the Living Arts Collective (LAC) is designed to foster artistic expression while creating a hub for the exchanging of resources, practices and ideas to develop socially progressive strategies for conscious living and cultural preservation through creative movement
we host classes, workshops, socials and performances while providing space for people to create, rehearse, teach and share ideas
To be a part of The Living Arts Collective event schedule
Saturday, April 20th, 9p – 1a Surprise! This month's Westie Party is a dance only, no workshops. So come out and cut a rug with us! 9:00PM - 1:00AM SOCIAL DANCING the night away! TICKETS/PRICING: ** Ticket link to be updated soon for April! ** - SOCIAL DANCE ONLY: $15 (+$2.50 processing fee for credit [...]
Saturday, April 27th, 12 – 4p Making a Native American Flute with Sacred Earth Sounds - One of a kind opportunity to learn an easy and simple approach to making a Native American Flute. - Participants will learn the knowledge (theory) of the aspects and functions of the Native American Flute. - All participants will [...]
Saturday, April 20th, 1 – 4p Africa Unplugged and Living Arts Collective present AfroCuban Music and Dance Workshops with Bradley Simmons andVladimir Espinosa. These classes are for all levels. Drumming will be from 1:00- 2:15 and dance from 2:30-3:45. Classes with be held at Living Arts Collective on 410 W. Geer St. in Durham NC. [...]
Saturday, April 27th, May 25th, June 29th 10 – 11:30a DURHAM FARMER'S MARKET Monthly community dance wave is a FREE event hosted by the Living Arts Collective (and friends) at the Durham Central Park in collaboration with the Durham Farmers' Market and the Durham Ecstatic Dance (LAC) community on last Saturdays. This conscious dance experience [...]
Saturday, April 20th, 9p – 1a Surprise! This month's Westie Party is a dance only, no workshops. So come out and cut a rug with us! 9:00PM - 1:00AM SOCIAL DANCING the night away! TICKETS/PRICING: ** Ticket link to be updated soon for April! ** - SOCIAL DANCE ONLY: $15 (+$2.50 processing fee for credit [...]
Saturday, April 27th, 12 – 4p Making a Native American Flute with Sacred Earth Sounds - One of a kind opportunity to learn an easy and simple approach to making a Native American Flute. - Participants will learn the knowledge (theory) of the aspects and functions of the Native American Flute. - All participants will [...]
Saturday, April 20th, 1 – 4p Africa Unplugged and Living Arts Collective present AfroCuban Music and Dance Workshops with Bradley Simmons andVladimir Espinosa. These classes are for all levels. Drumming will be from 1:00- 2:15 and dance from 2:30-3:45. Classes with be held at Living Arts Collective on 410 W. Geer St. in Durham NC. [...]
Saturday, April 27th, May 25th, June 29th 10 – 11:30a DURHAM FARMER'S MARKET Monthly community dance wave is a FREE event hosted by the Living Arts Collective (and friends) at the Durham Central Park in collaboration with the Durham Farmers' Market and the Durham Ecstatic Dance (LAC) community on last Saturdays. This conscious dance experience [...]
Classes, Workshops, Dance Socials, Live Music, Dance and Theater shows and performances, Community Gatherings and more!
Calendar
April2019
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
BollyX with Lara
BollyX with Lara
April 1, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness program that combines exhilarating choreography and calorie-burning workouts with upbeat music from around the world.
Come dressed to sweat and ready to dance! All levels welcome.
April 2, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Join me for a meditation practice to awaken your inner landscape, connect with your body & transform the way you experience being. This meditation isn't about sitting like a statue or struggling to arrest your thoughts. You will move into a peace filled release of stagnant emotions, while increasing awareness of energy circulating throughout your being. Come, open to explore. There's no judgement. All are welcome.
Hosted by Abstract Emergence & Living Arts Collective
April 2, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Living Arts Collective
We will build a practice of Contact Improvisation over the course of a semester. Christopher, Aubrey and Megan will rotate in as lead teachers. Each month builds to take us from beginner to life-long student, honing our skills of embodiment, listening, and presence.
Contact Improvisation is a movement practice focused on:
- sharing weight
- maintaining attention
- improving physicality
- developing community
Each Month will include a structured class from 6-7 and a practitioner's lab (details below) from 7-8, with the last Tuesday of every month scheduled as an open jam. Open jams invite in the larger community to dance and play, allowing us to grow in new ways!
Register:
PM Christopher via Facebook and/or
Venmo @Christopher-Grohs a class deposit ($65 for January – 4 classes, 4 labs, and 1 jam!)
Limit: 20 Students
Cost:
Full Experience from 6-8pm:
Pay for each month in advance for a discount and the jam is included! (Class, lab and jam!)
4 or 5 Tuesdays - $50 / $65
Lab only (7-8): $15 for the month, or $5-10 drop-in
No one turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you need a sliding scale rate.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm starting Jan 8th
Structured Class from 6-7: Class will explore technical skills of CI dance. Detailed themes below.
**Beginner's required to take the 6-7 class prior to the lab for 2 months before…
April 3, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Back by popular demand, our Weekly Community Shaga Class kicks off Wednesday, February 20th, at Living Arts Collective!
Shaga is inspired by the movement language of Gaga, developed by Ohad Naharin. Durham-based Shaleigh Comerford, who trained with Ohad, has created an accessible, empowering and fun practice for anyone interested in liberating their body & their mind.
In this community class we will learn to approach movement as a dynamic, healing, and ever-changing power, using evocative ideas and imagery in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Class begins slowly and builds in intensity to continuous motion, providing enjoyable exercise for both body and soul. Shaga allows us to actively explore our habits, expand our range and discover the endless possibilities of healing ways of moving in a welcoming, accepting atmosphere.
This community class is open to ALL and is designed for individuals who wish to open themselves to movement in new ways. Dancers, yogis, and movers of all kinds and abilities are invited to participate. No prior experience necessary.
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to move barefoot or in socks.
Price: Suggested Donation $15-20 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
About ShaLeigh:
ShaLeigh Comerford is an Irish & Native American dancer, choreographer and artistic director of ShaLeigh Dance Works in Durham, NC. ShaLeigh was personally invited to train in the Gaga movement language with Ohad Naharin and the Batsheva Dance Company…
April 3, 2019 at 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Come zouk with us! Every Wednesday, you can come to the Living Arts Collective in downtown Durham to dance Brazilian zouk. This is a great opportunity for you to meet new people, get some exercise, and work your brain and body in new ways!
Most weeks we have either a class or a practica at 7:30pm where you can work on learning the dance. Check the Triangle Zouk Facebook page for details on this week's event. Some weeks the class or practica is designed for zouk dancers at an intermediate level, but all are always welcome to come for the social at 8:30. Our community is friendly and someone will be happy to show you the basic step!
Please note that we meet in the downstairs studio of the Living Arts Collective. When you arrive, go to the left side of the building down the ramp and enter through the glass doors. Turn right down the hallway and follow the beats!
****
Who are we?
Triangle Zouk is your local team of organizers dedicated to building a community around our shared passion, Brazilian zouk. We emphasize creating a safe space for all at our events. Come talk to an organizer if you have any questions, and see our safe…
Acro & Handstand Conditioning at Living Arts Collective
April 4, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Join us for a fun pre-jam class on partner conditioning and handstand training! Katie Veleta, certified AcroYoga instructor, and Aimee Kresica, certified Lift Acrobatics instructor, will offer partner and group exercises and drills which increase strength, alignment, grip, balance, and dynamic movements fundamental to the practice of acro.
No experience needed for this all levels class! Partnerships will be honored but no partner is required. Cost is $15 cash at the door. Stay for the jam for free if you come to the class!
UPDATE: Please bring socks or a towel/rag for some of the drills we will do tonight in class! Thanks 🙂
April 4, 2019 at 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Come play with us this Thursday in Durham! Acro jams are non-structured events where we share skills and learn from one another. Cost is $7-15 sliding fee at the door!
April 5, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Whether this is your first dance or your 32133rd, this is a welcoming way to enter into the Ecstatic Dance experience.
Explore the framework of improvisational possibilities within this creative arts container. Gain communication & interaction skills while navigating a "wordfree" space. Bring to light our individual and group dynamics by practicing spacial awareness, diving into energetic pathways and engaging in respectful interplay.
Facilitated by Aubrey Griffith-Zill & Friends
OUSIA (ooh-see-ah)ou·sia: noun: true being: essence within
Cost: $7 - $20* (no one turned away for lack of funds)
*FREE entry into the Living Arts Ecstatic Dance that follows if you join in this class*
*We at the Living Arts Collective, embrace all forms of diversity, including gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and we work to understand and dismantle all kinds of oppression present within our community.
April 5, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Durham Ballroom, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
April 5, 2019 at 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
The Living Room is a monthly - First Friday - open stage for performing and sharing un-amplified music and spoken word at the Living Arts Collective. (Located down the ramp next to Cocoa Cinnamon) Come at 9pm at the close of the Friday night dance wave to put your name in the hat if you have something to offer. Show starts at 9:30pm and ends around 11pm. Music, spoken word, slam, rap, and other creative endeavors are all welcome. This is a chance to share something meaningful with an intimate and attentive audience who will applaud you no matter what. A great place to try out new material, or to cover oldies. Bring a warm or hurting heart, have a seat or pillow, and settle into your Living Room evening. $3-5 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds) See Facebook event here.
April 6, 2019 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
NVC can be seen as a technique, a tool, a process, a language, or a set of principles. Most powerfully it is a consciousness which inspires compassion and mutuality and helps us to connect in a way that makes natural giving possible. NVC provides practical, concrete skills for daily living and interactions, helping us live more in alignment with our most deeply held values while increasing our effectiveness in dealing with daily challenges. If you want more authenticity in your communication and relationships, and more consciousness of the abundance of choices we have in each moment, please join us as we learn and begin to practice the process.
This is a 2 hour demo session. Previous experience in NVC is preferred. We will have a short review of the NVC process, but the main focus will be a demonstration of using NVC with a volunteer (or volunteers) from the participants. We might do role plays for improved communication or healing (these processes are connected), learning the four ways to listen, or practicing the art of deep listening. The exact topics we cover depends on who shows up, what seems like it will be most effective for all, and the amount of time we have to practice.
We are requesting a $25 donation. No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out if financial assistance is needed. Neal and LAC want to make this as accessible and affordable for the community as possible.
Come join us at the Living Arts Collective for the 1st Saturday salsa Social. It's a beautiful space and great atmosphere to dance, smile, and share an evening with friends!
April 6, 2019 at 8:00 pm - 12:00 am Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
**EVERY FIRST SATURDAY**
When: First Saturday of each month!
$7-15 sliding scale
Feb 2nd//
8pm Lesson: Ben Thomas
DJs: Dave Warner, Robert Pehlman, Amanda Marron
Where: In the LAC Movement Studio (downstairs). This studio has a yummy sprung cork floor, powerful sound system, good vibes and new lighting!
Enter: *down the ramp next to Cocoa Cinnamon
Post below if you wanna work a door slot in trade please email:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Fusion?
Fusion is an improvised lead-follow approach to dancing to any style of music that does not have a strictly defined dance aesthetic. Just as music adopts, adapts to, and blends with various influences and styles, fusion accomplishes the same in the form of dance. It is a triad of connection between your movement, your partner’s movement, and the music. Depending on the music and the dancers, fusion can mean creating a new dance style to unique music, or combining two or more established dance aesthetics into a single dance to reflect the sound of a song combining multiple influences.
Many fusion dancers are versed in the fundamentals of various dances, be it blues, tango, west coast swing, Lindy Hop, waltz, or hip hop. By finding the commonalities between various dance styles, or creating new movements, dancers can actively adapt and improvise their dance style to music of all influences.
April 6, 2019 at 9:00 pm - April 7, 2019 at 11:45 pm
Get Ready for Fusion! It's Time!
**EVERY FIRST SATURDAY**
When: First Saturday of each month!
OCT 6th//
Dance 9:00p - 11:30p
First set DJ Candace Bae
2nd set DJ TBA
NOV 3rd//
8pm Lesson w/ Aubrey Griffith-Zill - Rhythm and Connect
DJs: Aaron Hawkins, Dave Warner (yum!)
DEC 1st//
DJs: (tbd) …… ? maybe you?
What would you like to contribute?
Save these Dates on your calendar!
Where: In the LAC downstairs Movement Studio. This studio has a yummy sprung cork floor, powerful sound system, good vibes and new lighting!
Enter: *down the ramp next to Cocoa Cinnamon
Post below if you wanna work a door slot in trade to entry:
Door slots –
8:45-9:30 : Available!
9:30-10:15 : Available
10:15-11:00 : Available!
Fusion Crew holding it down and creating safe space for ALL:
Aaron Hawkins
ErinRenee Murphy
JJ Hurst
Alan S Best
Shantel Richardson
Alix Arcuni Wicker
Gareth Dicker
Lydie Vanessa
Aubrey Griffith-Zill
Alegra-Ray Dilone
Dave Warner
and more....!
What if Fusion?
Fusion is an improvised lead-follow approach to dancing to any style of music that does not have a strictly defined dance aesthetic. Just as music adopts, adapts to, and blends with various influences and styles, fusion accomplishes the same in the form of dance. It is a…
April 7, 2019 at 11:11 am - 1:33 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
Capoeira Angola (martial arts + dance) Beginner Classes at LAC *downstairs studio*
April 7, 2019 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Living Arts Collective
Capoeira angola is an Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, music, and ritual. The game of capoeira is a dialogue of movements and energies - sometimes cooperative, sometimes competitive, and always unique!
All are welcome to join our capoeira class (no previous experience necessary). You'll learn capoeira kicks, dodges, and acrobatic movements, practiced both individually and in partners. We'll also practice musical instruments and sing capoeira songs, which are a rich source of cultural and historical insight.
SUNDAYS 2:00-3:30 PM
Living Arts Collective (downstairs studio)
$7 - $15
Please wear comfortable pants, a T-shirt that can be tucked in, and clean shoes.
Capoeira is a great way to challenge yourself and connect with others. Come try it out!
April 7, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Living Arts Collective
The new moon invites us to slow down, ground intentions, and release what we no longer need. This monthly restorative class includes mindful movement, gentle stretches, and quiet reflection inspired by the seasons, stars, and cycles of the moon.
$15-40 sliding scale. No one turned away for lack of funds. Classes led by Rachel Cotterman, yoga teacher and healing arts practitioner from Hillsborough, NC.
April 8, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness program that combines exhilarating choreography and calorie-burning workouts with upbeat music from around the world.
Come dressed to sweat and ready to dance! All levels welcome.
April 9, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Join me for a meditation practice to awaken your inner landscape, connect with your body & transform the way you experience being. This meditation isn't about sitting like a statue or struggling to arrest your thoughts. You will move into a peace filled release of stagnant emotions, while increasing awareness of energy circulating throughout your being. Come, open to explore. There's no judgement. All are welcome.
Hosted by Abstract Emergence & Living Arts Collective
April 9, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Living Arts Collective
We will build a practice of Contact Improvisation over the course of a semester. Christopher, Aubrey and Megan will rotate in as lead teachers. Each month builds to take us from beginner to life-long student, honing our skills of embodiment, listening, and presence.
Contact Improvisation is a movement practice focused on:
- sharing weight
- maintaining attention
- improving physicality
- developing community
Each Month will include a structured class from 6-7 and a practitioner's lab (details below) from 7-8, with the last Tuesday of every month scheduled as an open jam. Open jams invite in the larger community to dance and play, allowing us to grow in new ways!
Register:
PM Christopher via Facebook and/or
Venmo @Christopher-Grohs a class deposit ($65 for January – 4 classes, 4 labs, and 1 jam!)
Limit: 20 Students
Cost:
Full Experience from 6-8pm:
Pay for each month in advance for a discount and the jam is included! (Class, lab and jam!)
4 or 5 Tuesdays - $50 / $65
Lab only (7-8): $15 for the month, or $5-10 drop-in
No one turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you need a sliding scale rate.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm starting Jan 8th
Structured Class from 6-7: Class will explore technical skills of CI dance. Detailed themes below.
**Beginner's required to take the 6-7 class prior to the lab for 2 months before…
Queering Violence: Conversation about IPV and Sexual Violence
April 10, 2019 at 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Living Arts Collective
This interactive event will occur on Wednesday, April 10 from 12pm-3pm at Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701.
This workshop allows for a real, meaningful and deep audience conversation about the ways violence, trauma and neglect impact LGBTQ people. Specifically, the workshop will provide a basic overview of LGBTQ anti-violence 101 and showcase a variety of stories from individual LGBTQ survivors discussing ways violence, trauma and neglect impact their lives. It will also allow our panelists to reflect on the clips, which help serve as "case scenarios", and discuss common themes from the stories.
MORE ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
"Queering Violence: Conversations about IPV, Sexual Violence and Trauma in LGBTQ and HIV+ Communities"
This interactive, award-winning workshop from SocialScope Productions uses multimedia clips from individual lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) and HIV+ survivors and helps attendees broaden their understanding about the complex ways intimate partner violence, sexual violence and trauma affect LGBTQ survivors and communities. This workshop resists sharing LGBTQ and HIV+ survivor stories in narrow, pre-approved ways and understands that individuals each have unique and resilient ways to cope and heal.
This workshop uses anti-oppressive, harm-reduction and trauma-informed facilitation, will allow participants to focus on the invisibility and silencing many LGBTQ and HIV+ survivors face within mainstream anti-violence movements and help participants discuss ways to empower, heal and advocate for LGBTQ survivors in our own communities. Participants will view and reflect on different documentary clips from survivors that…
April 10, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Back by popular demand, our Weekly Community Shaga Class kicks off Wednesday, February 20th, at Living Arts Collective!
Shaga is inspired by the movement language of Gaga, developed by Ohad Naharin. Durham-based Shaleigh Comerford, who trained with Ohad, has created an accessible, empowering and fun practice for anyone interested in liberating their body & their mind.
In this community class we will learn to approach movement as a dynamic, healing, and ever-changing power, using evocative ideas and imagery in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Class begins slowly and builds in intensity to continuous motion, providing enjoyable exercise for both body and soul. Shaga allows us to actively explore our habits, expand our range and discover the endless possibilities of healing ways of moving in a welcoming, accepting atmosphere.
This community class is open to ALL and is designed for individuals who wish to open themselves to movement in new ways. Dancers, yogis, and movers of all kinds and abilities are invited to participate. No prior experience necessary.
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to move barefoot or in socks.
Price: Suggested Donation $15-20 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
About ShaLeigh:
ShaLeigh Comerford is an Irish & Native American dancer, choreographer and artistic director of ShaLeigh Dance Works in Durham, NC. ShaLeigh was personally invited to train in the Gaga movement language with Ohad Naharin and the Batsheva Dance Company…
April 10, 2019 at 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Come zouk with us! Every Wednesday, you can come to the Living Arts Collective in downtown Durham to dance Brazilian zouk. This is a great opportunity for you to meet new people, get some exercise, and work your brain and body in new ways!
Most weeks we have either a class or a practica at 7:30pm where you can work on learning the dance. Check the Triangle Zouk Facebook page for details on this week's event. Some weeks the class or practica is designed for zouk dancers at an intermediate level, but all are always welcome to come for the social at 8:30. Our community is friendly and someone will be happy to show you the basic step!
Please note that we meet in the downstairs studio of the Living Arts Collective. When you arrive, go to the left side of the building down the ramp and enter through the glass doors. Turn right down the hallway and follow the beats!
****
Who are we?
Triangle Zouk is your local team of organizers dedicated to building a community around our shared passion, Brazilian zouk. We emphasize creating a safe space for all at our events. Come talk to an organizer if you have any questions, and see our safe…
April 11, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Living Arts Collective
Spirited! Courageous! Willing to face the unexpected!
To be a Mettlesome Kid is to be willing to express yourself and share your creative spirit.
Our program puts young people in the director’s chair. Over the course of six weeks, the Mettlesome Kids work in small teams to create a series of original (sometimes very original) performances to share with friends and family. Alongside our crackerjack team of mettlesome teaching artists, these weekly workshops transform imagination into reality teaching confidence, collaboration and encouraging creativity along the way.
Know a Mettlesome Kid? Are one? Sign up now to experience the joy of play and the wonder of creating your very own original show!
Capoeira Angola (martial arts + dance) Beginner Classes at LAC *downstairs studio*
April 11, 2019 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Capoeira angola is an Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, music, and ritual. The game of capoeira is a dialogue of movements and energies - sometimes cooperative, sometimes competitive, and always unique!
All are welcome to join our capoeira class (no previous experience necessary). You'll learn capoeira kicks, dodges, and acrobatic movements, practiced both individually and in partners. We'll also practice musical instruments and sing capoeira songs, which are a rich source of cultural and historical insight.
THURSDAYS 5:30 – 7p
Living Arts Collective (downstairs studio)
$7 - $15
Please wear comfortable pants, a T-shirt that can be tucked in, and clean shoes.
Capoeira is a great way to challenge yourself and connect with others. Come try it out!
April 11, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Living Arts Collective
This contemplative, somatic, and soul-oriented monthly class invites participants into an ongoing inner exploration featuring guided individual inquiries, paired processes, and optional opportunities for working directly with the class facilitator. Drawing on meditative traditions, depth psychology, understandings of soul-centric human development, and Focusing—a mindfulness-based, embodied approach to growth and healing—this class supports us in working with inner material in a transformative space, deepening our contact with the core of our being, and walking our most authentic and purposeful path. Each month will feature different guided explorations and processes; feel free to journey with us month-to-month, or drop in for individual classes as you like.
$12–$20 sliding scale.
About the facilitator: Simon Spire brings to his facilitation years of exploration of self-inquiry, non-dual wisdom traditions, and meditative practices; the perspectives of post-conventional human development and soul-centric depth psychology; and his long experience with artistry and the creative process. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Auckland; a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University; is a Certified Trainer of Focusing, a mindfulness-based, somatic approach to psychological healing and development; has completed a yearlong soulcraft immersion and vision quest with Bill Plotkin and Animas Valley Institute; and is currently pursuing doctoral studies. He has been a director with organizations active in social entrepreneurship, leadership development, and mental health, and was led from his New Zealand homeland to the US by his career as a recording artist and songwriter. Further info at…
April 12, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Whether this is your first dance or your 32133rd, this is a welcoming way to enter into the Ecstatic Dance experience.
Explore the framework of improvisational possibilities within this creative arts container. Gain communication & interaction skills while navigating a "wordfree" space. Bring to light our individual and group dynamics by practicing spacial awareness, diving into energetic pathways and engaging in respectful interplay.
Facilitated by Aubrey Griffith-Zill & Friends
OUSIA (ooh-see-ah)ou·sia: noun: true being: essence within
Cost: $7 - $20* (no one turned away for lack of funds)
*FREE entry into the Living Arts Ecstatic Dance that follows if you join in this class*
*We at the Living Arts Collective, embrace all forms of diversity, including gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and we work to understand and dismantle all kinds of oppression present within our community.
April 12, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Durham Ballroom, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
April 13, 2019 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Living Arts Collective
Community Massage Clinic
Connect to a sense of comfort in your body and freedom in your being through our unique combination of massage therapy and guided group rest. We delight in caring for you from the moment you arrive, until you walk out feeling relaxed and connected and ready to re-enter the world.
Our model aims to support all human bodies with clothed massage to promote comfort and safety, wheelchair access, a flexible sliding scale, and a team that practices anti-oppression and anti-racism.
April 14, 2019 at 11:11 am - 1:33 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
April 14, 2019 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Living Arts Collective
2nd Sunday Contact Improvisation Jam
Facilitated by Megan Yankee
Sound Design by John Osburn
Cost: Sliding scale $10-20
Jam Description: Megan and John facilitate an open level contact improvisation jam. In the opening and closing circles, we will introduce ourselves and participants to each other and standard guidelines for the jam. Participants can expect touch, weight baring and improvisation wrapped in quirky, inspiring and experimental sounds and music. Megan and John have been jointly facilitating CI jams since 2010.
CI Description: Contact Improvisation is an improvisational, weigh-baring social dance form founded int he US in the 1970s. It is a training tool practiced by professional dancers, an educational tool for training in partner dances, as well as a therapeutic, creative and strengthening practice for people of all walks of life. What distinguishes CI from other partner dances is its unique combination of improvisation, fluidity of leader/follower roles, the potential for full weight-sharing, all practiced under the watchful eye of a seasoned facilitator.
Megan is an performer, experimental choreographer and award-winning movement educator. Her movement lineage is comprised of an eclectic mix of contemporary dance techniques, gymnastics, colorguard, contact improvisation, as well as somatic and releasing techniques. In her choreographic, educational and administrative work, she prioritizes welcoming people and children of all income, experience and ability levels, ages, heritages, and walks of life into the dance world. Megan’s choreography highlights non-linear spontaneous composition, site-responsivity, performer wellbeing, and direct interaction…
Djembe FUNdamentals - DUNUN for Adults & Mature Youth
April 14, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Living Arts Collective
Welcome to Djembe FUNdamentals
In Africa life moves to the beat. Make rhythm the soundtrack of YOUR life.
This 6 week course will focus on the DUNUN family of drums from West Africa, our specific focus will be on village style playing. Using the music of Mali, West Africa, we will begin to hone the basic techniques to enjoy playing Djembe music comfortably. Come jam!
Walk-ins Welcome all 6 weeks!
April 14th - May 19th
Living Arts Collective 410 W Geer Street Durham, North Carolina
Cost: $84.00 for the course, $19.00 per individual class
Payment can be made in two $42.00 installments, or three $28.00 installments
5:00 pm-6:30 pm
Adults & Mature youth
Drums are available for rent, $10 for the course, $5 per walk-in
please contact me ahead of time to reserve a drum
Family rates available, for more info please contact me
April 15, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness program that combines exhilarating choreography and calorie-burning workouts with upbeat music from around the world.
Come dressed to sweat and ready to dance! All levels welcome.
April 16, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Join me for a meditation practice to awaken your inner landscape, connect with your body & transform the way you experience being. This meditation isn't about sitting like a statue or struggling to arrest your thoughts. You will move into a peace filled release of stagnant emotions, while increasing awareness of energy circulating throughout your being. Come, open to explore. There's no judgement. All are welcome.
Hosted by Abstract Emergence & Living Arts Collective
April 16, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Living Arts Collective
We will build a practice of Contact Improvisation over the course of a semester. Christopher, Aubrey and Megan will rotate in as lead teachers. Each month builds to take us from beginner to life-long student, honing our skills of embodiment, listening, and presence.
Contact Improvisation is a movement practice focused on:
- sharing weight
- maintaining attention
- improving physicality
- developing community
Each Month will include a structured class from 6-7 and a practitioner's lab (details below) from 7-8, with the last Tuesday of every month scheduled as an open jam. Open jams invite in the larger community to dance and play, allowing us to grow in new ways!
Register:
PM Christopher via Facebook and/or
Venmo @Christopher-Grohs a class deposit ($65 for January – 4 classes, 4 labs, and 1 jam!)
Limit: 20 Students
Cost:
Full Experience from 6-8pm:
Pay for each month in advance for a discount and the jam is included! (Class, lab and jam!)
4 or 5 Tuesdays - $50 / $65
Lab only (7-8): $15 for the month, or $5-10 drop-in
No one turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you need a sliding scale rate.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm starting Jan 8th
Structured Class from 6-7: Class will explore technical skills of CI dance. Detailed themes below.
**Beginner's required to take the 6-7 class prior to the lab for 2 months before…
April 17, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Back by popular demand, our Weekly Community Shaga Class kicks off Wednesday, February 20th, at Living Arts Collective!
Shaga is inspired by the movement language of Gaga, developed by Ohad Naharin. Durham-based Shaleigh Comerford, who trained with Ohad, has created an accessible, empowering and fun practice for anyone interested in liberating their body & their mind.
In this community class we will learn to approach movement as a dynamic, healing, and ever-changing power, using evocative ideas and imagery in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Class begins slowly and builds in intensity to continuous motion, providing enjoyable exercise for both body and soul. Shaga allows us to actively explore our habits, expand our range and discover the endless possibilities of healing ways of moving in a welcoming, accepting atmosphere.
This community class is open to ALL and is designed for individuals who wish to open themselves to movement in new ways. Dancers, yogis, and movers of all kinds and abilities are invited to participate. No prior experience necessary.
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to move barefoot or in socks.
Price: Suggested Donation $15-20 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
About ShaLeigh:
ShaLeigh Comerford is an Irish & Native American dancer, choreographer and artistic director of ShaLeigh Dance Works in Durham, NC. ShaLeigh was personally invited to train in the Gaga movement language with Ohad Naharin and the Batsheva Dance Company…
April 17, 2019 at 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Come zouk with us! Every Wednesday, you can come to the Living Arts Collective in downtown Durham to dance Brazilian zouk. This is a great opportunity for you to meet new people, get some exercise, and work your brain and body in new ways!
Most weeks we have either a class or a practica at 7:30pm where you can work on learning the dance. Check the Triangle Zouk Facebook page for details on this week's event. Some weeks the class or practica is designed for zouk dancers at an intermediate level, but all are always welcome to come for the social at 8:30. Our community is friendly and someone will be happy to show you the basic step!
Please note that we meet in the downstairs studio of the Living Arts Collective. When you arrive, go to the left side of the building down the ramp and enter through the glass doors. Turn right down the hallway and follow the beats!
****
Who are we?
Triangle Zouk is your local team of organizers dedicated to building a community around our shared passion, Brazilian zouk. We emphasize creating a safe space for all at our events. Come talk to an organizer if you have any questions, and see our safe…
April 18, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Living Arts Collective
Spirited! Courageous! Willing to face the unexpected!
To be a Mettlesome Kid is to be willing to express yourself and share your creative spirit.
Our program puts young people in the director’s chair. Over the course of six weeks, the Mettlesome Kids work in small teams to create a series of original (sometimes very original) performances to share with friends and family. Alongside our crackerjack team of mettlesome teaching artists, these weekly workshops transform imagination into reality teaching confidence, collaboration and encouraging creativity along the way.
Know a Mettlesome Kid? Are one? Sign up now to experience the joy of play and the wonder of creating your very own original show!
Capoeira Angola (martial arts + dance) Beginner Classes at LAC *downstairs studio*
April 18, 2019 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Capoeira angola is an Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, music, and ritual. The game of capoeira is a dialogue of movements and energies - sometimes cooperative, sometimes competitive, and always unique!
All are welcome to join our capoeira class (no previous experience necessary). You'll learn capoeira kicks, dodges, and acrobatic movements, practiced both individually and in partners. We'll also practice musical instruments and sing capoeira songs, which are a rich source of cultural and historical insight.
THURSDAYS 5:30 – 7p
Living Arts Collective (downstairs studio)
$7 - $15
Please wear comfortable pants, a T-shirt that can be tucked in, and clean shoes.
Capoeira is a great way to challenge yourself and connect with others. Come try it out!
April 18, 2019 at 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Come play with us this Thursday in Durham! Acro jams are non-structured events where we share skills and learn from one another. Cost is $7-15 sliding fee at the door!
April 19, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Whether this is your first dance or your 32133rd, this is a welcoming way to enter into the Ecstatic Dance experience.
Explore the framework of improvisational possibilities within this creative arts container. Gain communication & interaction skills while navigating a "wordfree" space. Bring to light our individual and group dynamics by practicing spacial awareness, diving into energetic pathways and engaging in respectful interplay.
Facilitated by Aubrey Griffith-Zill & Friends
OUSIA (ooh-see-ah)ou·sia: noun: true being: essence within
Cost: $7 - $20* (no one turned away for lack of funds)
*FREE entry into the Living Arts Ecstatic Dance that follows if you join in this class*
*We at the Living Arts Collective, embrace all forms of diversity, including gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and we work to understand and dismantle all kinds of oppression present within our community.
April 19, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Durham Ballroom, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
Rumba workshop with Bradley Simmons and Vladimir Espinosa
April 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Living Arts Collective
Africa Unplugged and Living Arts Collective present AfroCuban Music and Dance Workshops with Bradley Simmons and Vladimir Espinosa. These classes are for all levels.
Drumming will be from 1:00- 2:15 and dance from 2:30-3:45.
Classes with be held at Living Arts Collective on 410 W. Geer St. in Durham NC. For more info contact
April 20, 2019 at 9:00 pm - April 21, 2019 at 1:00 am Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Surprise! This month's Westie Party is a dance only, no workshops. So come out and cut a rug with us!
9:00PM - 1:00AM SOCIAL DANCING the night away!
TICKETS/PRICING:
** Ticket link to be updated soon for April! **
- SOCIAL DANCE ONLY: $15 (+$2.50 processing fee for credit card purchases)
- STUDENT PRICING:
Students who show valid student ID are charged the following rates:
* $12 for SOCIAL DANCE ONLY (+$2.50 processing fee for credit card purchases)
April 21, 2019 at 11:11 am - 1:33 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
Djembe FUNdamentals - DUNUN for Adults & Mature Youth
April 21, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Living Arts Collective
Welcome to Djembe FUNdamentals
In Africa life moves to the beat. Make rhythm the soundtrack of YOUR life.
This 6 week course will focus on the DUNUN family of drums from West Africa, our specific focus will be on village style playing. Using the music of Mali, West Africa, we will begin to hone the basic techniques to enjoy playing Djembe music comfortably. Come jam!
Walk-ins Welcome all 6 weeks!
April 14th - May 19th
Living Arts Collective 410 W Geer Street Durham, North Carolina
Cost: $84.00 for the course, $19.00 per individual class
Payment can be made in two $42.00 installments, or three $28.00 installments
5:00 pm-6:30 pm
Adults & Mature youth
Drums are available for rent, $10 for the course, $5 per walk-in
please contact me ahead of time to reserve a drum
Family rates available, for more info please contact me
Djembe FUNdamentals - Intermediate Level for Adults & Mature Youth
April 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Living Arts Collective
Welcome! This class is for drummers with previous Djembe training who seek a higher level of instruction.
If you are advanced beyond the beginner material and seek more challenging tempos, accompaniments, & phrases
if you have studied, but life has often pulled you from the drummer's path
if you are eager to dust off the cobwebs and polish off your Djembe chops, then this course is for you!
This 5 week course will be instructed by Teli Shabu with guest instruction from Atiba Rorie.
Walk-ins of all intermediate levels are welcome anytime throughout the course.
April 21st - May 19th
Living Arts Collective 410 W Geer Street Durham, North Carolina
Cost: $70.00 for the course, $20.00 per individual class
Payment can be made in two $35.00 installments
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Adults & Mature youth
Drums are available for rent, $10 for the course, $5 per walk-in
please contact me ahead of time to reserve a drum
Family rates available, for more info please contact me
April 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Queer Ecstatic Dance at Living Arts Collective
Sunday April 21, 7-8:30 pm
Living Arts Collective presents a new space for LGBTQIA+ MOVEment!
Queer Ecstatic Dance creates a space to put your body in motion, in whatever way feels best. We focus on letting go of how dance "should look" to access creative expression, inner awareness, playfulness, solo movement and consensual connection. (Think: dancing around in your bedroom + a great DJ + friends!) ANY dance level/experience/ability welcome.
Because not all bodies and identities move through the world equally, this space is reserved for LGBTQIA+ folks. People of all sexual orientations and gender expressions are welcome at the weekly Ecstatic Dances at LAC on Fridays (7:15pm) and Sundays (11:11am).
April 22, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness program that combines exhilarating choreography and calorie-burning workouts with upbeat music from around the world.
Come dressed to sweat and ready to dance! All levels welcome.
April 23, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Join me for a meditation practice to awaken your inner landscape, connect with your body & transform the way you experience being. This meditation isn't about sitting like a statue or struggling to arrest your thoughts. You will move into a peace filled release of stagnant emotions, while increasing awareness of energy circulating throughout your being. Come, open to explore. There's no judgement. All are welcome.
Hosted by Abstract Emergence & Living Arts Collective
April 23, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Living Arts Collective
We will build a practice of Contact Improvisation over the course of a semester. Christopher, Aubrey and Megan will rotate in as lead teachers. Each month builds to take us from beginner to life-long student, honing our skills of embodiment, listening, and presence.
Contact Improvisation is a movement practice focused on:
- sharing weight
- maintaining attention
- improving physicality
- developing community
Each Month will include a structured class from 6-7 and a practitioner's lab (details below) from 7-8, with the last Tuesday of every month scheduled as an open jam. Open jams invite in the larger community to dance and play, allowing us to grow in new ways!
Register:
PM Christopher via Facebook and/or
Venmo @Christopher-Grohs a class deposit ($65 for January – 4 classes, 4 labs, and 1 jam!)
Limit: 20 Students
Cost:
Full Experience from 6-8pm:
Pay for each month in advance for a discount and the jam is included! (Class, lab and jam!)
4 or 5 Tuesdays - $50 / $65
Lab only (7-8): $15 for the month, or $5-10 drop-in
No one turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you need a sliding scale rate.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm starting Jan 8th
Structured Class from 6-7: Class will explore technical skills of CI dance. Detailed themes below.
**Beginner's required to take the 6-7 class prior to the lab for 2 months before…
April 24, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Back by popular demand, our Weekly Community Shaga Class kicks off Wednesday, February 20th, at Living Arts Collective!
Shaga is inspired by the movement language of Gaga, developed by Ohad Naharin. Durham-based Shaleigh Comerford, who trained with Ohad, has created an accessible, empowering and fun practice for anyone interested in liberating their body & their mind.
In this community class we will learn to approach movement as a dynamic, healing, and ever-changing power, using evocative ideas and imagery in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Class begins slowly and builds in intensity to continuous motion, providing enjoyable exercise for both body and soul. Shaga allows us to actively explore our habits, expand our range and discover the endless possibilities of healing ways of moving in a welcoming, accepting atmosphere.
This community class is open to ALL and is designed for individuals who wish to open themselves to movement in new ways. Dancers, yogis, and movers of all kinds and abilities are invited to participate. No prior experience necessary.
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to move barefoot or in socks.
Price: Suggested Donation $15-20 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
About ShaLeigh:
ShaLeigh Comerford is an Irish & Native American dancer, choreographer and artistic director of ShaLeigh Dance Works in Durham, NC. ShaLeigh was personally invited to train in the Gaga movement language with Ohad Naharin and the Batsheva Dance Company…
April 24, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Living Arts Collective
We are so hyped after the Gui Prada weekender! So much trust was built between workshop participants, and we all got a clearer and fuller perspective of zouk and the central role close embrace play in this dance. So let's build on what we've learned and keep developing as dancers and as a community.
This practica would be a great chance to practice anything learnt in the workshop. We will also bring some videos of Gui that we could watch together and try to learn some new moves (we'll post some of the videos here once our organizers have time to relax from the hype of this weekend). The play list for the peactica would be extra smooth and slow, to encourage those delicious close embrace moves. 😉
Entrance is free for weekender participants!
Our practicas are open to intermediate-level dancers who know the fundamental moves and dance patterns of zouk and are ready to experiment in learning new moves and perfecting their techniques. In this space, we'll experiment with moves we are not yet confident to try on the social dance, moves we've seen on YouTube videos or learned on a weekender and want to ingrain into our dance routine. We ask that dancers consider committing to coming to the practicas as much as possible, so we can create a community that grows and learns together.
The practicas will happen every week when we don't have class. They cost $10, and include…
April 24, 2019 at 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Come zouk with us! Every Wednesday, you can come to the Living Arts Collective in downtown Durham to dance Brazilian zouk. This is a great opportunity for you to meet new people, get some exercise, and work your brain and body in new ways!
Most weeks we have either a class or a practica at 7:30pm where you can work on learning the dance. Check the Triangle Zouk Facebook page for details on this week's event. Some weeks the class or practica is designed for zouk dancers at an intermediate level, but all are always welcome to come for the social at 8:30. Our community is friendly and someone will be happy to show you the basic step!
Please note that we meet in the downstairs studio of the Living Arts Collective. When you arrive, go to the left side of the building down the ramp and enter through the glass doors. Turn right down the hallway and follow the beats!
****
Who are we?
Triangle Zouk is your local team of organizers dedicated to building a community around our shared passion, Brazilian zouk. We emphasize creating a safe space for all at our events. Come talk to an organizer if you have any questions, and see our safe…
April 25, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Living Arts Collective
Spirited! Courageous! Willing to face the unexpected!
To be a Mettlesome Kid is to be willing to express yourself and share your creative spirit.
Our program puts young people in the director’s chair. Over the course of six weeks, the Mettlesome Kids work in small teams to create a series of original (sometimes very original) performances to share with friends and family. Alongside our crackerjack team of mettlesome teaching artists, these weekly workshops transform imagination into reality teaching confidence, collaboration and encouraging creativity along the way.
Know a Mettlesome Kid? Are one? Sign up now to experience the joy of play and the wonder of creating your very own original show!
Capoeira Angola (martial arts + dance) Beginner Classes at LAC *downstairs studio*
April 25, 2019 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Capoeira angola is an Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, music, and ritual. The game of capoeira is a dialogue of movements and energies - sometimes cooperative, sometimes competitive, and always unique!
All are welcome to join our capoeira class (no previous experience necessary). You'll learn capoeira kicks, dodges, and acrobatic movements, practiced both individually and in partners. We'll also practice musical instruments and sing capoeira songs, which are a rich source of cultural and historical insight.
THURSDAYS 5:30 – 7p
Living Arts Collective (downstairs studio)
$7 - $15
Please wear comfortable pants, a T-shirt that can be tucked in, and clean shoes.
Capoeira is a great way to challenge yourself and connect with others. Come try it out!
April 25, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Living Arts Collective
~An interactive, inward journey of music and movement; combining deep listening, healing touch and collaborative sound
There is indeed a Music of the Heart;
a subtle, ever changing tapestry of feelings and emotions flowing through our inner world, that is often drowned out by the hubbub of everyday life. During this workshop, we will explore practices that can help tune our ears to this more subtle music within. Guided by the feelings and sensations that arise as we listen, sing, move, stretch and receive massage, we will discover how music and movement can help lead us into a deeper connection with ourselves, and the world around us.
At the opening and closing of the class (first and last 20-30 minutes), Daniel will guide us through simple vocal exercises exploring the relationship of sound and emotion in the body. Katie will then lead the group into a grounded, gentle, deep, yummy, and stretchy yoga class, while Daniel’s flute and voice provide a musical landscape to support the journey. This portion of the class will focus on intuitive movement and deeply listening to the body, with the opportunity to receive massage while in your postures. We may also incorporate a few partner poses to assist each other in stretching a little deeper and letting go a little more. Modifications will be offered throughout, and the freedom to move in a way that feels good to you is always encouraged. In these classes, everything is optional, and…
April 26, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Whether this is your first dance or your 32133rd, this is a welcoming way to enter into the Ecstatic Dance experience.
Explore the framework of improvisational possibilities within this creative arts container. Gain communication & interaction skills while navigating a "wordfree" space. Bring to light our individual and group dynamics by practicing spacial awareness, diving into energetic pathways and engaging in respectful interplay.
Facilitated by Aubrey Griffith-Zill & Friends
OUSIA (ooh-see-ah)ou·sia: noun: true being: essence within
Cost: $7 - $20* (no one turned away for lack of funds)
*FREE entry into the Living Arts Ecstatic Dance that follows if you join in this class*
*We at the Living Arts Collective, embrace all forms of diversity, including gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and we work to understand and dismantle all kinds of oppression present within our community.
April 26, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Durham Ballroom, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
April 27, 2019 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am Durham Central Park
Monthly community dance wave is a FREE event hosted by the Living Arts Collective (and friends) at the Durham Central Park in collaboration with the Durham Farmers' Market and the Durham Ecstatic Dance (LAC) community on last Saturdays.
This conscious dance experience creates a space to put your body in motion, in whatever way feels best. This is a kids of all ages event. We focus on letting go of how dance “should look” to access creative expression, inner awareness, playfulness, solo movement and mutual connection. (Think: dancing around in your bedroom + a great DJ + friends!)
ANY dance level/style/age/experience/ability welcome.
April 27, 2019 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Feldenkrais classes emphasize learning to develop more refined movement patterns, designed to bring you more grace, flow, and power in your dancing, athletics, and everyday activities. Replacing excess effort, Feldenkrais engages the neuroplasticity of the brain to learn how to move and function with more ease, efficiency and joy. Each class is individual and unique. Drop in! $20, cash or check.
April 27, 2019 at 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Making a Native American Flute with Sacred Earth Sounds
- One of a kind opportunity to learn an easy and simple approach to making a Native American Flute.
- Participants will learn the knowledge (theory) of the aspects and functions of the Native American Flute.
- All participants will craft their own flute during the workshop; each person will have their own tools which they will take home to continue to master the craft. The tools are included in the tuition.
- Students will learn how to work with bamboo.
- Learn how to play the Native American flute and practice with different keys and scales.
- The workshop lasts 4 hrs and will take place at the Living Arts Collective.
April 27, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Gardeners, Wild Ones, Dancers, Plant People, Troublemakers, Earth Grievers, & All Eternal Beginners: let us root in the deep soil of Living Arts Collective and together become a forest dark and kind enough for endangered questions waiting too long at the margins to enter our hearts and nest.
What are humans for? How do wolves make rivers? What does all this rain want from us? What can our own restless hands do to mend the earth in this time-like-no-other-time?
In this 3 workshop series - open to all who want to act to regenerate the living earth - we’ll explore the art called Permaculture – a new and ancient path back into active kinship with all life. Beauty will be the foxfire we follow into the trembling grove of relation. Music, poetry, movement, meditation, story and discussion will take us down a more experiential track to catalyze our work as everyday earth-healers.
Workshop guided by Matt Watersong
In collaboration with Aubrey Griffith-Zill and Bruce Rozeboom
April 28, 2019 at 11:11 am - 1:33 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience authentic self-expression in a safe space free of judgment & instruction. This weekly ecstatic dance event offers an opportunity to explore delicious states of being from stillness to unfettered wildness through self-directed freeform movement in community. The 90 minute practice takes us on a movement journey with musical texture and form.
SUNDAYS:
Doors open: 11:11am
Open Circle: 11:30am
Close Circle: 1:30pm
FRIDAYS:
Doors open: 7:20pm
Open Circle: 7:30pm
Close Circle: 9:30pm
Living Arts Ecstatic Dance offers a shared experience and a shared place for spontaneous, free-form movement. What each of us brings to this shared place affects everyone, and we create this experience together with:
Awareness of others and ourselves
Permission from others and ourselves
Participation through movement and presence
We practice moving in healthy community by:
Arriving without strong scents (including perfumes, oils, and body scents)
Dancing in bare feet, socks, or supportive footwear
Maintaining a nonverbal dance space
Encouraging a substance-free space
Leaving electronic devices outside the dance space
Honoring the physical space and bodies of others with awareness of consent
Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed on the dance floor,…
April 28, 2019 at 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
The biggest and best salsa band in North Carolina - Orquesta GarDel, returns for a second year in residence at Living Arts Collective.
Every fourth Sunday of the month.
Two sets of music starting at 3:30pm. Doors at 3.
Dancers - Friendly social dance for all skill levels. Luxurious sprung wood floor. There's nothing like live music to inspire your movements!
Music lovers - There is no 'right' way to dance. You don't have to dance salsa. Come move your body, or just sit on the couches, lay on the floor, get in the zone with the Afro-Cuban polyrhythms, angular jazz solos, exciting arrangements.
Bring Your Own Booze
Family Friendly
Ear protection recommended for those sensitive to loud music
Admission - suggested $7 to $25 per person.
Pay what you can to support the artists.
Djembe FUNdamentals - DUNUN for Adults & Mature Youth
April 28, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Living Arts Collective
Welcome to Djembe FUNdamentals
In Africa life moves to the beat. Make rhythm the soundtrack of YOUR life.
This 6 week course will focus on the DUNUN family of drums from West Africa, our specific focus will be on village style playing. Using the music of Mali, West Africa, we will begin to hone the basic techniques to enjoy playing Djembe music comfortably. Come jam!
Walk-ins Welcome all 6 weeks!
April 14th - May 19th
Living Arts Collective 410 W Geer Street Durham, North Carolina
Cost: $84.00 for the course, $19.00 per individual class
Payment can be made in two $42.00 installments, or three $28.00 installments
5:00 pm-6:30 pm
Adults & Mature youth
Drums are available for rent, $10 for the course, $5 per walk-in
please contact me ahead of time to reserve a drum
Family rates available, for more info please contact me
Djembe FUNdamentals - Intermediate Level for Adults & Mature Youth
April 28, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Living Arts Collective
Welcome! This class is for drummers with previous Djembe training who seek a higher level of instruction.
If you are advanced beyond the beginner material and seek more challenging tempos, accompaniments, & phrases
if you have studied, but life has often pulled you from the drummer's path
if you are eager to dust off the cobwebs and polish off your Djembe chops, then this course is for you!
This 5 week course will be instructed by Teli Shabu with guest instruction from Atiba Rorie.
Walk-ins of all intermediate levels are welcome anytime throughout the course.
April 21st - May 19th
Living Arts Collective 410 W Geer Street Durham, North Carolina
Cost: $70.00 for the course, $20.00 per individual class
Payment can be made in two $35.00 installments
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Adults & Mature youth
Drums are available for rent, $10 for the course, $5 per walk-in
please contact me ahead of time to reserve a drum
Family rates available, for more info please contact me
April 29, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Living Arts Collective Dance Studio, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Experience a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness program that combines exhilarating choreography and calorie-burning workouts with upbeat music from around the world.
Come dressed to sweat and ready to dance! All levels welcome.
April 30, 2019 at 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Living Arts Collective, 410 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
Join me for a meditation practice to awaken your inner landscape, connect with your body & transform the way you experience being. This meditation isn't about sitting like a statue or struggling to arrest your thoughts. You will move into a peace filled release of stagnant emotions, while increasing awareness of energy circulating throughout your being. Come, open to explore. There's no judgement. All are welcome.
Hosted by Abstract Emergence & Living Arts Collective
April 30, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Living Arts Collective
We will build a practice of Contact Improvisation over the course of a semester. Christopher, Aubrey and Megan will rotate in as lead teachers. Each month builds to take us from beginner to life-long student, honing our skills of embodiment, listening, and presence.
Contact Improvisation is a movement practice focused on:
- sharing weight
- maintaining attention
- improving physicality
- developing community
Each Month will include a structured class from 6-7 and a practitioner's lab (details below) from 7-8, with the last Tuesday of every month scheduled as an open jam. Open jams invite in the larger community to dance and play, allowing us to grow in new ways!
Register:
PM Christopher via Facebook and/or
Venmo @Christopher-Grohs a class deposit ($65 for January – 4 classes, 4 labs, and 1 jam!)
Limit: 20 Students
Cost:
Full Experience from 6-8pm:
Pay for each month in advance for a discount and the jam is included! (Class, lab and jam!)
4 or 5 Tuesdays - $50 / $65
Lab only (7-8): $15 for the month, or $5-10 drop-in
No one turned away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you need a sliding scale rate.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm starting Jan 8th
Structured Class from 6-7: Class will explore technical skills of CI dance. Detailed themes below.
**Beginner's required to take the 6-7 class prior to the lab for 2 months before…
Saturday, April 20th, 9p – 1a Surprise! This month's Westie Party is a dance only, no workshops. So come out and cut a rug with us! 9:00PM - 1:00AM SOCIAL DANCING the night away! TICKETS/PRICING: ** Ticket link to be updated soon for April! ** - SOCIAL DANCE ONLY: $15 (+$2.50 processing fee for credit [...]
Friday, May 24th, 10p – 12a $20 entry Senegal’s premier griot rapper, Baay Bia brings ancient West African storytelling traditions to the global hip hop stage. His voice launched onto the world music scene, writing and arranging each song on his first album, Nation, winning the 2002 Senegalese Hip Hop awards. Tours of Senegal with [...]
Sundays, April 14th – May 19th, 5 – 6:30p Welcome to Djembe FUNdamentals In Africa life moves to the beat. Make rhythm the soundtrack of YOUR life. This 6 week course will focus on the DUNUN family of drums from West Africa, our specific focus will be on village style playing. Using the music of [...]
Friday, May 31st, 10p – 12a Dark Side of the Rainbow – also known as Dark Side of Oz or The Wizard of Floyd – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. This produces [...]
Saturday, April 27th, 12 – 4p Making a Native American Flute with Sacred Earth Sounds - One of a kind opportunity to learn an easy and simple approach to making a Native American Flute. - Participants will learn the knowledge (theory) of the aspects and functions of the Native American Flute. - All participants will [...]
Saturday, May 25th, 1 – 4p Workshop will be limited to 20 attendees. Join us May 25 from 1:00-4:00 at Living Arts Collective in Durham to explore community accountability for consent violations. This workshop will explore community accountability in flow arts, ecstatic dance, and other small, tight-knit communities when boundaries will inevitably be crossed. Attendees [...]
Saturday, April 27th, 11a – 12:30p Feldenkrais classes emphasize learning to develop more refined movement patterns, designed to bring you more grace, flow, and power in your dancing, athletics, and everyday activities. Replacing excess effort, Feldenkrais engages the neuroplasticity of the brain to learn how to move and function with more ease, efficiency and joy. [...]
Saturday, April 20th, 1 – 4p Africa Unplugged and Living Arts Collective present AfroCuban Music and Dance Workshops with Bradley Simmons andVladimir Espinosa. These classes are for all levels. Drumming will be from 1:00- 2:15 and dance from 2:30-3:45. Classes with be held at Living Arts Collective on 410 W. Geer St. in Durham NC. [...]
