Global Underscore

Sunday June 19, 2011

1-5 pm, $10-20 sliding scale

Watertown Center for Healing Arts
17 Spring St. Watertwon, MA

The "Underscore" is a simple structure developed by Nancy Stark Smith for focused practice of dance improvisation and Contact Improvisation. Some familiarity with CI is helpful. There is a kind of mystique that has grown up along with it over the many years of its development, mainly because, unlike many other CI events, there is a prerequisite...you need to hear the introductory talk (approx.an hour and a half long) about the Underscore before doing it. That is only for the purpose of getting everyone more or less oriented to the structure and language of the score. The other thing that makes it different than a regular jam is that everyone arrives at the beginning and stays until the end, and it is usually three and a half to four hours. This time includes arriving, time to have a circle together, warm up, dance together, have some solo reflection time, and share with the group at the end. The Underscore is a wonderful practice that can deepen over time. We hope to begin holding them more regularly in Boston over the next year.

This special Underscore on June 19th is a "Global Underscore." That means that all over the world there are other people doing the Underscore at the same time that day! This is similar to an event created by Claire Filmon in Paris, called the "Global Underscore Solstice," which has happened (almost) every year for the past ten years, around the summer solstice. There is a time at the beginning and end of the Underscore when we all stand together facing the next site around the globe, making an Underscore ring around the planet! So far this year we will be dancing with people in New York City, Chicago (where Nancy Stark Smith and Mike Vargas are giving a workshop), San Francisco, New Zealand, France, Italy, Buenos Aires, and French Guyana. More are expected to join us!

Important points

• There will be an introductory talk held the morning of the practice at a little Chinese restaurant around the corner called *Wonder Cafe, 58 Mt Auburn St, Watertown*, at *11 am*.
• Please *RSVP* if you are planning to attend. We are compiling a list of names to share with all the other sites.
• Call Dey *339-368-0163*, or email *deysummer@gmail.com* with any questions
• Hope you will join us!