This immersion/residency is an OPTIONAL addition to
Lean In: A 4-Week Committed Series with Shannon Sahaja
In this 4 week committed container we will level UP your skills on how to work with the necessary ingredients that are a prerequisite for having fun in Contact Improvisation: LISTENING, TRUST and FULL WEIGHT SHARING!
The benefits of a closed container are many. We deepen our trust of ourselves and each other and our understanding of the art form begins to bloom into our being, into our dancing and into our life.
3-6pm All Friday's in June: 3, 10, 17, 24
Say YES to this opportunity to be a part of a community where we can unpack the questions and insecurities that naturally arise when we are navigating the potent art sport of Contact Improvisation.
Each class will focus on:
* restorative contact practices to support your nervous system to establish a baseline in homeostasis, and parasympathetic reset.
* creating a solid somatic foundation of the principles of Contact Improvisation.
* developing the needed strength and understanding of your own architecture so you can safely hold others' weight.
* learning to TRUST yourself to GIVE your FULL Weight to your partner.
* working with the power of momentum to adjust your sails and fly into risk taking and ENJOY the WILD RIDE.
Lean In costs $200
($175 if you register by May 11)
Shannon Sahaja is an embodied alchemist with 2 decades of teaching and performing in the improvisational arts. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from one of the top dance conservatories in the country, Shannon went on to develop a skill set as a movement arts teacher that will knock your socks off. She has a unique ability to create safety for her students while spicing things up with humor and spontaneity.
As the Creative Director of Ecstatic Dance Oakland since 2015, Shannon witnessed how Ecstatic Dance brought Contact Improvisation to a massive amount of dancers new to the art form. Yet she felt frustrated that the true technique and practice of CI became watered down, and misinterpreted.
Shannon is committed to building a firm foundation for those wanting and willing to learn this martial art, dance, sport as a way of life.
Shannon studied extensively with many of the most influential practitioners of CI: Nancy Stark Smith, Chris Aiken, Andrew Harwood, Karen Nelson, Ray Chung, Kristie Simpson, Scott Wells, and Kathleen Hermesdorf.
Contact Improv and Relational Practice….
We believe there is a powerful parallel between contact improv and conscious relating in how it supports us to explore trust, boundaries, communication, listening, and closeness.
The immersion/residency will be hosted at HIVE Hawaii, a micro-retreat center walking distance to the beach in Kalapana Seaview Estates featuring a practice space with an ocean view, padded floor and vaulted ceilings.
Click here to read more about HIVE
Lotus Sattva M.A. is a passionate dancer, founder of HIVE Hawaii, and a transformational coach and facilitator. Lotus was named an “Ambassador for Change” by Bioneers and Lucidity Festival for her work supporting unification. She has been a social innovator for 20 years spearheading intentional communities and pioneering programs for personal and collective healing. She has innovated the Deep Listening Skills Training, Relationship Alchemy, Sacred Synergy and other conscious relating practices over the years. She was the Director of Community and Programs for Sundari Gardens in 2020-2021, and launched HIVE Hawaii March 2022 to be an incubator for cocreative culture.
Click here to read more about Lotus.
Lotus will be offering daily connection practices as part of the Immersion/Residency. These will be optional drop-in groups ranging from 1-2 hours offering an opportunity to share about your experience in a loving, nonjudgmental space. Practices will be informed by the group and may include dyads, talking circles, zegg forum, circling, meditation and more. We will gather the opening day to discuss the weekly rhythm for these practices to choose times that work for the most people’s schedules.
