THE Underscore - dANCE IMPROV
A 4-HOUR DANCE IMPROVISATION PRACTICE ON SUMMER SOLSTICE
Date: June 21 2025
Time: 11:00AM-3:00PM
Location: Ning’s Yard, Mui Wo, Hong Kong
Cost: Sliding Scale $150-$450/person (with tea, snacks, and fruits provided)
Facilitators: Liane Mah (HK), Laura Sarah Dowdall (IE)
This practice was created by dance innovator Nancy Stark Smith. Nancy danced in the first performances of Contact Improvisation in 1972 with Steve Paxton and others, and was central to CI’s development as dancer, teacher, performer, organiser and writer/publisher of Contact Quarterly- an international journal about dance and improvisation. Read more about Nancy’s wonderful legacy here.
The Underscore provides a framework for practicing group improvisation, integrating Contact Improvisation into the broader arena of improvisational practice.
The Underscore guides dancers through a progression of 20+ phases, with a name and graphic symbol (known as glyphs) for each. This creates a general map for the dancers, within which they are free to create their own movements, dynamics, and relationships—with themselves, each other, the group, the music, and the environment.
This 4-hour sequential score offers space for moving, pausing, resting, observing, partnering, solo-ing, transitioning, changing, drawing, writing, reflecting and harvesting.
We will be hosting a non-synchronous modified score, adjusting to the time of summer solstice (10:42AM HKT) and the space. The score will last for 2.5 hours, followed by 30 minutes to unwind and share food together.
PREREQUISITES:
We will conduct a run-through of the Underscore from 11:00am-12:00pm, please arrive promptly.
You must be able to partake in the full event, no late entries. This is an in-depth process that requires the commitment of the full group.
For people with improvisation or movement experience.
Everyone is fully responsible for their own safety and health, as well as the care of the group.
NOTE:
You are always encouraged to listen to your needs and to take rest / observe at any point during the 2.5-hour score with the caveat that you remain “in it” – aware of your role as part of the whole and the impact of your viewership.
There is no conversation or chit-chat through out the score, we take this time to communicate solely through our expression/dance, if that takes the form of sound / song / word at some point that is welcome. Everything is part of the performance. Staying aware of our choice-making throughout is part of the practice.
BRING:
Please bring instrument, and any art supplies to support the improvisation process.
Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in.
Bring your own reflection journal.
Bring food/snacks to share for after the event.
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About the Facilitators:
Liane Mah is a movement artist and facilitator whose work is based on ecological art practices which explores the rich intersection between embodied practice, environmental philosophy, and ecological thinking. Her work is informed by practices rooted in deep listening and affective relating, and seeks to attend to relational work in communities through empowering collective embodied responses. As a creative explorer straddling between cultures and places, she is inspired to engage in emergent processes and spaces that explores decolonial approaches to ecology, land, knowledge sharing and solidarity. She has facilitated groups in movement practice and collective processing across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. She is one of the facilitators of Conscious Dance HK Collective, an expressive arts community that practices mindful and inclusive improvised movement expression every week. (Website: https://faithkeeperofthemonkeyclan.wordpress.com/)
Laura Sarah Dowdall is a dance artist creating experiential, immersive experiences that awaken connection with the body as an integral aspect of the natural world. Her practice and choreography focus on researching the body in its expanded, transformative, political and imaginative states, breaking boundaries of hierarchy and expectation, and offering experiences of heightened personal and social awareness. Moreover, Laura is a passionate advocate for inclusive dance – she works with people who are deafblind and blind – with a focus on how sensory input, touch weight and contact awaken our body, our dance and a more fulfilled way of living in connection with our body, our environment and each other. (Websites: https://laurasarahdowdall.wixsite.com/dancer/, http://runningblind.ie/, https://healingyoga.ie IG: @laurasarahdowdall, @healingyogasoma)
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Notes:
– Limited quota is available, spots are on first-paid, first-served basis.
– Kids are welcome as long as they can be respectful of the collective space for the duration of the journey.
– The run-through will be conducted in English, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese translations are available if needed.
– The venue location and directions will be shared after registration confirmation.
– In attending you acknowledge that you are fully responsible for your own health and safety and should only participate if you are in good health and a competent swimmer.
– Please feel free to reach out if cost is a concern for participating.
– Should the event be cancelled due to weather circumstances, full cost of program will be refunded.
Contact Liane (HK) on 97682761 for inquiries
Testimonials
“I am so blessed to have been able to take part in such beauty and the FUN oh my God! Who knew ‘doing the work ‘ could be fun! You opened my eyes. The retreat weekend flowed. Laura’s skill including the needs of everyone was amazing and whatever we needed she provided. Everyone needs to do this retreat, it is a coming back to Self. This was a profoundly positive experience.” – Sandra
participant feedback:
“I have learned to be in my heart and come out of my head. I feel connected, earthed. This was more than I expected. A very powerful experience benefitting soul and body.” (Adrianna)
“Incredible, Mind-Blowing, Freeing, Beautiful, Full of Love. Laura is incredibly gifted and very inspiring. This was pure joy! For anyone wanting to feel free!”
“I feel strength and so much love and gratitude for this rediscovery and this special weekend. It feels like something was re-opened. My body feels free, alive, connected, rested, earthed, creative, wondrous and delightful!” (Niamh)
