VERTICAL DANCE

Please note: Our vertical dance wall is compact, intimate and cosy, (much like ourselves). It’s great for getting your creative dance on but definitely not the place for long line leaps, multiple somersaults and wall running, just so you know.

Vertical Dance Harness Technique – Explorers/Improvers

12pm – 1.30pm – Week 1 

10.15am – 11.45am – Week 2
Space C, Upstage – Tutor Magalie Lanriot

Beginning with an introduction to the rigging kit, we’ll move through basic orientation and vocabulary and build towards learning jumps, somersaults towards the end of the week and linking choreography with the possibility for creative play.

Please wear multiple snug layers around your hips and waist for your comfort. Long sleeved t-shirts are also handy for some moves. We usually work barefoot but you may also want to bring slim soled plimsolls or pumps for working on the wall – Feiyues are ideal!

Vertical Dance Doubles Technique – Intermediate upwards

4.15pm – 5.45pm – Week 1 & 2
Space C, Upstage – Tutor Lee Clayden

Previous vertical dance experience is required, but not necessarily doubles and you don’t have to bring a partner.

In this class you’ll explore working in contact with a partner on the wall looking at how you can work together to create a vertical dance duet.

The class will also use material from Lee and Lindsey’s abseil duet ‘Why’ as a reference/starting point to inform your own investigations.

Please wear multiple snug layers around your hips & waist for your comfort. Long sleeved shirts are also handy for some moves.

If you have a preferred climbing harness & any kit (gri gris, rigs, carabiners etc), please bring them with you.

Vertical Dance Creative Lab – Improver up

4.15pm – 5.45pm – Week 2
Space C, Upstage – Tutor Lindsey Butcher

You should have some single point harness experience to join this class and a basic understanding of the rigging equipment however the focus here is more about creative play and discovery than technique.

Each class, will begin with a theme of the day leading into the creation of material in solos, duets and groups. This class will focus on finding creative tools to inspire and gently challenge your own process as an inquisitive body and mover.

As you’ll know (!) we advise wearing at least a couple of snug layers around your hips and waist for your comfort. Long sleeved shirts are also handy for some moves. If you have a preferred climbing harness & any kit (gri gris, rigs, carabiners etc), please bring them with you.

Vertical Dance Harness Technique – Intermediate Up

10.15am – 11.45am – Week 1
Space C, Upstage – Tutor Lindsey Butcher

Note: You must have several years previous vertical dance experience to join this class i.e. you’ve attended previous vertical dance trainings or performed vertical dance. If not, then please don’t join this class as it will be frustrating for both yourself and your fellow classmates and we want everyone to be happy!

We’ll begin by checking in on the specific rigging kit we’ll be using and basic orientation to find common ground before building towards more complex sequencing and shifting through gloriously discombobulating planes alongside tasks and creative exercises, to help you find your groove on the wall.

Pre-requisites:

You should be confident and have some experience in demonstrating:

  • Planks on different planes
  • Finding your balance point on feet or hands under the rigging point 
  • Jumping away and returning to the wall – with control!
  • Some experience of rotations (basic forward & back somys) and cartwheels on the wall.

NB None of these have to be perfect! 

As you’ll know by now (!) a couple of snug layers around your hips and waist (or my preference stretch jeans), will make the whole harness v skin experience infinitely more pleasurable/bearable! Long sleeved shirts are also handy for some moves.

If you have a preferred harness or any other equipment you’d like to use please bring them with you.

As you will know by now (!) a couple of snug layers around your hips and waist (or my preference stretch jeans), will make the whole harness v skin experience infinitely more pleasurable/bearable! Long sleeved shirts are also handy for some moves.

If you have a preferred harness or any other equipment you’d like to use please bring them with you.

Vertical Dance Harness Technique – Skilled/Advanced

12pm – 1.30pm – Week 2
Space C, Upstage – Tutor Lindsey Butcher

Note: Strictly for aerialists with a vertical dance practice spanning several years who have performed or taught vertical dance professionally.
Please don’t join this class if this isn’t you as you may be asked to leave – EEK!

After briefly checking in on the particular kit we’ll be using and where everyone is at we’ll move onto exploring and interrogating the nuts and bolts of vertical dance technique: dismantling and building afresh with fun but challenging body puzzles and orientations to further explore your dance and creative expression on the wall.

Ideally you should be familiar with, confident and competent in demonstrating; Planks (on different planes), finding your balance point on hands or feet, jumping and returning to the wall with control, basic rotations.

As you will know by now (!) a couple of snug layers around your hips and waist (or my preference stretch jeans), will make the whole harness v skin experience infinitely more pleasurable/bearable! Long sleeved shirts are also handy for some moves.

If you have a preferred harness or any other equipment you’d like to use please bring them with you.

Vertical Dance Harness Rep – Skilled/Advanced

4.15pm – 5.45pm – Week 1
Space C, Upstage – Tutor Lindsey Butcher

Note: Strictly for aerialists with a vertical dance practice spanning several years who have performed or taught vertical dance professionally.
Please don’t join this class if this isn’t you as you may be asked to leave – EEK!

The focus for this class will be on working through and understanding specific vertical dance body puzzles and orientations applied in some of Lindsey’s own choreography created over several years.

We’ll begin by checking in with correct application and understanding of the rigging used before moving through orientation and known vocabulary and building towards shifting between fast paced dynamic sequencing and slower more sensual phrases – there may well be some counting involved in this class!

Ideally you should be familiar with, confident and competent in demonstrating; Planks (on different planes), finding your balance point on hands or feet, jumping and returning to the wall with control, basic rotations.

As you will know by now (!) a couple of snug layers around your hips and waist (or my preference stretch jeans), will make the whole harness v skin experience infinitely more pleasurable/bearable! Long sleeved shirts are also handy for some moves.

If you have a preferred harness or any other equipment you’d like to use please bring them with you.

Last Updated on March 10, 2024