WELCOME TO THE CREATIVE PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP!
"A warm, welcoming environment for a lapsed dancer to get back into the studio; a perfect way to rediscover a past self"~CPW participant 2020
CPW is a 9-week workshop series facilitated by Shana Simmons.
This workshop will guide movers of all levels in the creation of an original performance work.
~Want to dust off those dancin' shoes and express yourself on stage to a receptive, welcoming audience?
~Nervous about the idea of performing, but really want to put your thoughts and emotions into an artistic creation?
~Want to reassess who you are as a dancer or artist?
~Interested in possible ways of incorporating movement into a different medium?
- Want mentorship through the process of creating your next piece or shaping your idea into a polished work?
~Just want a great performance opportunity?
CPW is a 9-week workshop series facilitated by Shana Simmons.
This workshop will guide movers of all levels in the creation of an original performance work.
~Want to dust off those dancin' shoes and express yourself on stage to a receptive, welcoming audience?
~Nervous about the idea of performing, but really want to put your thoughts and emotions into an artistic creation?
~Want to reassess who you are as a dancer or artist?
~Interested in possible ways of incorporating movement into a different medium?
- Want mentorship through the process of creating your next piece or shaping your idea into a polished work?
~Just want a great performance opportunity?
You might be thinking, "I'm interested, but I don't know if this is for me or not..."
This workshop is designed for people that...
As an intimate group, I will guide each mover as they create an original work from initial idea to full-fledged performance.
We will support each other, collaborate together, and analyze movement creation.
I will creatively facilitate as you create a 5-10 minute piece, which we will perform in front of a live audience (date TBD based on participant availability).
These works will be solo-driven, of your own making, and created (with help from the group) to express an opinion, story, emotion or thought you want to express.
I could go on about the experience, but let's hear what the 2020 cohort had to say:
"This experience helped me to focus on me and my love for dancing and creativity."~CPW participant 2020
"Taking CPW 2020 allowed me a safe space to explore a new ideas, take risks, be vulnerable, give myself deadlines and accountability, receive thoughtful and constructive feedback and have fun!"~CPW participant 2020
"Through CPW 2020 I had the opportunity to learn how to choreograph a piece that reflected my vision, and enagage with the other participants to share and provide feedback during the creative process."~CPW participant 2020
Registration begins November 2024...
I'm Shana Simmons. I've been running SSD for ten+ years and teaching all levels of movers since 2012. I'm a second generation dance educator, and I've studied Graham technique, release style dance, partnering, contact improvisation, and choreography, but my true gift is in helping movers clarify their voice and their message.
My years of choreographic experience, movement analysis, and collaborative efforts will help shape the group dynamic into specific exercises that help open your creative mind.
I will assist you in looking at the performance action, help you to clear away inhibitions, and lead group discussions designed to analyze our individual creative voices, in order to develop ways of moving which aid our finished piece.
You will walk away with:
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL LEVELS.
You don't have to be the most brilliant technician to have an important story to tell or message to share. Everyone has the tools they need, right now, to create a compelling performance.
Whether you are a beginner dancer, a dancer that has taken time off, a working professional that wants to fine tune a new idea through a fresh lens, or someone that is just interested in incorporating movement into your artistry, this intense working experience will help motivate you to new levels of discovery and clarification.
Registration begins November 2024...
BUT WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
As a group, we will spend about 1.5 hours every Sunday investing our time and energy into the creation of new work. Each work will feature the creator as the performer, so the work will be a self-generated and self-performed piece. If you feel strongly you do NOT want to participate in your work, but really want to experience this workshop, send me an email and we can chat!
We will start with a short warm up to get the body open, stretched, and warm. We will then delve into creative exercises as a group to help each other through the creation process. You can come in with an already formed idea or someone that is needing inspiration!
Simmons will guide the group in exercises which we create, perform and share on:
-ways of generating new ideas
-analyzing movement exploration to feel comfortable finding your own voice and language to perform in
-generating new ideas as a group for each person's piece
-fine tuning the pieces, exploring different options, looking at the pieces on other bodies in space
-detailing what it is you want the audience to see and ways you can achieve that
-analyzing movement and meaning
Wear comfortable clothing, bring a notebook and pen, and we will discover the creative work from within! Sign Up Below!
This workshop is designed for people that...
- Want a performance experience
- Want to share an idea with others
- Want to take a risk and push their own boundaries
- Are ready to feel the applause of adoring fans.<--this will happen!!
As an intimate group, I will guide each mover as they create an original work from initial idea to full-fledged performance.
We will support each other, collaborate together, and analyze movement creation.
I will creatively facilitate as you create a 5-10 minute piece, which we will perform in front of a live audience (date TBD based on participant availability).
These works will be solo-driven, of your own making, and created (with help from the group) to express an opinion, story, emotion or thought you want to express.
I could go on about the experience, but let's hear what the 2020 cohort had to say:
"This experience helped me to focus on me and my love for dancing and creativity."~CPW participant 2020
"Taking CPW 2020 allowed me a safe space to explore a new ideas, take risks, be vulnerable, give myself deadlines and accountability, receive thoughtful and constructive feedback and have fun!"~CPW participant 2020
"Through CPW 2020 I had the opportunity to learn how to choreograph a piece that reflected my vision, and enagage with the other participants to share and provide feedback during the creative process."~CPW participant 2020
Registration begins November 2024...
I'm Shana Simmons. I've been running SSD for ten+ years and teaching all levels of movers since 2012. I'm a second generation dance educator, and I've studied Graham technique, release style dance, partnering, contact improvisation, and choreography, but my true gift is in helping movers clarify their voice and their message.
My years of choreographic experience, movement analysis, and collaborative efforts will help shape the group dynamic into specific exercises that help open your creative mind.
I will assist you in looking at the performance action, help you to clear away inhibitions, and lead group discussions designed to analyze our individual creative voices, in order to develop ways of moving which aid our finished piece.
You will walk away with:
- a new sense of self-confidence
- a small work you can either expand upon or keep in your repertoire
- a clear pathway to creating more works in the future
- a performance experience
- video of your work to share
- new discoveries about yourself, your creativity, and your movement
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL LEVELS.
You don't have to be the most brilliant technician to have an important story to tell or message to share. Everyone has the tools they need, right now, to create a compelling performance.
Whether you are a beginner dancer, a dancer that has taken time off, a working professional that wants to fine tune a new idea through a fresh lens, or someone that is just interested in incorporating movement into your artistry, this intense working experience will help motivate you to new levels of discovery and clarification.
Registration begins November 2024...
BUT WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
As a group, we will spend about 1.5 hours every Sunday investing our time and energy into the creation of new work. Each work will feature the creator as the performer, so the work will be a self-generated and self-performed piece. If you feel strongly you do NOT want to participate in your work, but really want to experience this workshop, send me an email and we can chat!
We will start with a short warm up to get the body open, stretched, and warm. We will then delve into creative exercises as a group to help each other through the creation process. You can come in with an already formed idea or someone that is needing inspiration!
Simmons will guide the group in exercises which we create, perform and share on:
-ways of generating new ideas
-analyzing movement exploration to feel comfortable finding your own voice and language to perform in
-generating new ideas as a group for each person's piece
-fine tuning the pieces, exploring different options, looking at the pieces on other bodies in space
-detailing what it is you want the audience to see and ways you can achieve that
-analyzing movement and meaning
Wear comfortable clothing, bring a notebook and pen, and we will discover the creative work from within! Sign Up Below!
|
It is my belief that we all want to be heard. I believe that we each have a creative energy in us and, though it may lay dormant,
it is a fun experience to explore the potential and capabilities that already exist within us. I believe the more of us that start creatively thinking in practice, the better our communities will be. I believe creating a work of art and putting it out there for the world to see is one of the most vulnerable and wonderful things a human can do. I believe you can do this. I believe creation is a fun process. I believe you will find more rewards in this journey than you intended. Let's create something amazing together. ~Shana |
|
|
In Spring 2020, the first CPW experience gathered at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to investigate new ideas, share feedback with one another, and embark on a journey of self discovery. THEN... two weeks before our proposed show-date, the pandemic canceled all in-person events.
I decided to take the group online and through a few more extended workshops (beyond the original plan), guided the group through dance for film tips and tricks to present a version of the work we had done together up until this point. To see what manifested through a few selections, click on the video! |
INFO:
Space is limited! Sign up today! Registration closes February 4.
Class must have 5 participants for it to run.
Times:
12pm-2pm
Sunday's, February 11-April 21
*No class Sunday March 10 (possible), No class Sunday March 31 (Easter)*
Showing/Performance: TBD, participant input is taken into account (possibly May 3/4)
Wrap-Up: Sunday after performance
Where:
HOPE Academy/East Liberty Presbyterian Church
Dance Studio
116 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15206
Studio showing open to the public TBD
Fees:
Early Bird Rate (Jan 1-Jan 21): $350, must be paid in full
After Jan 21: $375, must be paid in full
Payment Plan Option: $420, 3-payment installments, $140 due each payment beginning upon registration. Payments will automatically be withdrawn each month from the date you sign up.
PAYMENT PLAN & COMMITMENT SIGN UP DUE BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024.
*There will be no refunds or make-up opportunities if classes are missed, however we will work together to get the material to you!*
If you have an issue with one of the dates, please submit below. We may be able to adjust the overall schedule pending participant sign up.
By signing up, you agree to participate in the Creative Performance Workshop 2024. If for some reason you cannot complete the experience, refunds may be requested, but will not be guaranteed.
Space is limited! Sign up today! Registration closes February 4.
Class must have 5 participants for it to run.
Times:
12pm-2pm
Sunday's, February 11-April 21
*No class Sunday March 10 (possible), No class Sunday March 31 (Easter)*
Showing/Performance: TBD, participant input is taken into account (possibly May 3/4)
Wrap-Up: Sunday after performance
Where:
HOPE Academy/East Liberty Presbyterian Church
Dance Studio
116 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15206
Studio showing open to the public TBD
Fees:
Early Bird Rate (Jan 1-Jan 21): $350, must be paid in full
After Jan 21: $375, must be paid in full
Payment Plan Option: $420, 3-payment installments, $140 due each payment beginning upon registration. Payments will automatically be withdrawn each month from the date you sign up.
PAYMENT PLAN & COMMITMENT SIGN UP DUE BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024.
*There will be no refunds or make-up opportunities if classes are missed, however we will work together to get the material to you!*
If you have an issue with one of the dates, please submit below. We may be able to adjust the overall schedule pending participant sign up.
By signing up, you agree to participate in the Creative Performance Workshop 2024. If for some reason you cannot complete the experience, refunds may be requested, but will not be guaranteed.
STEP 1:
Fill out Intake Form below-
STEP 2:
Continue to payment (scroll for options)-
If PayPal is not an option for you, please email [email protected]
PAYMENT IN FULL FOR EARLY BIRD & GENERAL REGISTRATIONS:
PAYPAL: FOR PAYMENT PLANS:
SIGN UP FOR RECCURING PAYMENTS VIA PAYPAL: