Tour venues are offered the opportunity to book a workshop in conjunction with the performances of shift. These can be ground based or aerial and tailored to suit a particular group or venue and are suitable for ages 12+ and all abilities. All sessions will be taught by company members and/or collaborators.

Aerial - Wherever possible aerial workshops will take place on the set for shift, utilising the company’s apparatus and equipment and affording participants an extremely authentic experience of the company’s creative practice.

Due to the nature of the work and to derive the best possible experience we encourage small groups of participants, (approx 8 - 12) and recommend that these ‘taster’ sessions are a minimum of 2.5 - 3 hours duration.

These will include:
1. a simple movement warm up gradually building into more complex sequences
2. a basic introduction to harness and equipment usage and safety
3. a physical exploration of solo and duet work using abseil harnesses
4. creative play based around the shift rep.

*Other aerial techniques in addition to harness work e.g. Corde lisse, silks etc can be accommodated if desired but are not part of the current company rep for this tour.

Ground based - Gravity & Levity ’s performers are all highly skilled dancers and teachers and can offer movement workshops which relate directly to the companies work but are ground based. Working from a contact and improvisational base and leading into partnering we will explore the creative ideas which led to the formation of the current company rep.

Creative labs and extended workshops

Gravity & Levity offers a variety of creative laboratory sessions, structured to meet different group’s or organisation’s needs. These can include any of the above ‘taster’ session materials together with more detailed exploration and guidance. The examples outlined below are proposals for work which relates specifically to the current company rep but we welcome the opportunity of devising a tailor made package to suit each group’s needs and budget.

• Aerial harness techniques and safety
• Vertical dance/ wall running techniques
• Solo and doubles aerial dance on harness
• Working with existing aerial structures and propositions for working with props/objects in the air.
• Company rep – shift and Taking Flight
• Injury prevention and body conditioning for aerialists
• Creative design for aerial work with existing and invented apparatus (with designer, Mish Weaver and artistic director, Lindsey Butcher.)