Mettler Studios'
Dance Improvisation and Teacher Training Workshop
August 6-10, 2012

The Walker Center
144 Hancock Street
Auburndale Village

Newton, Massachusetts

(Boston Area)

Taught by Mary Ann Brehm and Nancy Lob

Tuition $300
financial aid is available
including housing subsidy

information and registration:
mabdance@aol.com

814-670-9214

Mettler Studios' Summer Dance Workshop provides a full-immersion experience for individual and group dance improvisation and strategies for teaching this material for all ages and abilities.  The work is based upon principles of dance developed by Barbara Mettler.

WORKSHOP STRUCTURE

Daily sessions M-F, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm with a two hour lunch break

Follow-up mentoring program by phone and email

Required text: Materials of Dance as a Creative Art Activity by Barbara Mettler (available for purchase at the workshop) 
Recommended text: Creative Dance for Learning by Mary Ann Brehm (available online)

HOUSING

Housing with breakfast is available at the Walker Center in the same building as the dance space.  The Walker Center is a beautiful historic retreat center.  For detailed information on housing, including prices click on  www.walkerctr.org  Please also contact us as we are helping coordinate roommates.

• Housing subsidies are available for participants who plan to use the workshop material in their work. Contact Mary Ann at mabdance@aol.com or 814=670-9214 for the requirements for this subsidy. 

DIRECTIONS to the Walker Center, via auto, air, bus, rapid transit (the T) click here

PURPOSE

• To cultivate the natural creative movement resources of individuals and groups
• To study and practice movement ans a medium of creative expression
• To explore the use of the body as instrument and movement as the material of dance
• To provide teachers with the necessary tools for teaching creative dance

WORKSHOP MATERIALS

• Individual and group improvisation studies in the materials of dance, including themes such as:
• the kinesthetic sense as a guide for discovering movement forms
• force, time and space and their connections to drama, music, and visual arts
• organic form, where movements and themes evolve naturally one from another
• the unity of sound and movement
• dance with the environment
• building skills for group dance improvisation
• Directed exercises
• Discussion of principles of dance and how they apply to teaching
• Materials and methods of teaching creative dance and improvisation on all levels
• Adaptation of materials to specific teaching endeavors according to the interests of the workshop participants


WORKSHOP LEADERS





Nancy Lob and Mary Ann Brehm are veteran teachers of Mettler-based dance, working with people of all ages and abilities.  Both have been members of a Mettler Dance Company. Mary Ann was Mettler’s dance assistant 1990-94 and taught classes for adults at the Tucson Creative Dance Center for 20 years. She has taught for Lesley University's Creative Arts and Learning Master’s Program and is the co-author of Creative Dance for Learning.  She has a PhD in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Nancy is a leader of the ongoing dance group “Still Dancing” in Newton/  She has specialized in teaching older adults and people with physical disabilities for 30 years.  She received a Lifetime Achievement from the International Association for Creative Dance in 2011.

For information on Barbara Mettler: www.iwhome.com/mettler

For information on Mettler--based dance and the International Association for Creative Dance founded by Barbara Mettler's students:   www.dancecreative.org



'


This workshop is supported by a gift from the Barbara Mettler Trust and Mettler Studios, Inc.