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⛩ Contact Dojo June 19-24th

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– an immersive contact improv. event for both emerging and experienced dancers, and anyone eager to deepen their relationship to movement, self & community –

Contact Dojo is a six day-long platform designed to engage in spontaneous creation and authenticity, while challenging and researching the fundamentals of physical dialogue.

Contact jams will be held on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The format is a silent tea-ceremony leading into an open-flow jam 〜 inspired by the contact jams at Moksa, in Bali. There will be a diverse range of high quality music such as downtempo, renaissance polyphony & live acoustic.

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The program is structured with scheduled workshops, and features a few open spaces for exploration and co-driven initiatives.

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*Alcohol & smoke-free event.

∘ Applications are OPEN. Continue below to apply ∘

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☯ Facilitators & Artists Spotlight

Donal Gannon

Donal will offer Contact Improvisation classes, labs, scores and jams (suitable for beginners to more advanced dancers). Drawing from over 20 years of experience facilitating all kinds of groups, events and community builds; he also offers gentle guidance along our journey, to weave together the tapestry of our temporary family.

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He will be available to support the community and relational field using his diverse toolkit (which includes Nonviolent Communication (NVC), The Wheel of Consent, Authentic Relating, Sociocracy, Forum, Restorative Circles and Systems Building.) Conscious connection workshop: Using our awareness, breath, subtle energy, eye-contact, touch and dialogue to explore and encourage authentic wholehearted connection. We develop our ability to be present and intimate within ourselves and with others, creating space for individual and interpersonal healing, moving toward greater freedom and finding new ways of experiencing and enjoying each other, our world and ourselves.
More about Donal and his work here donalgannon.com

Felix Arjona

Professional dancer and choreographer, gestalt and movement therapist, yoga, comtemporary dance and C.I. teacher, Felix Arjona is an multidisciplinary artist from Seville. Behind the making of SOMA&Play, Contact Improvisation Formación Andaluza and Contact Camp Andalucía, Felix devotes research and creation this line of movement pratice.

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His current work focuses on dance pedagogy, the study of body experience and movement, somatic experience, creativity and artistic expression applied to mental health and the community. They become non-verbal communication tools that provide psycho-emotional information that fosters dialogue, empathy and contact necessary for the improvement of personal and social relationships.
"Contact Improvisation is for me a window to the global community.''

Simone Racine

Psychology student, event producer & dancer, Simone's role is co-organizing the Contact Dojo, coordinating arrival at The Garden, as well as offering a Contact Beyond Contact session on Thursday.

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Contact Beyond Contact (CBC) is a dance improvisation practice by Unity Space that focuses on creating an environment and holding space for transformation and healing. It integrates Contact Improvisation and Authentic Movement, as well as somatics, proprioceptive and exteroceptive senses, mindfulness, qigong, principles of behaviorism, and leadership skills. ''In CBC, movement and shared energy becomes the embodied communication, a metaphor for how we are in relationships dance through life and co-create.''

Katima del Mar

Multidisciplinary dancer and social anthropologist with almost a decade of experience internationally, Katima is passionate about catalyzing innovation by bridging arts, futures thinking and technology.

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As our Expansion Lead at The Garden and co-organizer of this event, she will be your main point of contact both before and during the event. Should you have any queries or need assistance, please get in touch at [email protected]

Shai Peri

Shai Peri is a multi-instrumental musician based in Alentejo. Proficient with the violin, guitar, and flutes, he creates a soundscape that transforms the surrounding frequencies into a harmonious musical experience. His style is spacious, with influences from Oriental and Classical music.

Find his work on Spotify

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Natan Rabin

Inspired by the ancient traditions of medicine songs from a young age, singer and songwriter Natan Rabin is guided by his soul in his musical offerings. Recreating and honoring ritual prayer songs as well as sharing his own unique material, he shares his gifts through different languages and instruments.

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Exploring and expanding upon music in ceremonial spaces across the world, Natan's healing sounds touch the heart, mind and soul of his listeners. Find his work on Spotify

⌖ Where

The Garden, a 22 acre enchanted forest estate nestled in the heart of the Lima Valley. 2000sqm [21000sqft] of buildings & infrastructure, with established forest garden, fruit orchards, a private lake, two swimming springs, pool, sauna, hot tub, villa, two grand halls & embodiment space, two kitchens, sundecks & wooden platforms, giant dance floor, cork dojo, circus arts, gym, and a jam space full of instruments & soundsystems. 📍 45 minutes north of Porto & 15 minutes from the closest train/bus station (Viana do Castelo).

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Geographic Context:

- 45 min from Porto Airport [OPO.] - 3h50 from Lisbon - 20 min to the beach [kitesurfing] - 20 min to the waterfall valley hikes - 15 min from Viana do Castelo & Ponte de Lima - Forested hiking footsteps out the back gate

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𓐐𓎩 Food

Food is central to the experience at the Garden. Included as part of your stay: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cooking & clean-up is a shared karma by both residents & volunteers, with signing-in shifts. Meals are plant based, and we get local eggs. There is peanut butter on tap.

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⥁ Rates

We've done our best to make this gathering financially inclusive to all. Pricing on a sliding scale, honour system.

From May 25th onward:

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⊙ Transparency

The object of the non-profit Garden association is to promote art & culture. The event is priced at-cost ─ much less than comparable programs ─ and all payments are donations, supporting the project by funding improvements to the space, p. ex. the funding of a new hardwood flooring in the upstairs.

☞ Participation

This is a curated dance camp inviting workshops, games, meditation, shenanigans, yoga, contact improv, music jams, dances, & more. There's plenty of space and infrastructure for everyone to play, and still have private space.

If you can't afford €190/week, there are always opportunities to get your hands (or mind) dirty by volunteering. Reach out to [email protected]