PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR REGULAR CLASSES, UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & FESTIVAL TEACHINGS
I offer a somatic, experiential anatomy approach to teaching Contemporary Dance, Contact Improvisation and Choreography and Composition. My teaching includes attentional training and ecological work with touch and imagery to enhance biomechanics, performer presence and expression, as well as phrase work, improvisation, and a lot of play. I have been informed by my training in Body-Mind Centering, Authentic Movement, Skinner Release technique, Axis Syllabus and a diploma in Integrative Bodywork & Movement Therapy. I have background training also in Capoeira since 2014, and African Dance techniques in Senegal, and with Natasha Noack, a renowned teacher of traditional Nigerian dance. My Yoga practice of 15 years also informs my teaching in which I integrate elements of mindfulness, acrobatics, principles of rhythm and alignment together with contemporary and release technique.
I have taught in UK universities for professionals in training and at Independent Dance in London, at Freiburg International CI Festival, Contact meets Contemporary, at Earthdance and CI50 at Oberlin College in the USA, at Contact&Flow in Mexico, at Touch&Play and numerous other events and festivals. Besides hosting weekly classes and Contact Improvistion jams currently where I live in Berlin, I offer a more intensive 3-month CI Touch Training program at Tanzfabrik, and lead outdoor dance retreats such as Groundwork and Moving Landscapes, that take place mostly in the UK. From time to time I host also residential long-jam formats such as PJAM at Ponderosa in Germany.
I am excited to share JUST FOLLOW, a short film about Contact Improvisation(CI) made by Simon Garbe. The film feature's myself and the voices of other CI dancers that attended PJAM, a 4 day dance residential which I hosted together with Katja Richter at Ponderosa in 2022.
Just Follow premiered at Tanzfabrik, in Berlin on 21st June 2024. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making it!
REGULAR CLASSES
The Soft Class, Studio 2, Bethanian Kunst Quartier, Berlin *Fridays 9.30am-11am (from Sept 12th 2025) €8-12. This is a contemporary dance class that takes a rigorous somatic approach to soften how we come into contact with each other and the world around. We will begin with simple patterns, phrases and biomechanical explorations involving work with touch and anatomical imagery to develop softness, fluidity and released and efficient forms of alignment. We will then apply these embodied qualities and explorations in partnering and more dynamic dancing involving flying, falling and soft acrobatics.
Contact Improvisation Mondays Class *7-8.30pm, Jam *8.30-10.30pm @ Schonfließer straße 7, Prenzlauerberg, Berlin €10-15 (with rotating facilitators Vega Lukkonnen and Katja Richter)
Contact Improvisation Wednesdays Jam with warm up *8.15-11pm @k77 Studio Kastanienalle 77, Berlin (with rotating facilitators)
Touch Lab: A PRIVATE RESEARCH GROUP: please email me directly for updates rosalindholgatesmith@gmail.com
Everyone is welcome to drop in to any of the above sessions, if you have questions or accessibility needs please contact me for more information.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & FESTIVAL TEACHINGS
The Touch Training introduces a vocabulary of listening, light and deep touch techniques over 3 weekends modules between Sept-Dec 2025
A lively week of movement, meeting and community togetherness - in the beautiful Villa Wigman, https://villawigman.de
I will teach an intensive workshop, Nettlecombe Court, Somerset, Taunton TA4 4HT,UK
PAST WORKSHOPS
BerlinSuperJam 5-8th December 2024, A 4 day Celebration of Contact Improvisation at Eden Studios, Dock 11, Berlin, For More Info Click Here + Booking Link: https://forms.gle/KUapaaJGvMLeCGHn7
Berlin NewYears Festival 29th Dec 2024-1st Jan 2025. Lets dance together into the New Year: 3 Days & nights of Jamming, labs, Bodywork and more, with live Musicians at Motion*s Gleisdreieck, Kreuzberg, Berlin. With facilitations from Vega Luukkonen & Hugh Stanier, Maria Rutanen, Mathilde Mensink, Rosalind Holgate Smith, Otto Akkanen, Live Musik Andrea Junge & friends. Waterdance with Tanja Siebenstern. For more info and to book: https://forgotten-land.com/events/berlin-new-years-jam-24/25/
CI and Aikido Workshop, Saturday 9th November 3-6pm, at Berlin AikidoDojo Gleisdreieck. In this workshop we will explore connections and pathways into and out of the body, combining principles and techniques from Aikido and Contact Improvisation (CI). This workshop will be faciliated as a collaboration between myself and Aikido master, Max Eriksson. We will guide a series of exercises and invite you to experiment with how they inspire the art and play of partnering. €35-55 (sliding scale) To book visit: https://www.aikido-dojo-gleisdreieck.de/en/seminar/aikido-contact-impro/
Water Dance-Swimming under the Skin workshop 26th March & 9th April 17.30-20.00 Lichtenfelde Oct, Berlin
Hugging Holding & Squeezing, a Contact Improvisation workshop in Dresden, Germany, 13th May 2023