Level: Beginners with experience – Intermediate 55€ / 13€ Drop-In

The workshop aims at opening the individual and collective body in ballet class through a somatic approach. We focus on getting a clearer sense of standing, turning and jumping by sensing the body in different conditions and situations, breaking down part of its mechanics, practicing simple exercises with a different awareness of listening, and practicing somatic body conditioning exercises that participants can save into their pockets to practice afterwards. We get help from basic physics, Japanese ancient martial arts Budo, endocrine system and meridians to approach physical and hormonal systems and beyond. Sometimes Britney Spears or techno beats appear to boost your inner lights, to care inscribed memories in the body and to remember the joy of dancing.

Yuri Shimaoka is a dance artist from Nagano, Japan. She studied at Dokkyo university in Japan and has trained in dance drawing from many sources, from ballet school in town to studying Japanese ancient martial arts Budo from master Akira Hino, to visiting The Forsythe Company and assisting Yoko Ando, former dancer in the company. Since the beginning of 2015 she has been based in Berlin and works in screen, virtual reality, installation and dance. She has worked with Yoko Ando and YCAM Interlab, Matteo Marziano Graziano, Ersan Mondtag, Rob Fordeyn, Jeremy Shaw, Okwui Okpokwasilli (10th Berlin Biennale), Christine Bonnansea, IASA (Pedra Costa, Göksu Knak, Elena Polzer, Nobert Pape) and among others. She is a scholarship recipient at DanceWeb 2019 at ImPulsTanz. As a guest teacher, she has been giving ballet class in marameo Berlin, Tanzfaktur Köln, Deutsche Oper Berlin, DART and other places. She is also a Peak Pilates certified Pilates trainer and Shiatsu practitioner and offers individual or smaller group sessions.