Melissa Rayne Dance DanceArt Lab 1 - 8th May 2024

DanceArt Creative Lab 1 led by Melissa Rayne

A three-hour creative dance workshop exploring generative and transformative physical and psychological dance-making practices. With an overarching theme of Elemental, this workshop will take you deep into my ethos of anti-patriarchal dance.

Beginning with a thorough physical warm-up, we’ll shift into a guided meditation and improvisational state to invite authentic and instinctive movement to emerge. We’ll then focus our creative spark into several tasks, working in pairs, groups and solo (some contact work will be involved).

Come along if you want to explore my practice and connect with like-minded dance artists. Bring a sense of adventure and compassion to hold what arises as we work with influences like Butoh interiority, elemental forces and automatism. Suitable for professional dancers (any disciplines), recent graduates/dancers in training, and individuals with a strong movement practice. This Lab is open to all genders.

- Supported by Arts Council England

Pay-What-You-Feel: minimum donation is £1.00

Date and time: Wednesday 8th May, 10.30 to 13.30

Venue: East London Dance, Studio 2, The Talent House, 3 Sugarhouse Lane, Stratford, E15 2QS

About Melissa Rayne

Dance, to me, is Outsider Art…I’m a neurodivergent/disabled dancer and dancemaker and my focus is on creating anti-patriarchal and anti-abusive dance. My artistic practice has been shaped as much by my lived experience of systemic discrimination, gatekeeping and psychological abuse as it has my interests, which include feminism, surrealism, the Occult, mental health and neurodivergence and the Human Condition.

I've created work for the Thamesmead Festival, Szoloduo Fesztival, Trigger Theatre and several choreographic performance platforms in Budapest and across the UK. I've been refining my practice for three decades, traversing the realms of jazz and musical theatre dance, martial arts (MMA and weaponary), contemporary dance, codified modern techniques, classical ballet and Butoh. I've performed with and for the likes of BBC TV/Phoenix Dance Theatre, Budapest Dance Theatre, L1/Zero Balett, Megan Mazarick and West Green House Opera and I'm a regular puppeteer/animator at Elrow London events.

Read more: www.melissaraynedance.com

Or find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/melissa_rayne_dance

Host or Publisher Melissa Rayne Dance