A Global Underscore was initiated about five or six years ago and has been practiced annually on the summer solstice. In this structure CI groups from all over the world meet to hold simultaneous Underscore practices - connecting our explorative research and our growing community.

LaNua presents:

Global Underscore

including this year for the first time: Edinburgh, Saturday 23 June, 4.30 - 9.00 pm

led by visiting teacher Moti (Mark) Zemelman

Introduction
For the last few years there has been an annual simultaneous practice of Nancy Stark Smith's Underscore (a framework score for CI and improvisational dance practice) in locations around the globe including Europe, Australia, and the USA. This year on Saturday June 23 there will be an opportunity for those practicing CI and the Underscore to connect to the larger community of those engaged in the same process of research in other cities, countries or continents. 

Here in Edinburgh, we will be meeting starting at 4:30pm (people who can arrive at 4pm to help sweep and clean the space would be appreciated!)   Moti will facilitate the event and lead an introduction to the Underscore from 4:30 -5:30.  It is especially important for those who are new to the Underscore to arrive in time for this portion of the event, and it is expected that all participants stay for the entire duration.  Bring snacks/food so you don't get too hungry!

Simultaneously throughout the world groups will be meeting and dancing together with us!  Last Year locations included: Los Angeles, California. Northampton, Massachussetts. Nantes, France. La Rochelle, France. Nerigean (near Bordeaux), France. Angers, France. London, U.K. Paris, France. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Bern, Switzerland. Helsinki, Finland. Melbourne, Australia. Sidney, Australia. Ottawa, Canada, Koln, Germany.  Berlin, Germany.  We will have an updated list of the participating locations when we meet.

The Underscore
Nancy Stark Smith began developing the Underscore in the early nineties. The score observes states that occur in the practice of Contact Improvisation and improvisational dance practices and follows the stages of arrival, development, and resolution that naturally tend to occur at Contact Improv Jams as well as other improvisational contexts, hence the name suggests the underpinnings of our practice. After the initial "Pow-wow" of verbal check-ins, the score is done without speaking until the "Thanksgiving" time of sharing reflections of individual experience.

Our Schedule:
4:30 - 5:30pm - Arriving (initial circle, names, notes for the practice)  Moti will be going over the basics of the Underscore to inform our practice.
5:30 - 5:40 - "hello,go!" - It is a time for opening the mind and the energy to the other places and people dancing... It is a creative time for each group to decide how to "connect"
5:40 - 5:45 - Pre-ambulation (group circulates through the room, opening pathways in the space)
5:45 - Opening Small Dance (facing in the direction of the closest participating group to our west)
After several minutes, on your own timing, this dance opens into the Full Underscore Practice... more than 2 hours of dancing....
7:55 End (final resolution bell) Taking a few moments to find an end to this period of dancing in a final group image.
8:00 - 8:15 - Self Reflections (writing or quietly sitting)
8:15 - 8:50 - Harvest or Sharing (a circle where reflections are shared, spoken)

Place: Greenside Church, Blenheim Place (Royal Terrace), Edinburgh

Fees: £8, £5

•  the organizers of the whole event want to have a list of participants so
  people in each place can see the names of who is dancing all over the
  world - so if you please confirm your participation in advance that would be great.
• you can do that by replying this email with your confirmation.
• it's also ok if some folks just show up at 4.30.
• It is highly recommended that all of us will start at 4.30. However, If you would like to participate but can't make the 4.30 start, but likely to make it sometimes before 5.30, then please contact Merav on: mirabailos@...

Moti (Mark) Zemelman - has been practicing Contact Improv since 1988 and teaching and performing for ten years across the U.S. and more recently The Netherlands, Germany, and Israel. He performed on sets of scaffolding with Wire Momkey Dance Company from 2000-02, and plays ambient vocal-electronic music for Contact Jams. Other training includes yoga, Action Theatre, modern dance, stilt walking, and clowning

LaNua - Movement and Improvisation, based in Edinburgh. is dedicated to organizing, facilitating and promoting Contact Improvisation, creating events and performances of dance, improvisation and across arts performances. 

Artistic Director: Merav Israel