Grooving With Alyssa Amarchi

Grooving with Alyssa Amarshi: Get ready to move, shake and let loose!

This class is for all bodies, abilities, and anyone who wants to tap into the joy of movement. Come find your groove through the influences of the dance cultures of Hip Hop, Dancehall, Funk and Experimental Movement.

Through gentle warm-ups, high energy exercises, movement repetitions, and explorations, my goal is to facilitate a space for you to find and tap into your body’s own groove.

I will share and honor the movement histories, cultures, techniques, and practices of those who have influenced my artistic journey, and also give experimental prompts and scores for you to discover your unique dance expression and creativity.

Whether this is your first or millionth time dancing, this class is an opportunity to let go, move to the rhythms and connect to your body.

The guiding question for this class is: what does a liberated collective body feel like?

Accessibility: The space has an air purifier. Masks are optional and will be provided (and I will bring extra for those who want to mask up). There is a single gender neutral bathroom. The space has taps.

I will provide alternatives and adaptations for all movements as needed, especially for higher intensity exercises. Participants are also welcome to sit out, stand still, witness, and make their own adaptations as needed. If there are any other accessibility concerns or needs, please feel free to reach out to me at Alyssa.amarshi@gmail.com

What to bring: Comfortable clothes for a range of movement

Water bottle that can be filled up in the space

Indoor shoes (sneakers suggested but also willing to accommodate those who wish to move in socks)

Politics: As I believe there is no such thing as a politically neutral space, I would love to share a snippet of some of the politics that influence my facilitation so you can see if you resonate -

My practice is deeply influenced by the revolutionary politics of Hip Hop and Reggae culture and artists like Talib Kweli, MosDef, Rapsody, Saul Williams, Noname, Def Sound, Peter Tosh and many more. The dance styles that have influenced me the most have come from Black, Brown, and African Diasporic people. This class pays homage to and is in solidarity with Black Liberation movements.

My dance practice has also been deeply influenced by queer ecology. Your queerness (through gender, sexuality, performance, and expression) is welcome here.

Because this class takes place on the stolen land of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, I will be sharing Land Back initiatives when appropriate.

This class is part of an Apartheid Free Community for a Free Palestine, and I ask that that products on the BDS list are not brought into the space. I am also happy to be accountable to BDS so feel free to let me know of any concerns as we practice liberation through movement and in our lives for Freedom for all people from Turtle Island to Palestine and beyond.