Shifting Concepts: from Poem to Body — Workshop with Yoshiko Chuma

Yoshiko Chuma, Artistic Director of the award winning company The School of Hard Knocks, will guide participants in a 3-day workshop about the transformation of conceptual ideas into physical movement vocabulary. The investigation process of transformation from intellectual concepts to physical movements will be an exercise for both the brain and the body. During the 3 days, the participants will work with Ms. Chuma, in a combination of demonstration and participatory exercises. Chuma will also present action exercises with props. The workshop is open for anyone of all ages. We will use our own movements, words, images and experiences to create movement.

Dance is a monologue, flowing resistance activity using dance to deliver a delicate and powerful message. Poets will speak a kind of monologue composed of abstract dance movements. Dance is poem. The 3 day workshop will end with a small private presentation with the participants. There will be surprise guest appearances every day.

This workshop is presented in partnership with Movement Research, one of the world’s leading laboratories for the investigation of dance and movement-based forms.

Photo: Jackie Rudin

Yoshiko Chuma

Yoshiko Chuma (conceptual artist, choreographer/artistic director of The School of Hard Knocks) has been a firebrand in the post-modern dance scene of New York City since the 1980s, has been consistently producing thought-provoking work that is neither dance nor theater nor film nor any other pre-determined category. She is an artist on her own journey. A path that has taken her to over 40 “out of the way” countries and collected over 2000 artists, thinkers and collaborators of every genre since establishing her company The School of Hard Knocks in New York City in 1980.