Innovation and Accident: A Movement Workshop

Kickstart Festival 2010 is pleased to present a first-ever event in Vancouver – internationally acclaimed hip hop dance artist Bill Shannon teaching a three-hour workshop, at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, 4 to 7pm on Friday March 19, 2010.

Using personal anecdote and practical application of theatrical methods, interdisciplinary dance and media artist Bill Shannon will lead a course in creative movement. Through “creative problem solving” Bill will create an “idea lab” that places value on the creative process - exploiting mistakes and accidents as pathways to invention and innovation. The workshop encourages each participant to begin development of a personalized dance vocabulary. The workshop includes experiential exercises, lecture, video and group discussion. No previous dance experience is required.

There will be a 20-person limit for the workshop, with a mixture of people with and without disabilities. If you would like to participate, please send an email to info@kickstart-arts.ca and tell us your experience with dance or movement training, if any, or with disability arts in any form, as well as a brief statement about why you’d like to take the workshop. Application deadline now extended until March 17th at 5pm pacific time. You'll be confirmed no later than 1pm on March 18th. The cost for the workshop will be $25.

This workshop is presented in collaboration with New Works (www.newworks.ca).

Bio

Bill Shannon is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer and performance artist recognized in both the hip hop dance scene as well as the disabled artist scene. The energy, elegance and fluidity of Shannon dancing on crutches combined with his use of a skateboard for mobility have dazzled audiences nationwide. Shannon has used crutches since age 5 when he was diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis. His legendary street performances exploring the sociological manifestations of the public's "awkwardness" towards disabled people have been captured on video and are incorporated into Shannon's engaging and thought-provoking presentations.

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