What is Task-based Improvisation Practice?

Improvised task brings variability into movement training - we are mining all of the possibilities within a structured movement-task proposal. We can, for example, structure the task based on physical/anatomical limits ("only use the shoulders, move without momentum"), on factors outside of ourselves ("rebound on this musical beat", "stay within this square of space") or with imagination/dramaturgical choices ("tunnel through the air like it is sand", "move as if you don't want to be seen").

We check-in with all of the possibilities of the proposal, creating variance in myriad ways - through size of motion, speed, tension/tonality, direction/angle, rhythm/musicality, not repeating or rewinding.. All the while, we are keeping the original parameters in mind. The parameters are important to keep as they act like a whetstone for our awareness, tuning and expanding our ability to communicate inwards, to ourselves. Our ability to clarify our inwardly-directed communication will aid in our ability to do the same outwardly-directed (inter-relationally, in as broad a definition as possible). Can we clean the channels of communication in both directions? Can this offer us better strategies for thriving? 

Concretely, each class will focus on different ways in which we can gather information about ourselves via improvised movement tasks. I will propose tasks that elicit movement in many ways and qualities, that investigate relationships to space and gravity, and offer ways to perceive our methods of internal communication and our responses to the external pressures of task-based work.   

The classes will work with the principles of the Fighting Monkey Practice. These classes will be physical but can be modified and are open to curious movers of all disciplines. www.fightingmonkey.net