6 training modules spread over 10 months, taught by expert facilitators Hugh Stanier & Vega Luukkonen in the beautiful surrounds of Eden Studios, Berlin.
Join us to deepen your knowledge of Contact Improvisation (CI), Somatic Movement, & Group Improvisation. Expand your practice by: building a strong foundation; learning vital skills for moving from informed instinct during improvisation; & spending focussed time learning through doing in a warm & welcoming group.
Leave with the confidence & the tools to continue your personal research in dance improvisation, alone & in group settings.
> 6 x training modules over 10 months
>> facilitated by Hugh Stanier & Vega Luukkonen
>> hosted by STUDIO SOMA at Eden Studios, Berlin, Germany
>> Places limited to 20 participants
>> Tiered pricing according to self-identified level of income: 1 x module: €380 or €480 || 6 x modules (complete training): €2280 or €2880
>> Adults of all ages & backgrounds are welcome (18+).
>> Please do get in touch should you have any further questions before making your booking.
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module 1 >> GROUNDING & EARTH
25th-29th August 2025
The Earth is our first partner. It is always there to support us & catch us. By giving time to sink into stillness, while using the breath as a tool to drop tension from the body & release into the floor, we cultivate internal space & discover new movement possibilities from a place of tuned attention & open curiosity. Through letting go & yielding to gravity, the body can find easy strength & soft structure. This approach - emerging from somatics & the study of developmental movement patterns - requires patience & deep listening. Sometimes it may feel like we are ‘doing nothing’ & this can be challenging at first. But going slowly opens a greater capacity for the body to absorb new information: a practice of un-doing; releasing to re-learn. Slowing down, we begin to sense the sliding of fascia, the rolling of the organs, the flowing of liquids through the body. Then, when we enter physical connection with another person, we have a softer body tone, allowing greater sensitivity & awareness.
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module 2 >> SPINE & SPIRALS
22nd-26th October 2025
The spine is an endless source of research, fascination, & discovery. We will study how it functions - playing with its ranges of motion & many different movement qualities. We will offer specific movement patterns for optimal spine efficiency. This material facilitates you to open up new possibilities in your own movement, as well as integrating pathways in the body that are useful for entering into contact - principles which help to give ‘offerings’ & ‘invitations’ to others. Spirals are everywhere. The whole universe moves in infinite spirals, & the body loves to move this way too. We work with the idea of the Double Helix (DNA strand) - a brilliant image for two spines joining in motion. Spirals are efficient & effective. They can generate power or dissipate energy, build momentum in any plane of motion, & assist with easy transitions between levels. Playing with spirals opens up the many possibilities of multi-directional movement, as well as entering into backspace. The more we research spirals in our dance, the more we find.
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module 3 >> FALLING & CATCHING
3rd-7th December 2025
We will begin by playing with gravity & momentum, focusing on the ideas of falling & flying- both in solo movement, & in contact with others. We develop confidence in our abilities by starting close to the ground & building up through different levels, developing embodied trust. From researching the subtle mechanics of the ‘small dance’ in solo movement, as well as suspension & reaching, we progress into using spirals & momentum, discovering fluid ways of lifting each other by ‘catching a ride’. Working with the frame of the arms, we explore ways to connect to space & find counterbalance, providing frames to both lift & be lifted, & offering physical structures to be explored. We will focus in on the details & technique of body tone, alignment, & small points of contact, which all help with finding lightness in being lifted & efficiency in lifting. As well as these specific points of focus, there will be time given for free exploration, to integrate the material into the dance naturally & organically.
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module 4 >> GROUP AWARENESS & JAMMING SKILLS
25th February - 1st March 2026
Contact is a group practice: a continually changing & evolving space, held by the attention of the movers present. It allows us to gather together to discover, enjoy, & witness ways of moving, interacting, & being. In this module, we will focus attention more towards how we sculpt space as a group, opening our collective perception & examining how we move as an interconnected whole - how we frame dances by watching, giving space, feeling when to move, & when to be still. We will work with structures & scores to frame improvisation, & specific techniques for working in trios & larger groups. A dance score can be understood as being similar to a score for music, giving specific points of focus & guidelines which offer structure & direction to an improvisation. We will focus on cultivating a deeper awareness of listening, breathing, giving, receiving, & timing; balancing technique & poetry, structure & freedom, as playful beings in motion.
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module 5 >> DIVING INTO SOFTNESS
1st-5th April 2026
With softness & spaciousness already present - developed & understood in the body from the previous modules & training in-between - we will take time within this module to cultivate slowing down even more. From this spaciousness, we will discover the subtle nuances that allow for clearer & deeper communication within the dance. We will explore ideas & principles such as: sensing the gentle sliding of fascia that indicates direction of movement; tuning to a partners’ breath to hear their intention; & waiting in stillness together to allow the dance to arise from your shared connection. We will co-create a space of allowing & giving trust to oneself & our dancing partners, in order to feel more deeply the true nature of improvisation.
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module 6 >> INTEGRATION & EXPANSION
27th-31st May 2026
The final module will be an integrative experience, allowing us to re-cap, revisit, & remember all of the work that will be sitting in the body by this point in the training - a time to feel the accumulated embodied knowledge that has been discovered over the course of the year together. We will also take time during this module to explore how to go forward with your personal practice, asking how you can continue to grow your individual learning & build on the foundation that this training has given you.
OUR APPROACH // Hugh & Vega have been teaching together for over 10 years. Over that time they have created a unique approach to sharing the practice of Contact Improvisation:
”We believe the practice of Contact Improvisation is a deeply complex multi-layered discipline that weaves its way into your life. The form encompasses so many ways of interacting with yourself, with another, & with a group that it can present a mirror, opening up perspectives into how we choose to live.
Contact Improvisation might, at times, feel purely physical & technical (when studying the biomechanics of how bodies can roll, spiral, fall, & fly together). Yet in the next moment it soon opens up, presenting as a deeply therapeutic practice in which one experiences meeting someone through the intimacy of touch, both in movement & stillness. Furthermore, the experience of being in a jam space offers a wonderful sense of interconnected community, which is rarely experienced elsewhere in our fragmented contemporary world.
It is this multifaceted & rich experience that we aim to share throughout this training program. Let us guide you in discovering your own daring movement practice, that not only nourishes your body but also supports you to build depth & connection with others. We look forward to welcoming you on this collective journey.
FACILITATOR // HUGH STANIER is a highly-experienced movement facilitator, educator, & bodyworker, dedicated to creating spaces where individuals can explore movement with a sense of safety, curiosity, & connection. Starting his dance journey in breakdancing, Hugh transitioned into contemporary dance, studying at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. He has since performed with acclaimed companies such as Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez & 2Faced Dance. Hugh is passionate about helping others explore the transformative power of movement. He specializes in body-mind connection, offering personalized bodywork sessions, weekly classes, & intensive trainings for both individuals & groups. He is an expert in Contact Improvisation (CI), & teaches at festivals, events, & workshops across the world. As a trained teacher of Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing (TMW), Hugh integrates the grounding principles of Tai Chi & Qi Gong into all his work, inviting participants to discover their bodies through mindful exploration. His approach centers on fostering environments that feel secure & nourishing, allowing each person to connect deeply with themselves. Guided by an ethos of presence & play, all Hugh’s work emphasizes listening to the body’s innate wisdom & exploring movement that feels organic & authentic. His classes & trainings offer a gentle yet powerful space to reconnect with breath, awareness, & the freedom of self-expression.
To find out more about Hugh’s practice visit his website.
FACILITATOR // VEGA LUUKKONEN is a dancer, performance-artist & bodyworker made in Finland. She studied dance & theatre pedagogy in Helsinki at the Theatre Academy of Finland, where she completed her Master´s degree in 2008. Vega is an expert in Contact Improvisation (CI), & teaches at festivals, events, & workshops across the world. She has danced Contact Improvisation since she was a teenager, & developed her practice in the Finnish contact community, where she has shared learning with friends, colleagues, & fellow dancers for over 20 years. Her movement is informed & inspired by Aikido, Capoeira, & developmental movement patterns. Recently, she is more & more interested in a deeper understanding of the underlying principles of Contact Improvisation, leading to fine tuning, attention to detail, deep listening, & presence. She seeks ways to facilitate understanding of movement fundamentals, while staying connected to our own interest & journey of exploration where curiosity can stay most alive to discovery. As well as teaching Contact Improvisation as a duo form, she also work with collective scores & composition; expanding out from duet bubbles into trios & groups, composing the bigger space. She understands dance as a combination of technique & flow; form & freedom; being & doing.
To find out more about Vega’s practice visit her website.
Module Dates >>
>> 25th-29th August 2025 || Module 1: Grounding & Earth
>> 22nd-26th October 2025 || Module 2: Spine & Spirals
>> 3rd-7th December 2025 || Module 3: Falling & Catching
>> 25th February - 1st March 2026 || Module 4: Group Awareness & Jamming Skills
>> 1st-5th April 2026 || Module 5: Diving into Softness
>> 27th-31st May 2026 || Module 6: Integration & Expansion:
Daily Schedule >>
>> Morning Session: 10am-1pm
>> Lunch: 1pm-2.30pm
>> Afternoon Session: 2.30pm-5pm
Venue >> We are delighted that the full training will take place in the beautiful Eden studios, situated in Pankow, Berlin (Breite Strasse 43, 13187 Berlin). The studios have a cafe & sit in the middle of lots of garden space. It is also possible to book residency accommodation directly through Eden.
Accommodation >> This is a non-residential workshop & therefore you will need to find somewhere to stay in Berlin, if you are visiting from out of town. It is possible to book residency accommodation directly through Eden Studios (our venue for the training) - a perfect place to stay if you’d like to be close to the studio & remove the morning commute.
Food >> Meals are not included so please make sure you plan for bringing a packed lunch, snacks, & water bottle each day; & organising your own meal each evening. During each module we aim to organise at least one communal meal at low cost & with vegan/gf options for those who want to join for some social time with the group.
Clothing >> Please wear loose fitting clothing, with plenty of layers so you have suitable options for both hot, high-energy movement, & cooler, slower times of stillness & rest.
Who is this training for? >>
This training program is aimed at anybody wishing to deepen their improvisation practice, & integrate movement & dance further into their life. This course will give you the tools & technique specifically to further your relationship to the fascinating & continually evolving practice of Contact Improvisation (CI). Although this is not a teacher training program, there will be some guidance about how you might share the practice using Hugh & Vega’s pedagogical approach, & learning about how to create safe explorative spaces that foster & support collective movement practice.
Do I need to join the whole training? >>
The training is intended to be experienced as a complete package of all 6 consecutive modules. However, we understand that life is not always simple & factors such as work & family commitments, or available finance, can get in the way of committing to the full set of modules. It is therefore possible to join one or more of the modules as separate workshops.
Pricing >> STUDIO SOMA offers tiered pricing because we do not want anyone to be excluded from joining a workshop because of money. We trust you to self-assess & choose the payment option that applies to you.
1 x module: €380 or €480 || 6 x modules (complete training): €2280 or €2880
Please contact us to enquire about non-payment options if you are a student, currently unable to work, unemployed, on very low income, reliant on benefits, these prices are high because you use a different currency, or you are financially constrained for any other reason.
A deposit of €50 per module is required upon registration to confirm your booking. Full payment of remaining amount for each module can be made separately to spread the cost of the training across the year (payment deadline: two months in advance of each module’s start date). Please note: all deposits are non-refundable.
Accessibility >> Many people have fears that their fitness levels, personal physical challenges, body shape, age, or other factors may mean they will not be able to partake in a workshop, or would not be welcome there. We believe mindfulness & somatic movement is for everyone & aim to make our trainings as accessible & inclusive as possible. If you have any questions, anxieties, or fears about participating please contact us & we will happily talk through your personal circumstances & check whether we are able to make sure this training accessible for you.
