Contact Improvisation (CI) is a partner-based dance practice that explores movement through physical contact, shared weight, and spontaneous collaboration. It emerged in the 1970's, combining elements from dance, martial arts, and somatic practices.

This series of workshops offers a safe, clear, and embodied introduction to the core principles and physical tools of the practice — giving participants both conceptual understanding and felt experience. Exercises will include initiating and maintaining a shared point of contact, stillness, spiral pathways, weight sensing, and directional listening.

Please arrive on time, bring some water and wear loose clothing that covers the legs and shoulders.

Tickets: $25 (+ fee)

Bring a friend: $20 each (+ fee)

Door sales: $25 cash

Next workshops dates: Nov 1st, Nov 29th

Book here:  https://events.humanitix.com/contact-improvisation-beginnings-3

Looking forward to Trinity Valley's Market Day — a celebration of all things Horsie!  Sunday, 28th September at 10am.

I’ll have a stall there offering 30-minute ConTact CARE sessions for both riders and non-riders. Each session is $30 cash. Places are limited, so I encourage you to pre-book to secure your spot.

 To pre-book, just send me a message or comment below! I’ll also be taking some bookings on the day for walk-ins.

Come and experience how ConTact CARE can tune you up and support your horsie connection!

For more information on the Market:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GQwUbXuXn/  

Contact Improvisation (CI) is a partner-based dance practice that explores movement through physical contact, shared weight, and spontaneous collaboration. It emerged in the 1970's, combining elements from dance, martial arts, and somatic practices.

This series of workshops offers a safe, clear, and embodied introduction to the core principles and physical tools of the practice — giving participants both conceptual understanding and felt experience. Exercises will include initiating and maintaining a shared point of contact, stillness, spiral pathways, weight sensing, and directional listening.

Please arrive on time, bring some water and wear loose clothing that covers the legs and shoulders.

Tickets: $20 (+ Humantix charge)

Door sales: $25 cash

Next workshops dates: Sept 20th, Oct 4th, Nov 1st, Nov 29th

A movement workshop for everyone wanting to improve their strength, coordination, and balance in a dynamic and fun way.

Participants will engage in a light warm-up before moving to low-impact games that build in complexity.  The aim is for participants to rediscover their sense of agility and stability with coordination activities outside of the everyday norm.

Principles are taken from martial arts, brain-body integration and dance practices. Appropriate for both those still mastering the basics of balance and coordination, as well as those more athletically advanced.

*Please note this workshop is suitable for ages 16+

Get tickets here 

These classes include slow, floor-based weight-shifting, learning upbeat patterns of movement, and applying these elements in a fun and creative group setting.

The aim of these classes is to encourage participants to release excess muscle tension, heighten proprioception (body awareness), build strength and flexibility, exercise coordination and engage creativity 

This is intended for anyone new to dance, anyone wanting to have fun while exercising, or those returning to dance after a number of years - or someone who just wants to try something different!! 

Sliding scale: $10-20 cash at the door or bank transfer

Contact Improvisation (CI) is a partner-based dance practice that explores movement through physical contact, shared weight, and spontaneous collaboration. It emerged in the 1970's, combining elements from dance, martial arts, and somatic practices.

This series of workshops offers a safe, clear, and embodied introduction to the core principles and physical tools of the practice — giving participants both conceptual understanding and felt experience. Exercises will include initiating and maintaining a shared point of contact, stillness, spiral pathways, weight sensing, and directional listening.

Please arrive on time, bring some water and wear loose clothing that covers the legs and shoulders.

Tickets: $20 (+ Humantix charge)

Door sales: $25 cash

Next workshops dates: August 2nd and Sept 20th, 10-12 noon

These classes include slow, floor-based weight-shifting, learning upbeat patterns of movement, and applying these elements in a fun and creative group setting.

The aim of these classes is to encourage participants to release excess muscle tension, heighten proprioception (body awareness), build strength and flexibility, exercise coordination and engage creativity 

This is intended for anyone new to dance, anyone wanting to have fun while exercising, or those returning to dance after a number of years - or someone who just wants to try something different!! 

$10 cash at the door

Come along to this free workshop where you will engage in a light and playful way to reconnect with your own voice.

Guided by Margaret Dewes, a registered ConTact C.A.R.E practitioner, you will learn how to stabilise the breath, activate the back, ribs and resonators, explore sound quality, and play through rhythms and games to re-awaken creativity and focus. The aim of the workshop is to have the group coming together at the end to harmonise and sing together.

The techniques used in this workshop can help people appreciate and understand more about the body as an instrument, and equips participants with ways to continue making their own music.

This workshop is open to all adults who have a willingness to explore and discover sound. Prior singing experience is not necessary. Saturday 17 May, 10 - 11.30am, Pāpāmoa Library.

Register now to secure your spot. 

Join us for The Loose Choir, a playful and engaging series where we come together to explore sound, music, and voice in an open, creative environment. Over six weeks, we'll sing simple harmonies, improvise, play vocal games, and dive into breathwork—all while actively engaging our bodies in each exercise.

Whether you're new to singing or an experienced vocalist, this series invites you to explore the power of your voice and body, deepen your connection to sound, and discover new ways of expressing yourself. It's all about having fun, letting go, and finding freedom in sound and movement. No prior singing experience required—just come ready to play!

Cost: $10 drop-in or $60 for the entire series

* Please note: a minimum of three registrations is required. You will be notified and refunded if necessary.

To register: https://forms.gle/kE11Rr4yoewY1xAA9

Or if you have any inquiries, contact Margaret: counterbalance.nz@gmail.com

Guess where next??

To the wild, wild west and the Taranaki tarns.

I'll be there from October 28th to November 12th offering ConTact C.A.R.E sessions.  Get in touch with me if you'd like to make a booking or would like to try an introduction session at:

counterbalance.nz@gmail.com

I'll be offering 60 min appointments  as well as 30 min ConTact C.A.R.E introductory sessions. This is an ideal opportunity for people new to the modality to experience what ConTact C.A.R.E is, and feel the immediate benefits from old injuries being released.

You're very welcome to bring your pet animal for me to look at.

ConTact C.A.R.E is a NZ born modality that works with trapped pressure in the bone and connective tissue.  It addresses a range of symptoms, including muscular tension, back aches, neck pain, migraines, concussion, tinitis, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, and more.  ConTact C.A.R.E looks for the original cause of the symptom derived from an injury, accident, or shock trauma.  It releases the pressure from the original event that created a distortion through the body. 

A movement workshop for everyone.

A workshop made of dynamic, physical practices that encourages as well as stimulates our adaptability and capacity on all levels.

The workshop aims to create neural plasticity within the brain and allows time for the body to understand strength and balance through inner anatomical connectivity. Principles are taken from the internal martial arts, dance, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and natural movement. With playfulness at the heart of the workshop, they provide an optimal environment in which to engage and grow.

For those who are curious about body movement as well as those who are experienced in this area.

Due to the nature of this activity, this workshop is suitable for 16+ years.

Booking is required.

https://library.tauranga.govt.nz/whats-on/event-details/tctl/24327_eventdetails/event/2a025aef-77ad-42ad-8027-243a5659f389

A vocalisation workshop that allows space for self-exploration in breathing exercises, tone formation, and body resonance.  Participants will have the chance to create and practice harmonies,  choral rhythms, and begin to form their own melody from a pool of sounds.

There is an optional shared lunch afterward until 2pm.

To register, please email Margaret at counterbalance.nz@gmail.com

Places are limited.

$50

This is a course created for children who are drawn to the creative arts and who want to develop their physical expression.  Classes provide experience of the fundamental principles of dance and performance using visual art, music and theatrical elements to inspire movement and embodied imagination.

Open to all levels of experience.

The course group is limited to 10 children so that I can give individual time and attention to each child, and adapt the learning to suit their needs, enjoyment and curiosity.

Please register your interest for the free trial by emailing counterbalance.nz@gmail.com with the name and age of your child, and what activities they currently enjoy.

Free taster session:  August 8th

Course cost: $75 for six lessons starting from August 15th

If you have any further questions, please do get in contact with me.

Beyond the concept of core stability is the dynamic reality of core coordination, and how our extremities relate to our centre.  The organisation of our hands, feet and head directly affects whether we can transfer a force through our middle while still being able to breath.

Bracing can be useful but isn't always helpful.  Understanding more of the variety that our core offers us will give us more choices.  We'll have fun moving through different forms low to the ground before bringing it up into the vertical axis and playing with our balance, groundedness, strength and flexibility.

Friday evenings 5.30-6.45pm

July 12th, 19th, 26th

Ohauiti Settlers Hall

$15pp