Photography: Christian Klant
My name is Rosalind, I am a Dance Artist and Choreographer from the UK, living on Hainan Island, in China and working as a Dance Lecturer for Middlesex and Minzu Universities. I specialise in Contact Improvisation and Contemporary Release Techniques, taking inspiration from my trainings in Body Mind CenteringⓇ, Authentic Movement, Skinner Release Technique, Capoiera, Martial Arts, African dance, and experience dancing outdoors, on land and in water. My work involves dynamic attunement training and I create and exhibit performances and installations that explore intimate connections between people, place and the environment.
I completed a PhD at Kingston University in London, which investigated how touch enables encouters with Otherness and the Vocabulary of Touch used in Contact Improvisation. I hold also a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design from DeMontfort University, a BA(hons) degree in Fine Art & Choreography from Dartington College of Arts and Falmouth University and a Masters Degree in Dance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance.
Besides working in academia I have taught dance for diverse communities, including children, disabled adults and older people in care settings and hospitals. I have taught Contact Improvisation workshops internationally, at dance festivals including Freiburg CI festival, Contact Meets Contemporary, Critical Mass in the US, Contact and Flow in Mexico, and Touch&Play in Europe and the US. I am also a 600hr registered Yoga Teacher and teacher of the Shaw Method, a Swimming technique that integrates the Alexander technique.
List of Recent Publications and Performances
Un-broken by Rosalind Holgate Smith in collaboration with María Cantero and Kéké Sol. [K77 Studio, Berlin 17th Jan 2025].
‘Listening Touch’ (2024) in Cooper Albright, A (Ed.) Resistance & Support, Oxford University Press
The Pleasure Patchwork by Rosalind Holgate Smith in collaboration with Katharina Krenkel (2024-25) [Dorich House Museum, London 13-17th May 2025] [Dancing Otherwise Network Kingston University, London 12thFebruary 2025] [GlogauAIR, Berlin, 23-25th February 2024]
Vibration by Rosalind Holgate Smith in collaboration with Katja Richter (2022-23) [The Rose Theatre, London 28th April 2023] [Acker Stadt Palast Theatre, Berlin 3-4th June 2022]
The Unveiling by Rosalind Holgate Smith (2022-24) [Taboo Fest, Berlin 7th June 2024], [Molt. Berlin, 23rdAugust 2023] [Touch&Play UK 3-5th August 2022], [Sex& Smoothies, Berlin 25-26th February 2022]
Listening Touch by Rosalind Holgate Smith (2022) [Attunement in Practice, Medleys Berlin 11th December 2022] [13Festivalen, Goetheburg, Sweden 5-8th January 2023]
Trees by Rosalind Holgate Smith (2021), [Verwalterhaus, Berlin, 30th October] [Sentient Performativities,Dartington Estate, UK, 30th June 2022)
Groundwork by Rosalind Holgate Smith (2020), [GlogauAIR, Berlin 2-16th September]
