Five-Day Intensive Workshop with Eliza Sanders & Footnote New Zealand Dance
This intensive week offers a rare opportunity to dive deep into the practical tools and nuanced territories of Contact Improvisation. Fresh from three weeks of intensive CI training in Thailand, Eliza Sanders returns with new wisdom and embodied understanding to share with our community, alongside Footnote’s company dancers.
The Journey: Progressive Deepening Throughout the Week
Through structured explorations and guided improvisation, we'll delve into the physical practice while also discovering the connections between how we move together and how we navigate life with greater ease and joy. As is Eliza’s style, we'll explore both the practical tools of the craft and uncover how this embodied practice offers insights for moving through the world with more presence and connection.
We'll venture into advanced techniques and principles of Contact Improvisation. Each day will build organically on the last, allowing for genuine integration and discovery. The specific focus will evolve from the insights and practices Eliza brings back from the Inspiral intensive in Thailand.
Who This Workshop Is For
This intensive brings together diverse perspectives and experience levels. We welcome:
Graduates of Contact Improvisation foundations workshops ready to deepen their practice
Experienced movers curious about the broader applications of CI principles
Proffesional dancers eager to nuance and expand their practice
Community dancers eager to learn alongside professional practitioners
Anyone interested in exploring movement as a pathway to more effective communication and compassionate action
Those drawn to embodied practices for personal and social transformation
Prior Contact Improvisation experience recommended but not essential—our kaupapa embraces the wisdom that emerges when professional and community dancers share the learning space.
When: Monday - Friday, October 13-17, 2025
Time: 9am - 5pm daily
Where: Footnote Dance Studios, 1/80 Cuba St, Wellington NZ
What to Bring: Comfortable clothes for dancing, long sleeves and socks recommended
Included: Tea & cofee and snacks throughout each day (lunch not included)
Pricing
Early Bird: $300 (until September 12th) Regular Price: $350
About Your Facilitator
Eliza brings years of dedicated Contact Improvisation practice and teaching, known for creating environments where technical skill development and personal discovery flourish together. Her recent intensive training in Thailand with internationally renowned teachers adds fresh depth to her already rich understanding of CI as both movement practice and life practice. Former participants consistently highlight her ability to create space where everyone—from newcomers to experienced dancers—can access new layers of understanding and embodied wisdom.
Come As You Are
The most profound discoveries in Contact Improvisation emerge from the unexpected—from the intersection of different bodies, experiences, and ways of moving through the world. Your unique perspective and embodied wisdom are exactly what this learning community needs. Come ready to explore, to be surprised, and to discover how the dance floor becomes a training ground for creating the more compassionate, connected world we all long for.
No perfection required. Just openness to the movement.
