Anouk Van Dijk

This five-day workshop, led by Anouk van Dijk, will introduce Countertechnique, the movement system she developed over the past 25 years. Designed to equip dancers with practical tools for a versatile and sustainable dance practice in the 21st century, Countertechnique emphasizes the process of incorporating information into action. Each day consists of three key components: a Countertechnique class, a Practical Tools session, and after lunch we will look at how Countertechnique tools can be implemented in improvisation and creation, with a special focus on adaptability to varying circumstances.

Since work environments differ from project to project, from moment to moment, as performers we need strategies to respond, adapt and remain versatile during rehearsals and performance seasons. Countertechnique offers specific tools and tasks to make training and dancing easier, more fun and more sustainable. Practical knowledge about the relation between gravity, energy, space and the body, and how thought, observation and sensations are related, promote a pro-active relationship to dancing and performing.

With a clear set of tasks and tools, and the free choice to implement these whenever most suited, dancers make their own choices whilst training, dancing and performing. This workshop is most suitable for professional dance artists who like to dance, work physically, and want to continue doing this for a long time. Dancers new to Countertechnique and those who would like to deepen their practice, are all welcome. We will be working within codified exercises and explore different aspects of task-based improvisation as we generate new movement material and performance situations.