Sensing Consent - 2 Day Contact Improv Workshop with Carmen Serber

Sensing Consent

Saturday -Sunday, Aug 16th & 17th

We’re thrilled to welcome Carmen from Bellingham to Clear Heart for this special 2-day workshop! With over 25 years of embodied exploration, Carmen brings a rich, playful, and deeply informed approach to Contact Improvisation. Join us in diving deeper into the form with her unique blend of anatomical insight, improvisational wisdom, and inclusive teaching.

——————————————————————————

If we desire to dance with integrity and consent with a partner, we also need to be able to proprioceptively sense our own inner landscapes in order to differentiate ourself from the "other." Abundant creative potential develops in our dance as our touch perception becomes more refined. Touch refinement is an expansive portal into our own dancing landscape and it supports the creation of a shared dance with others.

Negotiating consent through touch in every mo(ve)ment is one of the most important skills of dancing Contact Improvisation. It is the skill that encases every other skill. Consent cannot be achieved by rules, it can only be experienced in an interplay of movement and touch – to sense what your partner is expressing and how your body responds. Tissues, cells, hearts, brains all have cellular intelligence and it can be felt where they want to be in space.

The relationship between touch and movement are primal. Touch and Movement are keystones of life. They are the earliest senses to appear in the womb and help set the foundation for the development of other senses. Touch is emphasized in the skin. Movement is emphasized in the proprioceptive and kinesthetic receptors in the joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, organs, and the vestibular system. Movement and touch develop simultaneously. Through this interplay we have better chances to accurately reflect on what is actually happening in the moment.

We will allow our skin and joints to teach us about their fluid interactions in simple and more complex situations like weight sharing, lifts, falls and moving as an ensemble. We'll explore touch as a foundation for dancing solo, in duets, trios and in an ensemble. I intend this workshop to be a collaborative learning environment and space for personal research, LOTS of PLAY, writing, discussion and feeling the beauty of an emerging dance.

Investment: Sliding scale $175–$275

We offer a sliding scale to support accessibility and honor the depth of Carmen’s teaching and the energy required to host this weekend. If you are able, we encourage you to pay at the higher end to help support others who need to pay less. Your contribution sustains this work and makes it more inclusive for all.

Optional Meals:

Organic and delicious lunches will be available each day for an additional fee. Details will be provided after registration.

Lodging & Camping:

Camping is available onsite, and there are nearby lodging options in Leavenworth. Please contact Klarity directly to discuss what’s possible for your stay: MedicinenMotion@gmail.com

We can’t wait to have you out to Clear Heart!

It’s a beautiful sanctuary tucked away under the trees and only 1 mile from town. . Please note: we are close to a road and fully outdoors—you may hear cars or trains passing by. It’s part of the practice of being present with what is. For campers, we recommend bringing earplugs for a more restful sleep.