SORRY THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED.

Dear Portland Community- I’m excited to come and move with you.  I’m offering two sessions  on Saturday April 1st intended to go together, yet also completely possible to do individually.  BraveSpace: The Art of Wholeness running 3-6pm, and Pleasure Spine Contact Jam, running 7:30-9:30pm at Awakenings Wellness Center. If you do both there is a $15 discount.  If you have no contact experience, I do strongly recommend coming to BraveSpace first–it’ll help you orient yourself later.

These workshops come from my 25 years of practice as a dancer, choreographer, movement therapist, and spiritual seeker.  Life keeps teaching me that the most important aspects of my being are far from where my thoughts dwell, and yet that being smart about how I relate with my body and others is also key to finding the deeper pulses of vitality.  I’m astounded at how often moving with others connects me with source…with meaning.  I can’t help but show up to it!  I invite you into these delightful, sometimes challenging, and often rewarding mysteries of embodiment.

If you’d like to chat about any of this please let me know.  I’m sure I could use an assistant if money gets in your way too.

Warmly,

Matthew

BraveSpace:  The Art of Wholeness 3-6pm

In BraveSpace we practice the art of being whole in ourselves while communing with one another, creating the conditions for vulnerability.  There is an incredible feeling of purpose and joy that comes from connecting with others, and great service that manifests in conscious devotion to a field larger than our selves.  Generosity asks us to be able to reposition ourselves physically and socially to take care of our boundaries, to unwind our trauma patterns, to navigate our pain, and ideally to transmute it into pleasure.  We will gently address and unwind patterns of freezing, anxiety, clumsiness, or numbness that may come up, breaking down fundamental aspects of human movement and interaction that typically lie below our conscious awareness. Thankfully, our bodies know how to do this intrinsically when we give them permission to move and feel.  This workshop is structured to bring you deeper into the joy and physicality of wholeness and connection whether you are just beginning with ecstatic dance or have years of experience with contact improvisation and somatic practice.

Pleasure Spine Contact Improvisation Jam 7:30-9:30pm

The nature of the spine is connection.  The spine connects the pelvis, ribs, and head with the potential for rooted, loving presence; a conduit for energy.  In dancing the spine offers sovereign pleasure, intimate resonance, and acrobatic play with others and space.  The spine also unavoidably tells our authentic truth.  In respect and admiration of this truth we will warm up with sensory awareness and movement flow to breathe life into spinal motion, unwind stuck patterns, and give you tools you can take directly into your dances.  We’ll make sure you know how to take care of yourself in the field with others.  Then, expect downtempo bass music and the permission to be whomever you authentically are in mutual respect.

$35

These two workshops may be taken together or separately—if you do not have Contact Improvisation experience it is recommended that you attend BraveSpace.  The price for both is discounted at $65.