Performing Arts in…

a workshop and educational leave by Gabrielle Staiger
from 29th April until 2nd May 2024

practise mindfulness

Goal of the project is to develop performancestructures (Movementchoirs), which we will perform daily in dialogue with nature on the beach of Wittdün on Amrum, a German island in the Northsea. Your findings and observations of nature‘s movement will serve as inspiration in the development of the performance. During the project you will learn methods and strategies how to translate your inspiration from public space into movement and feed it into a performance structure.

Creative Systems

Creative systems embrace the creativity and individuality of each participant and are suitable especially when you‘re working with diverse groups. Every day starts with bodypractise in order to warm up and prepare the body for the creative process. We will be working on the beach as well as in a studio. Please bring comfortable as well as water-/windproof clothing.

suitable for amateurs and professionals

Awakening the desire to dance is an educational programme/study leave recognized under the Educational Leave Act in Hessia and Northrhinewestphalia and suitable for educators, social workers, choreographers, artistis, art teachers, PE teachers and everybody who enjoys working with movement and who would like to expand their knowledge and methodology. At the end you will receive a certificate.

Coretime of the workshop is Monday to Thursday (from 29th April until 2nd May 2024)
9:00-15:00 o’clock.

During this time we work with movement in the studio and at the beach. Participants of the educational leave programme also participate in the coretime and will
receive further theoretical knowledge about Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and how to
develop creative methods and strategies from LMA.

Fees:

Workshop (Monday to Thursday 9:00 – 15:00 o’clock): 360€

Educational Leave (Monday to Thursday 9:00-17:00 o’clock): 490€

connecting yourself to nature

There will be enough time for you to walk the vast beaches, witness how the light and the formations of the clouds change, to observe how the Watts emerges from the water – revealing its secret life and how it disappears again – or to experience the spectacular bird life.

Having fun

No previous experience required. Suitable for everybody between 18 and 70 years of age. You should still be well on foot. Every partcipant will take care of their own room and board. The project is limited to 12 participants.

Application and Information

Please give information on which workshop you want to apply in the subject!

Helpful information about how to get to Amrum and the mobility on the island can be found HERE.

When I think of working with Gabrielle Staiger, I recall a structured, functional approach to working with the body, yet with an ability to maximize the abstract potential of the resulting movement, and create poetry for the stage. Gabrielle had a wonderful way of prompting the dancer to reach outside of their habits, and create rich, suggestive material.

D. Hayward

The theory matches her practise. Gabrielle Staiger teaches methodologically what she practises herself (this is not necessarily the case with all the teachers I encountered). I learnt a lot from her – for teaching, choreographing, for improvising…

J. Wohsalo

Her way of teaching is very pleasant and unique! She is always in good spirit, always concentrated, even entertaining and demonstrates exercises and movement patterns very clearly and explains them in a logical manner. In addition she‘s a wonderful power woman. It‘s a pleasure to work with her. She is a born teacher and choreographer, she has what can‘t be learnt…

K. Wiedenhofer

I met Gabrielle during my dance teaching studies where she taught contemporary dance and movement analysis. She was my teacher and mentor for two years. I loved her classes as they encouraged my dancing as well as my analytical perspective on dance and movement giving me a lot of tools to develop, dance, compose, create… They had a great impact on me as a dancer, teacher or generally dance creative. Looking back I think Gabrielle was one of the most important teachers during my education and a main influence on the „dancer“ in the many ways I am today.

J. Wohsalo

How to get there

by car:

Take the Ferry from Dabegüll Mole to Wittdün on Amrum or park your car at the parking lot near the ferry terminal and take the ferry as a pedestrian. Apart from costing less, you won‘t need a car on the island. To get around you can rent a bicycle, which is the easiest and quickest way to move around the island. Or take the bus (the bus doesn‘t run via the village Steenodde).

by train:

You can either book your trainticket directly to Wittdün or you book a supersaver (Sparpreis) to Niebüll Station and change to the railbus, which will take you to the ferry terminal Dagebül Mole. On the railbus you can purchase a ticket for the railbus as well as the ferry.

Housing

On www.amrum.de (choose „wohnen“) you can find a variety of accomodation options ranging from private rooms for a small budget up to luxerious holiday homes.
There is also a Youth Hostel in Wittdün.

According to the weather we will be working either inside the studio, at the beach, inside the dunes or in the forest. Please bring water-/windproof clothing.
The studio is located at Amrum Spa, a health centre with a pool in Wittdün, which is close to the dunes. No shoes are allowed in the studio. Please bring socks.

Food

There are two Cafés located nearby: One of them directly inside the Amrum-Spa, the other just a few meters from there. There are Supermarkets in Wittdün, Nebel and Norddorf. Restaurants and Cafés you can find in all villages of the island as well as on some of the beaches.

Recognized Study Leave Program

Awaken the Dance Spirit is a recognized educational leave program organized by Gabrielle Staiger. The educational leave act embraces different requirements according to the individual state. Please inform yourself about the requirements in your state and talk to your employer. Due to the time requirements this educational leave programme will most likely be reckognized in your state and by your employer too!

Clothing

On Amrum there is a Deep Sea Climate. That means also that the wind is mainly blowing from the open sea, the air is low in pollutants and high in salt. Because of this very healthy type of climate, Amrum is also an Air Spa for respiratory diseases. Although in May we have the highest amount of sunny days and the least amount of rain per month and year the weather can change rapidly. Clothing to protect you from rain and wind and an extra sweathshirt is recommended. Light shoes for working on the beach are recommended, for instance an old pair of trainers.
Please bring sunscreen too.

Newsletter

You would love to come but you don‘t have time in May? You participated already and you would like to come again? No problem: You can sign up for a newsletter here which will inform you about this project as well as others to come.
I look forward to meeting you.