Cover Photo: Dayna Szyndrowski
Photo: Chieh Huang
Class Description:
For Working Class I will teach a contemporary dance class that is floor work based. We will use release- based techniques to explore the anatomical structure of the body and sequential movement. Working with gravity as an initiating force for dancing, we will play with pushing, pulling, falling and spirals in different patterns and combinations to travel across the space while moving in and out of the floor. The class will begin with variations of bodywork and movement improvisation to gradually build in intensity and complexity as we progress from moving close to the floor to more upright and upside down movement patterns.
My approach to dance-technique is as a method for investigation/exploration. I’m curious about movement in internal and external structures, playfully activating the senses to engage with gravity, force, our internal structure, space, time and rhythm. As a body-mind incorporated practice working with principles rather than steps and sensations before shapes the practice encourages a deeper understanding of the body and the being in relation to the surrounding environment and its endless possibilities of movement.
Emmalena Fredriksson is a contemporary dance artist living and working in Vancouver, Canada, as a guest on the ancestral unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples. Her practice is defined by choreography as a relational practice in the expanded fields of dance, often collaborating with artists of other disciplines, creating choreographic experiences and dance for social events, film, galleries and performance.
Born in Sweden, she received her training at Balettakademien in Umeå and at SEAD in Austria. Emmalena has presented choreographic work, performed and taught internationally with Daghdha Dance Company (IE), Canaldanse (FR), Malta University (MT), Pact Zollverein (DE), and Falmouth University (UK) among others. Based in Vancouver since 2013 her work has been presented in Dancing on the Edge, The Dance Centre, Push Off, New Works at Night, Dance Days (Victoria) and at Access, Interurban and Audain Galleries.
Emmalena holds an MFA degree from Simon Fraser University and she regularly teaches at Modus Operandi, Training Society of Vancouver, Harbour Dance Centre and SFU.