Passing Project Immersive
August 3-5
Led by Tracy Penfield & Tess Holbrook of Passing Project

We are thrilled to introduce the first Junction Dance Festival, a three-day dance fest to expose and share with the community the wonderful talent of local amateur and professional dance artists. 40+ dancers from Vermont, New Hampshire and beyond will be gathering in downtown White River Junction for a whole week-end and will introduce you to their specific dance style and mode of choreographic expression.

In an era of ecological collapse and species extinctions impacted by unrestricted extraction of the land, what is the value of trying to see the world through the eyes of the more than human? Foregrounding the symbiotic relationship of lichens, Lichen Party proposes that we learn about lichens in order to learn from them by cultivating what artist Zheng Bo calls "honing our ability to sense and respect the natural forms of life that surround us." Who are lichens? What would it feel like to experience their sense of time?

Join an expert arborist and aerialist team for a unique outdoor workshop where you learn the ropes of climbing as well as flex your creative spirit from the safety of harness dancing. For any curious movers - aerialist, climber, researcher, dancer, arborist, acrobat, explorer - ascend into a world of aerial exploration and personal discovery with nature as your creative backdrop. No prior experience necessary, just your desire and openness to move your body and commiserate with nature.

Connecting with horses through nature-based dance and embodied exploration. Gentle and creative movement experiments to deepen your relationship with the earth, with horses and with yourself.

In this group session we will begin by finding a sense of grounding, restoration and joy through simple somatic dance and movement. These practices* will open our awareness to nature and our sensitivity to the horses. Feeling into the relationship of our own sensory bodies and that of the horses, we will communicate from near and far, in physical and in energetic touch. 

Montpelier Traces @ North Branch Nature Center -  June 18
Rutland Traces @ Rotary Park -  June 25

10am-12pm

Traces, an outdoor dance happening, celebrates the change into summer, dancing in public spaces, and connection of community.

Rutland program:

CONTEMPLATIVE CREATION

Dance Artists,

LET'S CELEBRATE WINTER SOLSTICE AND GENERATE SOME HEAT

Easy to learn - All ages welcome!
No experience necessary - LIVE MUSIC!

Arrive at 5 PM

~Bring your light - literally! Bring lanterns, paper lanterns you may have made, or a flashlight we can diffuse with colored tissue paper (we'll have these on hand!)

~For those who have paper lanterns (like me who has had one hanging in my closet for five years from my son's kindergarten class), let's REUSE your beautiful creations and bring them to life again! 

Playful, imaginative and inspirational, POP UP is inspired by the personal stories, memories and anecdotes of a community. The one-of-a-kind performances are the outcome of Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble's summer residency with the Hopkins Center this year during which they talked to scores of Upper Valley residents and students in preparation. During their stay, the ensemble also led workshops on Soundpainting—a universal sign language developed by composer Walter Thompson for live composition with improvisers.