Practicing the Art of FreeDance

An Experiential Playshop
for Nia students and teachers
with Jason Alan Griffin

July 27 from 12 Noon to 3:00 PM
@Century Ballroom, East Hall in Capitol Hill
915 E Pine St.; Seattle, WA

A painter learns to apply paint.
A musician learns how to play an instrument.
A race car driver learns how to drive a car.
To excel at an art form, one must first know the craft and science of the form. The same is true of FreeDance.

One of the things that separates Nia from so many other forms of fitness is the degree of personal freedom. While there is a lot of structure to a Nia class, people often leave class remembering the freedom part the most and many people will describe Nia as a very ‘free form’ type of exercise. This is because it is the self guided aspect of the work, the free dancing, that really has the deepest effect on us. 

FreeDance is a rich and exciting opportunity to express ourselves by moving our bodies. The unstructured nature and palpable energy of FreeDance can be intimidating to some people. They will shut down and barely move, or worse, go grab a sip of water instead of participating in what could be the most exciting and deeply gratifying moment of class.
Through this playshop, you’ll gain a distinct understanding of the chemistry and energy of FreeDance, and learn many tools and techniques that you can apply to immediately practice a full, rich FreeDance. You can use these tools to energize and inspire yourself and to always dance to suit your style and abilities and honoring your mood at any given time.
As a teacher, I often see people who are concerned because they “don’t know what to do” and maybe they’re afraid of looking silly. This playshop is designed to overwhelm you with choices and expand your FreeDance by demystifying the whole process. We’ll be removing blockages and opening up new pathways of creative exploration.

Even the most experienced free dancer will create ruts and repeat some favorite movements every time. This work will take anyone out of their ruts. I will take us step by step through an inspirational method of creating your own style and your own FreeDance. You’ll never again wonder what to do when it’s time to dance, and what you do will be different every time. Register here to save $5 off the $40 admission at the door:

Have you ever watched someone totally lost in their FreeDance and wondered, "How is she doing that?" I'll teach you not only what she's doing, but what you can do to let yourself be that free dancers that others watch and admire for their freedom.

The tools you learn in this playshop, you will use again and again, in Nia class and in any dance situation. After the experience of these few hours with me, you'll always be inspired to dance, no matter the music or the situation.

Come and unleash your inner dancer!
Saturday, July 27 from Noon to 3:00 PM

The playshop is $40

(register early for discounted rate of $35)

By the end of this playshop you will have a grab bag of different FreeDance applications and you'll be able to energize any of your dancing with spontaneous, rich, varied movements with passionate energy. You will learn simple techniques that will exponentially increase the creativity you use to express yourself with your body.

This is not the Eight Stages of FreeDance, which is a tool for teachers to create choreography. This is the art of FreeDance itself; the stuff that goes on in class. And the tools we cover will be directly useful to you the next time you're in class and the teacher says, "Here's the part where everybody freedances! Go!"
This playshop also offers an added optional opportunity for any student interested; to guide the group in a Free Dance. No one is required to do this, but the results are so magical, that I suggest giving it a try, even if you’re not a teacher. The skill of guiding a group in a FreeDance experience is really nothing more than knowing the tools of Free Dance (which I'll teach in the playshop) and applying them to yourself and then asking the group to do the same. Teaching What You Sense. It’ll all make perfect sense when I break down everything you need to start leading dynamic spontaneous movement experiences.

***$35. Early Bird Registration is accepted here by registering now***
Cost at the door will be $40.

Practicing the Art of FreeDance:

An Experiential Nia Playshop

with Jason Alan Griffin

The Free Dance Playshop is designed for students and teachers of Nia or anyone interested in dancing or moving for fun and pleasure. It is for people who love to dance freely, and perfect for those who really prefer more structure. It is great for anyone brand new to Nia or to movement of any type. This will be a fun and playful exploration of a very important aspect of Nia called Free Dance. The intent of this playshop is to demystify the process of Free Dancing. As a participant you will gain tools to guide yourself in a Free Dance experience that is truly spontaneous and always unique. The skills learned will also be useful for Nia teachers or anyone who leads spontaneous, group movement of any kind.

Even if you are already a skilled lover of free dance, you will love this experience. And you will learn something you can add to what you're already doing.

Here's what some teachers have said about the experience of taking my "Practicing the Art of FreeDance Playshop":

Amy: "people are STILL talking about it!! It was a powerful and deeply empowering playshop for students and teachers. I would do it again!!"

Angie: "this is amazing. Jason provides a structure that gives freedom for you to really explore and play with what your body feels like doing. You can try on ways of moving that get you out of your usual style and expand. Once you "get" freedance, more and more you own your Nia classes by really listening to your body as compared to constantly repeating what the teacher is doing, or as a teacher what the routine dictates. I recommend Jason's playshop for both teachers and students if you want to go higher, have more fun and have a full bag of ideas to play with."

Julia: "In brief, I love every Playshop that Jason has led for us in Olympia. He has been here three times and I am moved every time in so many ways. Jason is giving, funny, focused and free. He is a gem in our Nia community. I encourage folks to find him somewhere and dance with him. It will affect your practice and deepen your understanding of yourself. Jason, nicely done on the description of this Art of FreeDance Playshop."

Kate: "Defying the music.. love that one! Shake it.. works like magic! 100% confidence in your choices has seen many of my students going all out in their freedances... fabulous work JAG. LIKE? LOOOOVE."