pelvis, diaphragm, and skull—are in constant conversation, shaping the flow of movement through the spine and into the distal edges of the body. From the toes to the fingertips, every gesture traces back to the integrity of the spine, where connection is never isolated but woven through the entire system.

To move with an awakened spine is to move with presence, intelligence, and trust in the body's unfolding potential—an invitation to rediscover movement as an act of listening, a dance between sensation and expression, between structure and freedom.

In solo, duet, trio and as an ensemble with hands on work and improvisation focused work we will ask

🔹 How does the spine allow us to fall without fear, surrendering into gravity?

🔹 What happens when we let the spine lead, guiding us into unexpected connections?

🔹 How do we tune in from the ground up—feet, pelvis, spine—deepening our awareness in each moment?

🔹 How does our awareness of the space between us shape the dance itself?

We’ll explore connection without limitation, focus without fixation—leaving space for play, for risk, for movement to unfold in its own time. We'll practice not knowing, trusting sensation over control, allowing the body to reorganize in surprising ways.

More than technique, this workshop is also about creating together—how weight becomes language, how a group breathes and shifts as a collective body, how the dance takes on a life of its own. Through the spine, we’ll expand our awareness of the duet, the group, and the space itself—following what is truly alive, interesting, and rewarding beyond skill.

This is an invitation to move, listen, and be surprised.

All levels are welcome. Some basic familiarity with Contact improvisation or floorwork is needed. If you are not sure please reach out to Eamonn or Anat.

📅 Date & Time

Friday May 9th

6pm - 8:30pm

Saturday May 10th

10am - 5pm (including a lunch time break around 1pm)

Sunday may11th

10am - 4pm (including a lunch time break around 1pm)

📍 Location

Harold Park Community Hall, Tramsheds

Cost

$200

$180 supported

$220 supporting

Please choose the payment scale suitable to your ability, considering that supporting others allows us to give a few scholarship tickets. If you want to attend and need financial support, please contact us.

For further information please contact Eamonn via Messenger or at eamonnoflaherty@protonmail.com.

By participating in this movement workshop, you acknowledge that all activities are undertaken at your own risk. You are responsible for your own well-being and agree to move within your personal limits. The facilitator(s) and venue are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage. Please inform the facilitator of any pre-existing conditions and consult a medical professional if needed.

By joining, you agree to these terms.