Wild Meadows

Suggested subject areas for side panels and labs:

How do we arrive at a particular dance that suits each partner together, and what focus fosters that skill?
Maintaining both inward and outward attention in the process of engaging with a partner
Immediate vs. habitual responses
When does physical contact reduce the connection
Relationship of a fluid physical practice to mental flexibility and creativity
The Dive-in vs. the slow-go models/ways of learning and confronting fear.
Activating spatial energy/relationship while remaining connected to a partner
Trio Partnering
Group partnering (flowing with more than 3 partners)
What elements are necessary to find enjoyment in every dance (despite level/compatibility of partner/self)
What role do archetypes play into the contact relationship.
Engaging the backspace
Site specific dancing
Contact as a contemplative practice

Activities to do in the area:

Frank Lloyd Wright's faous architectural home "Falling Waters" is located 40 minutes from the farm.

Old Bedford Village is an historic recreation of pioneer life with many authentic frontier homes moved to its compound.

Shawnee State Park is a few miles from the farm where canoeing, swimming (sand beach), fishing, hiking and bird wathing. The canoes and kayak are very reasonable.

The Bedford area is known for its antique shops and deals.

Buffalo Watching is at Cedarrow farm near the Wild Meadows Farm. They also serve buffalo for the brave meat-eater.

Jean Bonnet Tavern is a large historical stone tavern and Inn that housed Washington's army and was also used during the prohibition. They have a Sunday brunch with incredible bread pudding.

Schellsburg has a rich Native American heritage. Arrowheads and fossils can be found in the area.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Wild Meadows is surrounded by secluded mountains ranges and fertile valleys, an ideal location for reflective thought and investigation into the practice of improvisation. Some previous experience is requested. Break periods will be scheduled to enable participants to take in the glorious natural surrounding of the farm.

FOOD: is included and will be communally prepared. Each participant will be requested to assist in the preparation of 2-3 lunch/dinner meals (with work study assistance).

COST: Early registration sliding scale: $300 - $450 (full payment due by May 1st). Regular registration sliding scale: $325 - $475 ($75 deposit due by May 1st)

DEPOSIT: $75 deposit due by May 1st, remaining amount due June 15th.

You're welcome to pay whatever you can afford within the sliding scale. Please keep in mind when choosing your fee that the market rate for a retreat of this scope is $475 or higher. We're offering a sliding scale a scale rate to include folks with varying incomes/situations.

*Cost includes all food, lodging, and workshop, except travel

To pay online see link above.

Checks should be made payable to:
The Phffft! Dance Theatre Company and sent to
Cyrus Khambatta, 5609 34th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126

WORKSTUDY:

Two positions available, first-come first serve for a discounted rate of $225. Full payment needed to secure workstudy position.

Please email Wildmeadows [at] PHFFFT.org a few sentences about your interest in the retreat and financial need.

CONTACT:
Questions? Please contact us: register@phffft.org

TRAVEL: Participants can arrange with others coming from the nearby cities of Washington D.C. New York City, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The farm is 2.5 hours from Washington D.C., 5 hours from New York City, 3.5 hours from Philadelphia and 2 hours from Pittsburgh. There are also buses and trains to Altoona or Breezewood near the farm where pick ups can be made. If you would like to drive click here.

CONTACT: for more information, email Cyrus at Wildmeadows [at] phffft.org or by phone at the number below:

SEATTLE: (206) 552-0694

Nicole Bindler is a body-based performing artist, inspired by her studies of new dance, dance-theater, contact improvisation and butoh. She is also a bodyworker and uses Somatic practices, such as Body-Mind Centering, Yoga and Feldenkrais as a source of creativity, inspiration and physical training. Her work has been shown throughout the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Berlin, Tokyo, Beirut, Mexico and Quito, Ecuador. She has been presented by High Zero Festival, Transmodern Age Festival, Shawinigan Street Theater Festival, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, D.C. Improvisation Festival, Fireside Festival, nEW Festival, X Fest, Bowerbird, CEC New Edge Mix, First Person Arts, Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts and Irtijal09'. Her work has been supported by Philadelphia Dance Projects, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Dance Advance. Her piece "I made this for you." created in collaboration with Gabrielle Revlock was a 2011 finalist for the A.W.A.R.D. Show! She has taught Somatics and Contact Improvisation throughout the U.S., Argentina and at International Contact Festival Freiburg in Germany. http://nicolebindler.com/

Curt Haworth, an expatriate Californian, lived in New York City for twenty years before moving to Philadelphia in 2009. He holds a BA in Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz and a MFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has an eclectic movement background ranging from athletics to modern dance and release techniques, to yoga, contact improvisation and ballet. His work has been shown in Philadelphia at: the Annenberg Center, The Painted Bride. The CEC, and various Fringe venues; and in NYC at: The Danspace Project, LA MAMA, DNA, Symphony Space, Movement Research at the Judson Church, IFNY, Dixon Place, PS122, Metamorphosis, DanceNow, New Dance Alliance; as well as at: Rockland Community College, Bennington College July Program, and Tanecne Divadlo in Bratislava, Slovakia. He was a Movement Research Artist in Residence in 2001-2002. Curt performed with Lisa Race’s Race Dance from 1993-2000, and toured internationally with David Dorfman Dance from 1990 to 2002, while creating over 15 original roles. He has taught regularly at Movement Research and DNA (formerly Dance Space Center) in NYC. He is the director of PARD in Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to supporting new movement performance and teaching, located at the Mt Vernon Dance Space. He has taught and set work as a guest artist throughout the United States and Europe and is currently an Associate Professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Cyrus Khambatta has presented choreographed and improvised CI-inspired works independently and with his dance company in nine U.S. states and fifteen countries on three continents. Some notable venues include The Spoleto Festival USA (SC), The San Francisco International Arts Festival, The Vancouver International Dance Festival, The World Expo (Lisbon), Choreographic Center of Tours and the Tours Beaux Arts (both in France), New York Improvisation Festival, The Young Choreographers Festival (Venezuela), the Seattle Festival of Alternative Dance and Improvisation, The Budapest Kontakt Festival, Trans Contact Festival (Romania) and Freiburg CI Festival. In 2004, he was awarded California's Daman New Choreography award and selected for The National Dance Project's Regional Dance Development Initiative. His company is currently in a multi-year commissioned residence at a 450-seat state of the art Kirkland Performance Center. He is the Artistic Director of The Seattle International Dance Festival, which has presented over 350 artists/companies from 25 countries, including Iraq, India, Lebanon, most countries of Europe and others. His work has been commissioned by Ririe Woodbury Dance (UT), Donald Byrd's Specturm Dance Theatre (WA), Evergreen City Ballet and other companies and universities/colleges. He has taught at numerous universities and dance programs internationally. He also runs Grassroots, a small studio in Seattle that invites national and international CI artists to teach. His company is currently touring Truth and Betrayal, commissioned by Kirkland Performance Center (WA). For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.KhambattaDance.org.

MORE INFO:

THE HOUSE was built in 1875 by Quakers. It is rustic but has all the comforts of home. It has three floors. There are five medium size bedrooms that can fit 1-3 people each and a large finished attic space (the floor is rough so bring something fo your feet) which can sleep up to 10 people. There are an assortment of mattresses, air beds and futons. If you have special needs, contact us before coming. The house has a kitchen, two full bathrooms, a laundry room (because it is a septic minimal loads are permitted), nearly wrap around porches. The first floor has a large dining and living room. There is also an out of tune piano.

THE BARN-STUDIO is approximately 32 by 45 feet. It has three poles in the middle of the space. It has an older marley floor (Paul Taylor's old marley). It has huge doors that open on one side to the road so that it can feel like it is open air. It is located about 100 feet from the house.

Climate: The average high temperature for the period we will be at the farm is 83 degrees and the average low is 60 degrees. It rains at least once in the week, so bring rain gear if you need it. It does get cool in the evening, so dress accordingly.

Critters: Although I have never seen a single tic during all my trysts through the woods, ther is a good eal of poison ivy, so it is a good idea to have an extra pair of long pants, socks and a 2nd pair of shoes if you plan to traipse through the woods.

Other Items to Bring: The sun rises early and is quite bright throughout most of the bedrooms. However, if you need an alarm clock to wake up, you will need to bring this. For those who are light sleepers, it is recommended that you bring ear plugs in case snoring is an issue. If you need allergy medicine, please bring it.

Travel by Car:

Coming from Washington. D.C.

From Constitution Ave, take I-66,US-50 West for 0.4 miles. Bear right on ramp at sign reading "US-50 W Arlington Blvd / G W Parkway" and go Northwest for 0.3 miles. Continue on George Washington Memorial Pky,Gw Pky and go Northwest for 9 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "I-495 N to Maryland" and go West for 0.4 miles. Continue on Capital Beltway,I-495,I-495 Innerloop and go Northeast for 3.9 miles. Continue on I-270-Spur at sign reading "Exit 38 I-270 to Rockville / Frederick" and go North for 2.0 miles. Continue on I-270,Dwight D Eisenhower Hwy,Washington National Pike and go Northwest for 3.9 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "Exit 8 to Shady Grove Road" and go North for 900 feet. Continue on I-270 Local,Dwight D Eisenhower Hwy,Washington National Pike and go North for 0.5 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "I-270 N to Frederick" and go North for 1000 feet. Continue on I-270 and go Northwest for 24 miles. Take ramp at sign reading "I-70 W to Hagerstown" and go Northwest for 0.7 miles. Bear left on I-70 and go Northwest for 76 miles Continue on Lincoln Hwy,US-30 and go West for 26 miles to Schellsberg. At stoplight, take a right on Route 96, go about 1/4 mile, take a right at sign to Fishertown. Go about 3 miles, pas an electrical substation and behind a large red barn situated immediately on the left of the road, take a left onto Smith Road. Go up road (becomes gravel) and house (grey-blue) is 3/4 mile up on left.

Coming from New York City
Take the Lincoln Tunnel at W 39th St at sign reading "I-495 W Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey / Newark International Airport" and go Northwest for 180 feet. Bear left on I-495 and go Northwest for 3.9 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "N.J. Turnpike South to Trenton / Newark Airport" and go West for 0.5 miles. Bear right on I-95,New Jersey Tpke and go Southwest for 6 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "I-78 to Exit 14-14A-14B-14C / Newark Airport / Holland Tnl and US-1 / US-9 / US-22" and go Southwest for 1.7 miles. Continue on I-78 and go Northwest for 400 feet. Continue on I-78 Express Ln at sign reading "I-78 West Express to Garden State Parkway / Clinton" and go West for 9 miles. Continue on I-78 and go West for 126 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "I-81 S to Harrisburg" and go West for 0.8 miles. Continue on I-81 and go West for 37 miles. Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 17 US-11 to New Kingstown / Middlesex / Turnpike and I-76" and go Southwest for 0.3 miles. Turn right on US-11,Harrisburg Pike and go West for 1.0 miles. Turn right on ramp at sign reading "Penna Turnpike to Philadelphia / Pittsburgh and 1-76" and go West for 0.7 miles. Bear right on I-76,Pennsylvania Tpke and go West for 81 miles. Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 11 US-220 / I-99 to Bedford-Altoona / Johnstown" and go North for 0.2 miles. Turn left on US-220-BR,PA-4009 and go North for 0.3 miles. Turn left on ramp and go West for 0.7 miles. Turn right on US-220,Appalachian Thwy and go South for 1.9 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "US-30 W to Greensburg" and go West for 0.3 miles. Bear right on US-30,Lincoln Hwy and go West for 8 miles. From here, follow directions as indicated above.

Coming from Philadelphia

Take highway 76 out of Philadelphia toward Harrisburg and continue until Bedford exit 11. Follow directions as indicated above.

Coming from Pittsburgh

Take 376 out of Pittsburgh and onto The PA Turnpike (76) toward Harrisburg. Exit at Bedford exit 11 and follow directions as indicated above.

*The deposit and fee are non-refundable unless the workshop is cancelled for any reason beyond the control of the payee.