Dance educator Diane Smagatz-Rawlinson will facilitate two workshops at Gibney Dance Center in New York City, in September to train teachers in the improvisational movement practice and philosophy known as InterPlay.
Created in 1989 by San Francisco Bay Area dancers Cynthia Winton-Henry and Phil Porter, the practice helps to build positive community through improvisation, speaking, singing and storytelling in a dance class setting. There is no right and wrong in InterPlay, which helps foster an accepting, non-judgmental atmosphere. Students learn to be comfortable and confident in diverse group settings.
Smagatz-Rawlinson was one of the first educators to be certified in the technique. She holds dance degrees from Ohio State University and UW-Madison and currently teaches dance at Wheeling High School in Illinois.
Gibney Dance Center (890 Broadway), September 23, 3:00–6:00 pm and September 24, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. For more info go to interplay.org.
Diane Smagatz-Rawlinson with InterPlay co-founder Phil Porter
Photos courtesy of Smagatz-Rawlinson.