SURRENDERING TO PHYSICS: BIOMECHANICS FOR CONTACT IMPROVISATION

Name: SURRENDERING TO PHYSICS: BIOMECHANICS FOR CONTACT IMPROVISATION
Start: 2026-04-03T01:00:00+11:00
End: 2026-04-06T09:00:00+11:00
Location: Dancehouse, Melbourne Australia

Schedule

Fri, 03 Apr, 2026 at 01:00 am to Mon, 06 Apr, 2026 at 09:00 am

UTC+11:00

Location

Dancehouse, Melbourne Australia | Melbourne, VI

EASTER WEEKEND INTENSIVE:
FRIDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY CLASSES
ALL WELCOME! NO DANCE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
In this intensive, we learn how to move with principles of biomechanics. When we move in in functional alignment with our structure, our dance capacity explodes! By allowing our structure to move with body wisdom, we become light and agile. We surf over skin, tumble, roll, fly and fall effortlessly.
Many common movement habits are not in alignment with our anatomical biomechanics. When we unconsciously move against the biomechanical structure of the body, we block our flexibility, our bodies become tense and heavy. To take our dance in CI to the next level, we must understand the functional alignment of our own individual structure. Using functional anatomy, we study how the body is designed to move, how it wants to move. We can liberate our spines and joints for full availability.
We will use Axis Syllabus principles, a compendium of knowledge including biomechanics, functional anatomy, physics, physiology. In functional anatomy, we study how the body is designed to move, how it wants to move. We can liberate our spines and joints for full availability.
We will explore functional biomechanics through dance improvisation and discovery. Repatterning our habits to release tension and blocked holding patterns.
ALL WELCOME! No dance experience necessary! If you have a body and want to learn how to move with more ease, please join us!
FRIDAY APRIL 3RD
SPIRALLING INTO LIGHTNESS: BIOMECHANICS OF THE SPINE
Managing the spine is key to our CI dance. Many common habits block the spine and block our dance capacity. We will learn about the different parts of the spine and vertebrae and explore where we have great freedom of movement in the spine, and which movements block the spine. Spinal freedom is dance freedom!
Tentative schedule:
11 am- 14 pm: Finding the Center of Movement: Dancing with functional anatomy of our spinal sections and vertebrae.
14 pm- 14 pm: break
15 pm- 18pm: Integrating Spinal Alignment into CI
SUNDAY APRIL 5TH
THE HIP AXIS: FREEING OUR BUMS!
We study the hip architecture and see how functional anatomy informs the trajectory to the floor and the trajectory up to fly. Freeing the hip joint is necessary for maximal body availability in the dance.
13 pm -16 pm: Moving with the aligned anatomy of the hip joint. We create new patterns for movement.
16:30 pm - 19 pm: Integrating Aligned Hip Axis into Contact Improvisation: finding flexibility and stability
MONDAY APRIL 6TH
DANCING WITH HEAD AND HEART: FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF UPPER BODY
Managing the mechanics of the head and neck become critical structures in creating availability in your dance The fragile structure of thin neck and heavy head often create reactive tensing and holding which block the spine and shoulder girdle. We explore how the head neck and shoulder girdle can move organically and freely when in functional alignment.
11 am- 14 pm: How heavy is your head and where do your fingers start? Understanding functional alignment of our own body.
15 pm- 18 pm: Dancing Ci with an available heart!
We integrate the alignment of the shoulder girdle into our CI dancing, embracing the magic of the thoracic spine!
What is Axis Syllabus?
Axis Syllabus is a pedagogical approach to movement and dance, a somatic approach which builds movement from awareness of anatomy, biomechanics, physics, and other related fields relevant to the moving body. Developed by Frey Faust, Axis Syllabus represents a compilation of information guiding effortless, organic and dynamic movement, which can also inform rehabilitation for people experiencing back pain, joint pain and other injuries.
The intention of Axis Syllabus classes is to re-train movement patterns for respectful coherence with our anatomical design. This re-training supports longevity of the body’s physical structures while reducing the risk of injury and repetitive strain. Improvisational exercises and choreographed motifs are used to create frames for the study of healthy joint parameters, fascial pulls and pathways through the body, and other phenomenon relevant to the moving body. The result is kinetically capable and anatomically educated movers that can approach the demands of physical engagement with the world from an informed and empowered relation to their bodies.
What to bring: Please bring layers of clothing, and with long sleeves and pants for best experience of dancing!
Course Fees:
One workshop: 120 AUD (supported 100 AUD, supporting 140 AUD)
Two workshops: 220 AUD
Three workshops: 310 AUD
Registration contact:
[email protected]
Whatsapp: 0411540448
PM here on FB!
Course Instructor
Chrystabel Butler brings a wide range of experience to movement and dance. With a background in competitive gymnastics, she has pursued research and teaching in various somatic dance modalities. She has been teaching Contact Improvisation since 2011 in Japan, UK, Bulgaria, Egypt, Netherlands and Australia. Engaged with intensive study of Axis Syllabus since 2014, she is passionate about approaching dance through an understanding of anatomy, physics and biomechanics and provides personal movement coaching through authentic movement and rehabilitative modalities. She is a Dance Movement Therapist, as well as a certified instructor for Yoga and Pilates. She currently leads classes and workshops in Axis Syllabus Inspired Dance and Contact Improvisation.