The Art of Movement Retreat

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Led by Sarah Lisette Chiesa, Somatic Practitioner, Assistant Professor of Dance, and Applied Interdi.

Monday -Friday 

9:00-10:00 Somatics

Each morning for one hour we will start with a gentle somatic based movement class to awaken energetic channels in the body and body systems. Some of the somatic techniques introduced stem from Feldenkrais, Yoga, Body Mind Centering, Tai Chi, and Laban. 

Pause/Journaling 

10:30-11:45 Improvisation

In duos and groups participants will use improvisation and Authentic Movement practices to enliven memory stored in the body. we will activate memory through the sensing body or through embodying memory. “Authentic Movement is a form of expressive movement therapy which grew out of an inner-directed approach to movement developed by Mary Starks Whitehouse. It was described as unpremeditated, genuine, or "authentic." Whitehouse called her work "Movement-in-depth.” It does not have to look like anything; it is not necessarily dance. Participants will gain consciousness of their sensing body through embodying memory. 

12:00-1:30 Lunch/ Meditation

1:30-3:30 Building a Vocabulary of Movements

As a class we discuss ways to build an efficient vocabulary of movements for everyone. These movements will stem from the work done in relation to embodying memory and targeting habits in our mundane actions. Participants will learn about ways to ease the tension of the body in their daily lives and build more proactive body mind cohabitation as part of their routine. 

Saturday 

9:00-10:00 Somatics

One of gentle somatic based movement class to awaken energetic channels in the body and body systems. Some of the somatic techniques introduced stem from Feldenkrais, Yoga, Body Mind Centering, Tai Chi, and Laban.

10:30-1:30 Play as Performance

Group will culminate the weeks practices with a final gathering/offering. In a performance setting or Jam like space the group will openly exchange through embodied practice or movement what they gained and lost during the weeklong workshop. In this part of the week, I will present my research of the Energetic Presence of the Moving Body Left in Space and facilitate a small immersive public performance with all the participants. 

Sarah Lisette Chiesa is an interdisciplinary performance artist who has lived and worked in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Venezuela.  She attended the North Carolina School of the Arts for High School, received her BFA from SUNY Purchase College in 2204, a Postgraduate in Choreography from Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, Austria in 2014, and received her MFA from the University of Washington in 2020.  

She studied sculpture at the Canossa Scuola di Scultura in Reggio Emilia, Italy 2016.  Sarah has been dancing professionally with Shen Wei Dance Arts since 2008 and performed nationally in venues such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, LA Performing Arts Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, and the Park Avenue Armory. Internationally, the company has performed in Europe, Asia, Brazil, and the Middle East. As a guest performer, Sarah finished a seven-week tour in China with Shen Wei Dance Arts 25th Anniversary in 2024.  She has also performed works by Kazuko Hirabyashi, Sidra Bell, Kathryn Alter, Kevin Wynn, Jose Limon, Danny Grossman, Noemie Lafrance, Tania-Perez Salas, Stefan Dreher, Hubert Lepka, Yang Liang, Franca Ferarri, Brian Brooks, Daniel Charon, Celia Rowlson Hall, and Susan Marshall.  

As an interdisciplinary artist, she explores concepts surrounding psychology, feminism, human rights, and the environment. She has presented her work in theaters, museums, and art galleries in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal, Italy, Austria, Venezuela, Chile, Spain, and India. She has created interdisciplinary works with Dom Bouffard, John Mattuizzi, Jacopo Foggini, Yuval Avital, Pier Giorgio Casotti, Mario Vighi, Frabrizio Orsi, Kitka Ensemble, Dorien Silec with Robert Wilson, Karmina Silec, Ana Baigorri, Aaron Bugaj (Biosphere 2), and Elena Chernova (School of Music UofA).  Recently, in February, Sarah’s choreography, in collaboration with Karmina Silec and Sidra Bell, toured at the LA Opera of the production of “Old Man and the Sea”. 

Currently, Sarah is collaborating with the School of Art and the School of Architecture, on a the Buffelgrass Housing Project for the homeless community of Tucson.  As an educator, Sarah has taught in institutions such as Aterballetto, Balletto Toscana, and CIMD Milano (Italy), and School of Performing Arts Bangalore (India), The University of Washington, The Dominican University at LINES Ballet, the University of California Santa Barbara, and is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Arizona.