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A Contact Improvisation workshopwith Karl Frost
10-12 April
Berkeley/Oakland, California
Friday 7p-10p at Ellen Webb Studio
Saturday 12-6 at Wildcat Studio
Sunday 12-6 at Wildcat Studio
for registration and more information, see the website
https://www.bodyresearch.org/berkeley-april-2026/
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This workshop focuses on CI as experiential art practice and research in biomechanical poetics. We hold a frame of CI explorations as body and physics-based explorations of bodies moving in physical contact. We explore the gross and subtle physics but in the spirit of “biomechanical poetics”, we use articulate explorations of physics to support the experience of the ineffable.
Biomechanical Poetics
We deconstruct movement and contact into different subject of focus or curiosity: weight, balance and off-balance, proprioceptive sensing, skin/muscle/bone, speed, etc… how does each of these open up a new set of worlds with their own unique ineffable experiences. What is the specific pleasure of the pull of fascia? … of moving together at 1 foot per second? … of maximizing or minimizing surface area in contact? … of the interplay of imaginary worlds and mechanical exploration? How do we then articulate choice of awareness in biomechanical improvisation with other? Seemingly simple or basic invitations open up worlds of complexity.
A central tool of the workshop will be the Passive Sequencing work, a physical practice of developing finer moment t moment functional awareness of self and other through a cultivation of calm in motion. We see how nervous reaction and compulsion makes us momentarily lose control in ways we usually don’t even see. We notice how our interaction with others triggers reaction or invites presence. The result is a more mechanically functional and aware movement, personally and with other.
The workshop will be an alternation of shorter, more directed explorations with longer form explorations around a more open concept.
Some specific movement vocabulary, particularly using mutual off-balance and dynamic sensing will be introduced to open up investigation and range of exploration
A Meditation on Research
A theme of the workshop will be researching “research”. What is it to ask questions and explore proposals better?
We ask the question “What happens if X?” This asks us to get more articulate about the proposal and research question, the “X” but also more articulate in observation, the “what if”.
What is it to be more precise and ask more interesting and engaging questions (for oneself and others)? What is it to be more precise with articulating what one observes? Within this, what is it to articulate as well as we can while also honoring and embracing the ineffable?
How does getting more articulate in words help expand or contrarily interfere with articulation of movement.
Body Work
Mind Work
And some sweat.
Logistics
An open level workshop for the physically adventurous.
All are expected to be excited to challenge themselves physically and to be comfortable moving through physical contact with another body. If you have questions if the workshop is appropriate, feel free to write with questions to [email protected]
Space is limited to 20 , so early registration is recommended.
bio: Karl Frost has been teaching and performing contact and related work in body-based creative process for over 39 years. He is known internationally for his dynamic and articulate movement style, rigor in physical research and teaching, and for the edge-pushing nature of his work in both practice and performance. His work, influenced by studies in contemporary release technique, Alexander technique, and martial arts, has been showcased across the US, Canada, Europe, and South America. His performances, via Body Research Physical Theater, take the body and emotionally and physically felt experience as their reference points, often in highly audience interactive frameworks.
Karl holds a PhD in Ecology (emphasis in Human Ecology and Cultural Evolution Theory), and MFA in Dramatic Arts, and a BA in Physics. He is currently a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig, Germany).
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Event Venue
Wildcat Studio, Berkeley, California, United States
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