Pro Dance Oxford Workshop with Rachel Laird

Class and creative session led by Rachel Laird exploring dance theatre, dynamic physical movements, improvisation, games and creation.

What to expect:

The day will be split into an hour and a half class and then a creative session. 

The class is a combination of contemporary dance, improvisation and dance theatre led explorations. I encourage movers of all backgrounds to join and find joy, humour, individuality, and physicality throughout our time together. The class will mix set exercises, games, improv and big phrases of material – which we will build upon during the week. With groovy tunes we will prepare our bodies and play, moving as individuals and connecting with others in the room as a group.

The creative session will explore themes of a new solo I have been exploring called ‘Unbind in Softness’. This dance theatre solo works with the idea of softness, finding/breaking structure and dives into my own experience of body dysmorphia and what I have had to learn, unlearn, and relearn about me and my body. We will play with humour, dance theatre tasks and writing.

Rachel Laird:

Rachel is a freelance dance artist from Scotland and trained at Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School for her Postgraduate, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance for her BA (HONS) degree and prior to this at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance and National Youth Dance Company of Scotland.

Since being freelance Rachel has performed for Highly Sprung, English National Opera, Garsington Opera, Peut-Etre Theatre, Next Door Dance, Tess Letham, Roisin O’Brien, The Natashas Project, Page One theatre and A Truefitt Collective among others. In 2019 she co-founded Dance theatre company Sliding Doors Collective.

Rachel has taught throughout Scotland, England, Copenhagen and China as a teacher independently as well as representing performance companies as a contemporary dance teacher, dancing mindfulness facilitator and yoga/meditation teacher.

Brief Outline of The Day:

12:00 – 13:30 - Technique Class

13:30 – 14:00 - Break

14:00 - 16:00 - Creative Session

A note of level:

Open to all movers, dancers, actors

*Please note all of our workshops are for adults (18+)

When and where to arrive:

The Old Fire Station has three entrances, we would advise you to use the entrance on George Street which will take you directly to the reception area.

We would recommend arriving about 30 minutes before the workshop start time. There are changing rooms on site, a member of Pro Dance Oxford will be around should you need anything, and the Arts at Old Fire Station Café do an amazing cup of coffee!

Suggestions for Lunch:

Oxford has an incredible independent food and drink community including the wonderful Damascus Rose Kitchen who are based out of the Arts at The Old Fire Station Café (The falafel wrap is our favourite!)

Other local hotspots that are all a short walk from the theatre are:

The Handle Bar (Coffee and Food) on St Michaels Street

Alpha Bar (Salad and Sandwiches) in Oxford’s Covered Market

The Art Café (Coffee and Food) opposite The Westgate

The Gloucester Green Market also has an amazing range of street food stalls and is open Wednesday-Saturday - it also is on the doorstep of The Old Fire Station if you use the Gallery Entrance!

Supported by Arts at The Old Fire Station, Dancin' Oxford, Thomas Page Dances and Oxford City Council (Community Impact Fund)

Host or Publisher Pro Dance Oxford