Date: July 6~10th 
Location: Cucala Dance Studio (47-10 32nd Place, 2nd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101)

A week of contemporary dance training in Queens by sarAika movement collective.

These classes explore movement research, partnering, repertoire, and contemporary dance technique.

Intended for dancers and movers with prior movement experience, the level and focus of each class will vary throughout the week.

Welcome to take from one class.

Schedule: 12:00 PM–1:30 PM
-Monday, July 6 – Movement Research: Geometry, Self-Image, Drawing & Improvisation
-Tuesday, July 7 – Partnering?Tools & Repertoire)
-Wednesday, July 8 – Repertoire: Continuum
-Thursday, July 9 – Contemporary Technique “Isolation & Flow”  with Aika Takeshima
-Friday, July 10 – Contemporary Technique with Sara Pizzi: Physicality, Precision & Storytelling

Registration from here > https://forms.gle/YiHcDrp4Zwfy7oPH9

 

[ CLASS DESCRIPTION ]
Monday, July 6 – Movement Research: Geometry, Self-Image, Drawing & Improvisation
Explore movement generation through visual thinking and creative research. Aika’s Geometrical Visualization practice invites dancers to move beyond habitual patterns by imagining lines, shapes, and spatial relationships rather than prescribed steps. Sara will then share her own movement research approach, offering a complementary perspective on contemporary creation through her improvisation score Self-Image.

Through guided analytical observation of specific body parts, participants will investigate how personal, cultural, and symbolic meanings are carried within the body. This practice encourages dancers to view the body not only as a physical instrument, but also as a vessel of memory, history, and lived experience. By expanding awareness of the stories embedded in the body, improvisation becomes a tool for deeper self-discovery and movement generation.

The class culminates in a guided group improvisation inspired by drawings and visual scores, transforming images, memories, and spatial concepts into collective movement.

Tuesday, July 7 – Partnering: Tools & Repertoire
Investigate connection, responsiveness, and physical dialogue through partnering improvisation that moves beyond traditional gender roles and assumptions. Aika’s exercises focus on listening through touch, shaping and being shaped, and developing shared movement pathways without relying on weight-sharing tricks or predetermined outcomes.

Sara will contribute additional partnering research that explores the space between safety and risk, comfort and vulnerability, support and surrender. Through guided tasks, participants will challenge habitual partnering dynamics and discover new possibilities for communication, trust, and shared decision-making.

The class concludes with the learning of a duet phrase from sarAika’s repertoire, allowing dancers to apply these partnering principles within choreographic material. This class is designed to deepen trust, sensitivity, and collaborative awareness while expanding each dancer’s capacity to navigate relationships in motion.

Wednesday, July 8 – Repertoire: Continuum
Learn excerpts from sarAika’s acclaimed work "Continuum", originally created during a residency in Sweden and later performed in New York City and Japan. The piece explores the interconnected forces of push, pull, and release, the tension before and after action, and the concept of satori—a profound moment of understanding. Beginning with subtle, meditative movement, the work gradually unfolds into dynamic floorwork and rhythmically intricate phrase material. Drawing from sarAika’s unique background in both contemporary and street dance, the choreography combines expansive physicality with precise musicality, offering a movement experience that is both athletic and deeply nuanced. Participants will gain insight into sarAika’s choreographic process while learning repertoire that balances sensitivity, power, and musical precision.

Thursday, July 9 – Contemporary Technique: Isolation & Flow with Aika Takeshima
Expand your range of motion and explore three-dimensional physicality through sarAika’s signature contemporary technique. Rooted in isolation, groundedness, pelvic freedom, and spine-initiated movement, this class develops efficient pathways, dynamic momentum, and fluid transitions. Dancers will refine articulation, deepen body awareness, and discover new possibilities for expressive, intelligent movement.

Friday, July 10 – Contemporary Technique with Sara Pizzi: Physicality, Precision & Storytelling
Experience Sara Pizzi’s contemporary movement practice, which combines physical rigor, expressive detail, and creative exploration. Through guided technical exercises and movement phrases, dancers will investigate coordination, dynamics, and embodied presence while expanding their versatility as performers. The class explores the meeting point between continuity and precision, inviting dancers to move with clarity while maintaining fluidity and momentum. Participants will develop a deeper awareness of how the body can become a vessel for expression, transforming technique into communication. Drawing from her background in urban and contemporary dance, Sara integrates musicality, fluidity, and isolation with the storytelling and versatility of contemporary movement. The practice navigates the space between abstract form and emotional intention, challenging dancers to explore the delicate balance between control and release. The class culminates in a dynamic phrase that encourages both technical accuracy and personal interpretation.

 

Registration from here > https://forms.gle/YiHcDrp4Zwfy7oPH9