sick dance 4 sick times

short description:

virtual dance classes hosted on Zoom, all experience levels welcome.
created and hosted by Bay Area based drag, performance, dance artist Dia Dear.

began in 2020 as a means of coping with unmanaged, disabling chronic pain, 'sick dance 4 sick times' is inspired by drag, chronic illness, M.E., Long COVID, and the desire to disrupt the intersecting and interlocking ways systems of oppression impact our embodiment. 'sick dance' seeks to engage our individual physical body’s own innate intelligence through a slow and gentle process-oriented movement methodology guided by our own physical sensations.  


winter class schedule:
11a PST on Thursdays
December 18, January 22, & February 19

Sign-up for one or the whole series. Each class will function as a stand alone experience.

Cost: Offered by donation and free to those in need. (Pay links shared after registration.)

long description:

 'sick dance 4 sick times' is a simple movement practice guided by our own individual sensations using gentleness and curiosity to attune our attention to our bodies, and over time, allow our physical sensations to direct our movement in big and small ways.

During class we will give our analyzing brains a rest and notice our physical sensations (or lack thereof) in detail and depth with non-judgement, gentleness, and curiosity. What we notice may surprise us! Over time, our practice of slowing down and giving attention allows us to open up to movement guided by our sensations at any given moment.

Instead of a prescribed set of steps or movements, in 'sick dance 4 sick times' class we will slowly practice noticing then following our physical sensations through a guided framework of simple instructions that can be readily adapted for the individual dancer.

'sick dance' can be done standing, seated/reclining, laying down and in complete stillness.

Participants will leave class with a framework for practicing 'sick dance' in their own time, along with written and audio instructions, a practice playlist, and recommended further reading and research. 

Dia Dear is a drag queen and experientially taught dancer/choreographer and performance artist. Their artistry is inspired by the drag of living, their visible and “invisible” illnesses, disability, trans and genderqueer embodiment as well as giving floor shows in 'underground' queer nightlife spaces, theaters, musuems, and the streets in s.f. bay area and around the world since 2011. A COVID infection in 2022 shortly following hospitalization for another infection due to immunesuppression treatment for aggressive inflammatory arthritis left Dear largely bed and housebound from worsened M.E. 

for more about sick dance, including patreon links: sickdance.carrd.co

for sample written instructions: "Let's Sick Dance" In Dance, Fall 2023

access:

'sick dance' can be done standing, seated/reclining, laying down and in complete stillness.

Auto-captions will be enabled on Zoom.

Although *not* necessary to review, written and audio instructions will be emailed 24hr prior to class. Class will include one break, and participants will be encouraged to break as much as needed.

Participation through video / voice / chat is not required to join. Class will not be recorded.

If you have specific access needs not mentioned here, please describe in brief below. I will reach out directly to confirm & try my best to accomodate.