New!

Chicago Moving Company 2012 Classes, Winter Session presents
Dance Improvisation:
Wednesdays, 2/1 - 5/30, 2011, 3:15 - 4:45 pm
Hamlin Park Fieldhouse Theater, 3035 N. Hoyne St. map
$10/single class, $9 professional rate
Instructor: Ayako Kato
Info/Contact: furyuayajp at gmail.com or 312-330-4171

This class offers long-form improvisation technique to develop your own skills and practice of dance improvisation performance. Aiming at the best composition in the moment, participants will have opportunities to explore physical and mental preparation, technical and structural matters, and philosophical ideas. The class also includes: how to improvise as a group, how to work with live improvisation music and the opportunity to work with music improvisors.

Dance Technique:
Saturdays, 1/7 - 5/26, 2012, 10:15 am - 12:15 pm (no class on 4/7)
Outer Space (next door from former Silverspace)
1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. #3F, Chicago, IL 60622 map
$10/class suggested donation
Instructor: Ayako Kato
Info/Contact: furyuayajp at gmail.com or 312-330-4171

Class Description:
The class focuses on three aspects of moving in the space: body & mind awareness, anatomic structure & function, creativity. Learning artistic as well as practical aspects of moving their own body, participants will learn techniques that lead to a more dense presence and expression. To work on internal physical structure and alignment by heightening neuromuscular coordination and proprioceptive awareness, Ayako shares exercises studied from Irene Dowd and her own. The class filtered through her experience of ballet, modern dance, butoh, Tai-Chi, Noh theater and improvisation dance will develop your own physical philosophy as a dancer and movement creator.

2011

Chicago Moving Company 2011 Classes, Fall Session presents
Dance Improvisation:
Thursdays, 10/6 - 12/22, 2011, 3:15 - 4:45 pm (no class on 11/24)
Hamlin Park Fieldhouse Theater, 3035 N. Hoyne St. map
$10/single class, $9 professional rate
Instructor: Ayako Kato
Info/Contact: furyuayajp at gmail.com or 312-330-4171

This class offers long-form improvisation technique to develop your own skills and practice of dance improvisation performance. Aiming at the best composition in the moment, participants will have opportunities to explore physical and mental preparation, technical and structural matters, and philosophical ideas. The class also includes: how to improvise as a group, how to work with live improvisation music and the opportunity to work with music improvisors.

New!
Dance Technique:
Saturdays, 9/17 - 12/17, 2011, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm (no class on 11/26)
Outer Space (next door from former Silverspace)
1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. #3F, Chicago, IL 60622 map
$10/class suggested donation
Instructor: Ayako Kato
Info/Contact: furyuayajp at gmail.com or 312-330-4171

Class Description:
The class focuses on three aspects of moving in the space: body & mind awareness, anatomic structure & function, creativity. Learning artistic as well as practical aspects of moving their own body, participants will practice techniques that lead to a more dense presence and expression. To work on internal physical structure and alignment and heighten proprioceptive awareness, she shares exercises studied from Irene Dowd and her own. The class filtered through her experience of ballet, modern dance, butoh, Tai-Chi, Noh theater and improvisation dance will develop not only body alignment, but also your own physical philosophy as a dancer and movement creator.

New!
MOD (More Other Dance) Workshop!
Movement Workshop by Ayako Kato
Sat, 9/10, 1 - 2:30 pm
Hamlin Park Fieldhouse Theater, 3035 N. Hoyne St. map
$5
Instructor: Ayako Kato
This is a special workshop held as a part of The Other Dance Festival!

Chicago Moving Company 2011 Classes, Spring/Summer Session presents Classes with Ayako Kato

Extended!! Dance Improvisation:

Thursdays, 4/21-6/9 (8 times) & 6/23, 6/30 & 7/7, 3:15-4:45pm

Music Collaborator: Christoph Erb (reeds, Switzerland) on 5/26, 6/2 & 6/9

This class offers long-form improvisation technique to develop your own skills and practice of dance improvisation performance. Aiming at the best composition in the moment, participants will have opportunities to explore physical and mental preparation, technical and structural matters, and philosophical ideas. The class also includes how to work with live improvisation musicand the opportunity to work with music improvisors.

Ballet for Ballet- Anatomical Access to Ballet Technique:

Tuesdays, 5/3-7/5 (except 6/14, 9 times) 3:15-4:45pm

Through body conditioning and simple balletexercises, the class focuses on gaining more stable turn outby anatomically developing movement mechanisms and moving witha more comfortable and seamless manner. Participants will be ableto receive personal advice tailored to each individual's different posture.Modern/ballet dancers are welcome--from beginners to professional dancerswho want to move with less fatigue/more ease.

Hamlin Park FieldhouseTheater, Hamlin Park Fieldhouse 2nd Floor, Chicago

3035 N. Hoyne, Chicago, IL 60618 (Damen & Barry) map

Instructor: Ayako Kato
$10/single class, $9 professional rate

Saturdays, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Outer Space (next door from former Silverspace)
1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. #3F, Chicago, IL 60622 map
$10/class suggested donation
Instructor: Ayako Kato
Info/Contact: furyuayajp at gmail.com

*No class from 7/16.

Class Description:
IIn this class, Ayako Kato focuses on three aspects of moving in the space: anatomic awareness, physical function, creativity. Learning artistic as well as practical aspects of moving their own body, participants will practice techniques that lead to a more dense presence and expression. To work on internal physical structure and alignment and heighten proprioceptive awareness, she shares exercises studied from Irene Dowd and her own. The class filtered through her experience of ballet, modern dance, butoh, Tai-Chi, Noh theater and improvisation dance will develop not only body alignment, but also your own physical philosophy as a dancer and movement creator.

Contact/Information: furyuayajp@gmail.com or 312-330-4171

Links Hall 3030
Mini workshop by Ayako Kato on Sat, October 3, 2009: One, but whole
Time 12:00 (Noon) -12:30 pm
Links Hall 3435 N. Sheffield Avenue, Suite 207, Chicago, IL 60657

In this short workshop, Ayako Kato introduces how much awareness can be developed from one movement material. If you like, please bring one of your own to try out!

Thursdays, 1/24 through 3/27, 10 times

6:30pm—8:30pm
Suggested Donation $5–$10/class

Location: Silverspace, 1474 N Milwaukee Ave. #3R, Chicago, IL 60622

More Info & Contact: artunionhumanscape@live.jp

Class Discription:
Maintain and develop your body, practicing movement informed by anatomy, Qi Gong, deep breathing, acupoint self-massage, and imagery from the movement and state of nature. Ideokinetic Tao aligns your bone-muscle structure and organizes the energy flow in your body to achieve better coordination within your movement. The  class  aims  for  an effortless and expressive  way  of performance, encouraging movement that is more open and free from the core.

Instructor Profile:
Ayako works as a choreographer and dancer throughout the US, Japan and Europe. She has studied ballet since age 4 and received an MFA in Dance from the University of Michigan. Based on her own dance training experience from traumatic and rigorous ones to other eye, body, and mind opening ones, she has worked on building up her own physical practice. She taught her own method since 2000 throughout the Tokyo area in dance studios and intensive workshops; as well as giving masterclasses at the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the National University of Shimane (Japan) and other locations. She is currently one of Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artists 2007 and also one of recipients of CROSSCUT Sound and Movement Collaboration project supported by Experimental Sound Studio and Links Hall.

Free! Sound and Movement Improvisation Workshop in June 2007

Ayako Kato will offer a free improvisation workshop. The workshop will focus on how to prepare yourself to listen to your body better as a dance/movement improviser and how to coexist with music and musicians. This will culminate with an informal showing.

Details on Main Topics:

Week 1 Preparing Body

Week 2 Study of Ma, Space, Stillness, & Silence

Week 3 Creating Space (individual and w/ others)

Week 4 Being with Sound

Guest musicians: Keefe Jackson (saxophone), Brian Labycz (electronics)

Guest musicians will join in the week 4 and the showing.

When & Where: Wednesdays, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27  7-9 pm @ Silverspace 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. & 6/30 Showing 2-5 pm (Actual Showing starts from 4 pm) @ Links Hall 3435 N. Sheffield Contact, Reservation & More Info: Email

Double bassist Jason Roebke and dancer Ayako Kato lead an exploration into the possibilities of and intersections between improvised music and dance as original performance. Participants will investigate and expand their ability to establish their own space, then complement and coexist with sounds. This workshop will begin with warming and tuning up the body-mind condition as a medium for creation.

For more information or to register, contact Links Hall, Erica or CJ, at 773.281.0824 or info@linkshall.org.

Links Hall 3435 N. Sheffield, Chicago, IL 60657 www.linkshall.org

Our body movement is influenced by our memory and experience as human beings. In this class, Kato will explore how to realize full moments of being in diverse ways, how to grasp the whole as environment, and how to grasp our body from the core as one in space and time. This class starts with release and stretch movement informed by anatomy, acupoint self-massage, deep breathing, Qi Gong, and imagery.

For more information or to register, contact Links Hall, Erica or CJ, at 773.281.0824 or info@linkshall.org.

Links Hall 3435 N. Sheffield, Chicago, IL 60657 www.linkshall.org