Why are we doing this?

90 per cent of our communication is nonverbal, thanks to all the little signals we send through our mimic, body posture, and adjustment of orientation and distance.

When there is silence, all our senses wake up to feed and support us. The nervous systems have it easier to talk to each other to create safety and connection. Usually, we don’t notice it. Within the silence, we might sense more of this profound human intelligence.

People who attend a silent CI retreat often appreciate the sense of clarity. We can hear our impulses connected to our needs more quickly and directly. Some encounters feel surprisingly like a talking dialogue, and later, it is hard to believe that no words were needed.

There is a sense of being present and alive on a journey while feeling held by and embedded in a group.

It is a setting where we build up resilience to move through uncomfortable situations, grow trust in our capacity for inner processes, and be more fully human.

When

Sunday 6 April 2025, 4pm (arrival from 1pm) to
Saturday 12 April around midday

Where

On a 140 acre property with multiple options for camping, a small dam, connection to the Conondale National Park. It is a school camp with basic facilities and lots of nature. We will dance on Aikido mats in a tent hall, which is rain-proof and has only some walls, so we’ll stay connected with nature while dancing.

243 Booloumba Creek Road, Cambroon QLD 4552

What

On the day of arrival and the first day we’ll slowly sink into silence. There will be opportunity to speak and familiarise with what to expect. In the coming days, we will be in silence without words and we can all really be with our inner world, connect deeply to what is going on inside. Is that comfortable and relaxing? Or is it a challenge and discipline?

There will be some scores and facilitated sessions to dance and a lot of free jamming. In the breaks, we can meditate and delve more deeply into our own world, or non-verbally connect with others. Nature is always available.

On the second last day, words are invited back, so we can harvest the insights and benefit from hearing each others journeys.

The inspiration for coming together like that was seeded last year in Norway. Alessandro Rivellino, Ann Kristin Holten, Auri Ladeira and Mario Blanco created a beautiful space to meet and dance in silence. We will use different ways of coming together, diving into the silence and coming out of it, but I want to share my deep gratitude for the work they have been and are putting into their silent contact retreats. Their next one is happening in Oslo in July 2025.

Who

This retreat is for contact improvisation dancers with enough experience to find their own way in jams. Some experience around silence or meditation is useful, but not essential.

Joerg Hassman & Alexander Kohl (Alec) will facilitate and hold space for this retreat. Most of you will know us, as we would have invited you. If someone else has invited you, please ask them about us. For Joerg, you can also check his website.

How much

$950 fully catered, inlcuding a bed in a tent dome dorm or camping with your own tent (there are also some limited double and single rooms available).

Registration

https://passionate.com.au/silent-contact-retreat/

THE CONTACT BODY & MIND

Availability is a major ingredient for me, when I think of a Contacters Body. Open directions in all my body parts at any moment. It is quite an artistery in terms of tone modulation: being fluid enough to follow the unpredictable flow and at the same time having strength and structure, where needed to support myself and others.

I am increasingly interested in what role the mind plays in this. I like imagining the mind as a muscle. What tone does it benefit from? Tightness and collapse won’t create availability… But a lower tone helps to take in, resonate and respond. Courage might come from a higher tone, daring to give spice, direction and surprise into the dance.

We’ll bounce between specific exercises, technical essentials and open frames and will have space enough for satisfying dancing.

TIMES
Thursday Jam 6pm to 8:30pm
Fri and Sat 10am to 6pm (with a 2h break)
Sun 9:30am to 4pm (with a 1.5h break)

LOCATIONS
Tramsheds at Harold Park (Thu, Fri, Sun)
Sat: Redfern Town Hall

COST
$310
$260 supported
$360 supporting
Payment
Via Humanitix (Additional fees apply):
https://events.humanitix.com/joerg-hassman…/tickets

Via Bank Transfer to:
Name: Eamonn O’Flaherty
BSB: 944600
Account Number: 000138151
Reference: [Your Name] Joerg
For further information please contact Eamonn O’Flaherty via Messenger or at [email protected].

RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT
Please be aware that for attending the workshop you need to accept the following:
“In attending this workshop I take full responsibility of my own health and well being. I acknowledge the nature of this workshop involves proposals to participate in exercises and movements that may be new to me.
I recognise that the proposals are simply offers to try, and I take full responsibility to participate only within my own capacity as I see fit at the time.
I acknowledge that the workshop facilitator and event organiser has no liability for any injuries which may occur during this workshop.”

CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation more than two weeks prior to commencement of workshop will incur a 10% non-refundable processing fee.
Cancellation less than two weeks prior to commencement of workshop, will incur a 50% non-refundable processing fee.

BEHIND THE SCENES

A workshop for CI practitioners who are looking for more clarity in their movement practice and those intrigued by facilitating spaces for connection through the moving body.

For the last thirty years, Jörg Hassmann has been living and teaching Contact Improvisation, shaping his unique approach to movement. Jörg asks: Why do I teach the way I do? What drives my choice of exercises and their sequence?

In this 4-day immersive workshop, Jörg will reveal and give insights into the thought process of his teaching system, exploring the connection between CI techniques and somatic practices Through a blend of practical exercises, somatic work, interactive lectures and times for focussed dancing we’ll have the opportunity to question and explore how CI essentials interconnect.

Topics:

• The systematics of touch – how we communicate through physical connection
• The systematics of movement – how we organize our bodies for CI
• Cues of safety – creating spaces that invite courage and trust
• States of body/mind for improvisation – tuning into the present moment

A solid foundation in CI is recommended to join the workshop.

When: 

Donnerstag 17-18 + 18:30-20:30 Underscore with introduction

Freitag 10-13 + 16-19

Samstag 10-13 + 16-18 + 19:30-21 (Underscore)

Sonntag 10-13 + 14:30-16:30

Where: Bremen, GSM Hemelinger Straße 11 28205 Bremen

Dance, eat, sleep: all at one location! The school is located in a quite side road and surrounded by a nice park. The river, Weser is five minutes by foot! During the workshop, we have the opportunity to cook and share meals together, creating a sense of community and connection beyond dancing and deepening our CI reflections.

Price: 290€

Registration: [email protected]

BODY-MIND STATES – What holds and drives me?

For experienced Contact Improvisers.
The intensive is limited to max 30 participants.

Registration via this link: https://hip16dgh.paperform.co/

For any questions please reach out to [email protected]

Fee 570€ – 370€ – sliding scale

The place Somatische Akademie, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 30, 10999 Berlin

Workshop times
Mon-Wed 9:30-17:00 (2 hour lunch break)
Fri-Sat 10:00-17:30 (2 hour lunch break)
Sunday 10-14
Thursday is free!

Photo by Andrei Berezkin

I wonder what helps me to have more options available in my dancing ? … and through that less the feeling of always doing the same but instead feeling more free.

There is a technical side to it. Our nervous system intuitively avoids the direction backwards and upside down. I’d love to revisit pathways and strategies to invite easier access to these less used orientations. From a somatic angle I want to look where we have holding patterns, joints that lock easily, muscles that overtone? Can we notice these limitations generously as a first step towards opening up for more while not knowing what that is?

And what role do the mind and the heart play in having more inner spaciousness and being truly available for what the moment is asking for?  I also like to play with some strategies, that lure me out of the comfortable known. A bit like tricking the body and the mind to know less about what’s going to happen next.

At the last Workshop at Studio Create we had such beautiful dancing and I have a strong desire to have lots of that again 🙂

A minimum of one year continuous CI practice is required to join the Workshop

✨QUESTIONS/ REGISTRATION: [email protected]

In case we do not know you, please write a sentence about your previous experience in CI.

✨TIMES

Thu 20-22 Jam at E-Werk (as an option to get ready 🙂)

Fri+Sat 10.30-18 (2 hr lunch break)

Sun 10-17:30 (2 hr lunch break)

✨FEE

280€-250€ sliding scale (as you can)

220€ early bird (payment until 15.6)

If money is the limiting factor, get in touch!

✨VENUE: Studio Pro Arte, Am Rohrgraben 4a, 79249 Freiburg-Merzhausen

I wonder what helps me to have more options available in my dancing ? … and through that less the feeling of always doing the same but instead feeling more free.

There is a technical side to it. Our nervous system intuitively avoids the direction backwards and upside down. I’d love to revisit pathways and strategies to invite easier access to these less used orientations. From a somatic angle I want to look where we have holding patterns, joints that lock easily, muscles that overtone? Can we notice these limitations generously as a first step towards opening up for more while not knowing what that is?

And what role do the mind and the heart play in having more inner spaciousness and being truly available for what the moment is asking for?  I also like to play with some strategies, that lure me out of the comfortable known. A bit like tricking the body and the mind to know less about what’s going to happen next.

At the last Workshop at Studio Create we had such beautiful dancing and I have a strong desire to have lots of that again 🙂

A minimum of one year continuous CI practice is required to join the Workshop

✨QUESTIONS/ REGISTRATION: [email protected]

In case we do not know you, please write a sentence about your previous experience in CI.

✨TIMES

Thu 20-22 Jam at E-Werk (as an option to get ready 🙂)

Fri+Sat 10.30-18 (2 hr lunch break)

Sun 10-17:30 (2 hr lunch break)

✨FEE

280€-250€ sliding scale (as you can)

220€ early bird (payment until 15.6)

If money is the limiting factor, get in touch!

✨VENUE: Studio Pro Arte, Am Rohrgraben 4a, 79249 Freiburg-Merzhausen

so happy that it is happening again!!

Super happy to have five days with camping at the beautiful Hillier Retreat and dancing at the sweet townhall in Cooran.

same format as usual. More information to come