The Sense of Perception

The Sense of Perception - in and through the Dancing Body

Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, founder of Body-Mind Centering
& Lisa Nelson , dance artist, originator of Tuning Scores

October 8 (Wednesday evening) - October 12(Sunday afternoon)

The Sense of Perception is nearly full. To check on availability and/or to be added to the waiting list call (413) 634-5678 or email contact@earthdance.net.

Two unique approaches come into dialogue in this laboratory. Bonnie's approach to Embodied Anatomy--her work with the senses and perception and the processes of bonding, defending and learning--meet Lisa's Tuning Score research into the physical base of the imagination, which explores the genetic, cultural and idiosyncratic movement patterns our senses use to construct our experience. From these points of view, as dancer-dancemaker-human beings, we will look at how composition, communication, and performance arise.

Structure of the workshop: Lisa will introduce Tuning material on Thursday and facilitate the closing session on Sunday, Bonnie will teach and dialogue with Lisa on Friday and Saturday.

Lisa Nelson is a dancemaker, improvisational performer, videographer, and collaborative artist who has been exploring the role of the senses in the performance and observation of movement since the early '70s. Stemming from her work with video and dance, she developed an approach to spontaneous composition and performance she calls Tuning Scores. The work of perceptologist J.J. Gibson and her studies of experiential anatomy with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen have informed her. She performs, teaches and creates dances internationally and has received encouragement from a NY "Bessie" Award in 1987 and an Alpert Award in the Arts in 2002. She lives in Vermont.

Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen is the developer of Body-Mind Centering® and the founder and Educational Director of the School. For over thirty-five years she has been an innovator and leader in developing this embodied and integrated approach to movement, touch and repatterning, experiential anatomy, developmental principles, perceptions and psychophysical processes. She is the author of the book, Sensing, Feeling and Action .

Bonnie is a Registered Occupational Therapist and a Registered Movement Therapist and is also certified in Neurodevelopmental Therapy, Laban Movement Analysis, and Kestenberg Movement Profiling. She has practiced occupational therapy and taught in university hospitals; helped to establish a school for occupational and physical therapy for the Tokyo government; practiced bodywork and movement in psychiatric settings; taught in the masters program in Dance Therapy at Antioch New England College; taught dance at Hunter College and at the Erick Hawkins School of Dance in New York; and presented workshops throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Total Workshop Fee = Tuition + Room & Board.

Tuition (3 Tiers Available):
   Student Rate: Economically challenged students and the unemployed: $225
   Regular Rate: Employed but struggling (teacher, librarian, lots of kids, etc.): $255
   Professional Rate: Actually contributing to your retirement plan (support the arts!): $285

Standard Room & Board: $175
(For commuting or alternate housing options, click here)
Early Registration Discount: $35 off if registered by September 1
Deposit Required*: $75

Arrival Wednesday, 10/8, after 5 p.m, First session Thursday morning
Last session ends Sunday afternoon 10/13

Partial Scholarships are sometimes available for Earthdance workshops. Please click here for more information.

*You will not be officially registered until we receive your deposit. If your registration is cancelled up to 3 weeks prior to a workshop, you may either transfer the entire deposit amount to another event or be refunded 1/2 of the deposit. Cancellations within 3 weeks of the start date are not eligible for a refund or transfer.