The Equus Projects: Summer Intensive
Event Type:
WorkshopMonday, June 23, 2008 6:25pm - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:00am
The Equus Projects
Dancers' Intensive
Dancers' Intensive
June 23-25, 2008
The Horse Institute
Ancramdale, NY
REDUCED FEE FOR DANCERS

Photo: Luke Wiley
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EXPERIENCE INTENSELY FOCUSED DANCING...
·Discover new approaches to phrasing
·Explore how your body integration dramatically affects your equine partner
·Experience a unique choreographic process
·Learn how Equus dancers translate horsemanship principles into dance
Sessions with horses include introduction to basic horsemanship principles, dancing with ridden horses and hands on work with riderless horses.
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REDUCED DANCER'S FEE: $450
Includes all studio and equine training, lodging, and meals
Auditors Welcome - $50 per day
Auditors observe all equine sessions and participate directly in all other activities
Please contact us for more information
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THE WORK
Our equine work is integrated with studio work.
Two movement sessions and two equine experiences each day.
9:00 - 1:00
We begin each day at 9am with a studio session. Our warm-ups include floor and standing work that focus on mobility and Brain Gym movement patterns designed to create greater fluidity between right and left brain. We will introduce the fundamentals of dancing with horses through exercises that focus on Physical Listening, shaping space, moving with fully grounded weight and clarity of spatial intent.
Morning studio sessions are followed by horse time. We begin with moving in tandem with ridden horses, then introduce ground skills for working with a horse on line and finally, at liberty.
LUNCH / Free time
3:00-6:00
Afternoon studio sessions include improvisational exploration that focus on listening and leadership, sight, touch and weight sensing. We introduce our use of choreographic scoring and explore the challenges of site-specific dance making as it specifically relates to dancing with horses and working in large landscapes.
Each afternoon from 3-6pm is dedicated to hands-on training with horses and application of improvisational skills to creating partnership with the horses. We will examine the challenges of site-specific dance making as it relates to dancing with equine partners as well as focusing the eye when working in large landscapes.
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THE FACULTY: JoAnna Mendll Shaw & Equus Projects' Dancers
JoAnna Mendl Shaw, dancer, choreographer and educator, currently teaches on the dance faculty at The
Juilliard School and in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program. She has gained
recognition for her unique ability to bridge the worlds of athletics
and dance, and has taught and choreographed for equestrians, ice dancers and
gymnasts. The Equus Projects, her company of professional dancers, are all trained in Parelli
Natural Horsemanship. The Equus Projects has been making performance works for dancers,
horses and equestrians for 10 years.

Marcel Dou, Dancer

Gina Paolillo, Dancer

Laurence Martin, Dancer
Rebekah Morin, Dancer

Blake Pearson, Dancer
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LOCATION
MOVEMENT & EQUINE SESSIONS
The Horse Institute / Ancrandale, NY
The
Dancers' Intensive is being held this year as a 3-day retreat on the
grounds of The Horse Institute in Ancrandale, NY. This fabulous
facility is nestled in the hills of upstate New York. http://www.thehorseinstitute.com
Lodging and Breakfasts
The Woodhull Institute in Wassaic , NY
http://www.woodhull.org/rental.php
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The Equus Projectsphone:212-924-1336
email: jmsnyc@aol.com

