Embodiology® Immersion with Dr. S. Ama Wray

THIS IMMERSION IS FOR EVERYONE, FOSTERING INNOVATION ACROSS ALL CREATIVE DISCIPLINES REGARDLESS OF YOUR ARTISTIC OR MOVEMENT FOUNDATION. THE EXPERIENCE IS SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE 16 YRS AND OVER, SUPERCHARGING COURAGEOUSNESS IN YOUR CREATIVITY, YIELDING JOY, RESILIENCE, AND WELL-BEING.

ABOUT EMBODIOLOGY®

During this week-long immersion, participants will exponentially increase their capacity to innovate, whilst enhancing their wellbeing, vitality, and empathy toward others. The Embodiology®️method teaches you how to pay attention to your body. Sensory intelligence is a gateway to knowing, connecting, and communicating with others more effectively. Embodiology uses specific principles drawn from traditional African performance methodologies to shape an optimizing mind-body practice. The workshop combines movement, music, and sensory practices to build mind-body dexterity that transforms your creative capacity exponentially. Embodiology® is a product of action research in Ghana, mainly from within an Anlo-Ewe community in the Volta Region. And in respect to drawing upon their indigenous knowledge, resources are returned to their community each time Embodiology's principles are shared in full or in part.

DEADLINE TO APPLY ~ NOVEMBER 29TH

ELIGIBILITY 

This immersion is designed for participants age 16+ who are fully vaccinated and have a desire to create and connect.

EASY REGISTRATION PROCESS (DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: November 29th)

Step 1 ~ Send an email to Lillian@carmeldancefestival.org (We welcome you to tell us a bit about yourself including any information about your musical/instrumental experience, and/or attach your resume, biography, or social media details, but providing personal materials is not required to register.) 

Step 2 ~ Provide proof of vaccination or a written statement of intention to be fully vaccinated before the program begins.

Step 3 ~ Pay for your tuition by scrolling to the bottom of this page

Step 4 ~ Arrange your Room & Board by emailing Hidden Valley at: info@hiddenvalleymusic.org

(For information and instructions about housing and meal plan, which is registered for separately, please see below.)

ABOUT THE FOUNDER/CREATOR ~ S. AMA WRAY, PH.D.

Dr. S. Ama Wray TEDx Speaker and Professor of Dance at the University of California, Irvine is the creator of Embodiology®, an award-winning practice optimizing human performance through improvisation. For over 30 years she has been performing, teaching, researching and choreographing across 4 continents, performing with London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Rambert Dance Company and JazzXchange, across Europe, Africa and Africa. In 1992 she began dancing Harmonica Breakdown, choreographed by Jane Dudley in 1938, composed by Sonny Terry, and is now the custodian of this seminal modern dance work. Wray’s own artistic work habitually brings dance and music back into closer alignment and artistic collaborators have included Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Julian Joseph, OBE, Nicole Mitchell, Mojisola Adebayo, Fleeta Siegel and Kei Akagi. Her scholarly work has resulted in the 2021 launch of the Embodiology Teacher Training program and she has published chapters on her methodology in British Dance, Black Routes (2016) and The Oxford Handbook of Improvisation (2019). A former National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts Fellow, she began exploration into performance and technology creating Texterritory produced by Future Physical. These digital terrains continue to be explored through Al 4 Afika, an initiative she co-founded with choreographers, data scientists, scholars, and entrepreneurs in 2020.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, November 15 ~ Scholarship Application Deadline

Monday, November 29 ~ Application Deadline

Sunday, December 12 ~ check-in from 2-4pm, movement practice, and orientation ~ dinner only

Friday, December 17 ~ SHOWING at 6:00 pm PST

Saturday, December 18 ~ check out by 10:30 am ~ no breakfast provided

(Participants are welcome to stay the night on December 17th and checkout on the morning of the 18th, or depart immediately after the reception on Friday, if it works better for them.)

SAMPLE SCHEDULE (subject to change) 

8-9:00 am ~ breakfast

9am-11:55 pm ~ Immersion

12-12:55 pm ~ lunch

1-4:00 pm ~ Immersion

6-7:00 pm ~ dinner

7-8:00 pm ~ optional evening seminar/activity

ARE YOU A TEACHER OR INSTRUCTOR?

If you are a teacher (any subject, any age group) you will typically be using a range of instructional guidelines. This can be stressful if they are not working effectively. Embodiology® enables you to access all of your pedagogical resources and expand them exponentially with a view to the particular needs of your audience. Being able to think on your feet with the ever-changing needs of students will give you more confidence and direction. The mindful dimensions of this work will replenish you and give you the tools to do this for yourself.

TEACHER TRAINING PREREQUISITE FULFILLED

The Embodiology® Teacher Training program began in 2021. This is a 220-hour training and to be eligible for this students must complete an immersion in the six principles  ~  a 35-hour training that culminates in at least one performance. By taking this Carmel Valley Dance Festival Workshop you will have fulfilled that prerequisite for the teacher training 2022 cohort.

TESTIMONIAL FROM PIANIST AND REHABILITATION TEACHER 

“I had a lot of experience with body awareness before learning about Embodiology. Since I’ve started Embodiology I’ve noticed several changes. 

First, I’m much more able to be aware of the relationship between my arms and torso and how their movement relates to the flow of the music. I can experience my body movement as creating and also flowing with the musical experience. This new awareness feels great when I’m performing.

Another thing is I’m much more able to work with students in terms of organizing larger arm and body movements that are directly related to musical expression. Students can integrate these movements very quickly and have good musical results too. And it’s more fun for them in comparison to some of the very detailed technical material I teach. It’s easy to get too into an analytical mindset which makes it very hard to be in touch with the flow of the music, which is why most people are taking piano lessons in the first place. Embodiology has added some great new tools into my arsenal.“ -Rebecca Bogart - Bay Area Pianist and Rehabilitation Teacher 

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CARMEL DANCE FESTIVAL & HIDDEN VALLEY PARTNERSHIP

Carmel Dance Festival is managing the registration for the workshop and Hidden Valley is managing the registration for Room & Board. For all Embodiology questions and concerns contact Carmel Dance Festival and for all Room & Board inquiries, please reach out to Hidden Valley Music Seminars.

Carmel Dance Festival

Email: Lillian@carmeldancefestival.org

Phone: (310) 923-2766

Hidden Valley Music Seminars

Email: info@hiddenvalleymusic.org

Phone: (831) 659-3115

COST​ ~ $1375 for Tuition and Room & Board

$675 1-week (check-in on Sunday between 2-4 pm and check-out on Saturday before 10:30 am)

$250 Non-refundable security deposit

$700 Room & Board (see guidelines below)

FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE EXTENDED ~ November 22nd by 5:00 pm PST

Carmel Dance Festival is NOT offering scholarships for Room & Board. To be considered for a tuition scholarship:

Step 1 ~ register (see above)

Step 2 ~ email  the materials listed below to: Lillian@carmeldancefestival.org

• Written or video recorded statement of interest. Share why do you want to participate in the EMBODIOLOGY® IMMERSION.
• Written statement of financial need
• Three references (with emails and phone numbers) or Two letters of recommendation

LOCATION ~ Carmel Valley Village, CA

Among the rolling hills and grapevines of Carmel Valley, California, you'll find vineyards, tucked-away inns, championship golf courses, award-winning restaurants, rugged hiking, and horseback riding. And it's all just a short, stunning drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur.

HIDDEN VALLEY MUSIC SEMINARS ~ ABOUT THE CAMPUS

Hidden Valley's eight-acre campus comprises a 300 seat theatre, a dance studio, rehearsal gazebos, a classroom, a dining/recreation hall, and seventeen lodging rooms. Large outdoor decks are adjacent to the dance studio and the theatre. All facilities are on the ground floor and easily accessible. 

Hidden Valley Music Seminars was born out of a deep concern for the development of extraordinarily talented young artists. Programs in the fields of music, theatre, opera, and dance have occupied most of the time and energies of the staff and faculty since its inception in 1963.

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The Master Class concept has always been a part of the Hidden Valley project and through the years, students from around the world have benefitted from the teaching of some of the great musicians of our time. The Dance Center was initiated in 1973 and, through enthusiastic community support, became one of the most popular of Hidden Valley's programs.

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In 1983 Hidden Valley joined the educational centers worldwide which were offering Elderhostel programs. Within four years, Hidden Valley became one of the 75 "supersites" in America presenting at least 40 Elderhostel/Road Scholar weeks per year. The interaction between the older and younger students has become one of the exciting aspects of the Institute's campus life. The constant thread throughout Hidden Valley's existence has been an uncompromising interest in the careful selection of students and faculty to represent the highest quality of each possible. Founder and General Director, Peter T. Meckel, notes, "As members of a wonderful local community and an international musical family, we treasure our connections to friends and supporters. We pledge our unwavering dedication to quality and substance in all aspects of our work."

ROOM & BOARD 

For COVID-19 safety precautions, workshop attendees/auditioners are required to stay on campus at Hidden Valley Music Seminars, An Institute of the Arts. (This policy applies to locals as well, for bonding and networking purposes.) See below for more information.

COST

$700 per week for double occupancy room with 3 meals per day

$900 per week for a single room with 3 meals per day or 

$300 non-refundable security deposit

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ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS

The WADDELL CENTER Residence Hall has 17 simple, clean and cheery, non-smoking rooms. Each room has two twin beds, a dresser, and a bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. All rooms exit directly to a deck or walk via a sliding glass door, which can be locked from the inside. Each room has an individually controlled heater, bed linens, and towels. If you will need an alarm clock or hairdryer, you should bring these with you. LUBOW LODGE is a beautiful new residential center, adding six spacious double-occupancy rooms with a queen bed, a twin bed, air conditioning, and bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink. The Hidden Valley campus provides free wireless internet access. There is a computer and printer available for guests in the Fireside Room. There are no telephones in the campus rooms. Important calls may be directed to our main office (831) 659-3115 and we will post messages immediately on the door to your room. Outgoing calls may be made from the front office. Additional nights in a Waddell Center or Faculty Lodge room outside the dates of the program you are attending can be arranged, on a space-available basis.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Please specify any and all food allergies when registering for Room & Board. The kitchen does serve some vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. However, if you have major dietary restrictions, you might want to bring some of your own food with you to supplement the menu.

MORE INFORMATION & TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM

Link for more information:   https://www.hiddenvalleymusic.org/lillians-resident-dance-workshops.htm

Email: info@hiddenvalleymusic.org

Call: (831) 659-3115

TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS

The closest airport is Monterey and the closest is San Jose. Details regarding ground transportation options are included in the Welcome Packet.