Undulation: A regular rising and falling, or movement to alternating sides; movement in waves. A wavelike form, outline, or appearance. One of a series of waves or wavelike segments.

The wave form, or undulation, is possibly the oldest signature of all biological life. Everything in this universe seems to move in gradually shifting cycles, suggesting that all life has formed from this process of altering alternation. The human spine is an excellent example: a composite of waves, a study in intervals and scales. We could think of dancing as awareness of and playing with waves. Music can also be understood as an auditory map of pulsation, the conscious composition of frequency, a way of allowing us to perceive an accented phase of the wave. Change the accent, and the quality of time changes, inspiring a different physical and expressive response. Working from a strong technical basis rooted in West African dance and music, this workshop invites movers to explore the dialogue between inner and outer realities, and investigate ways of responding and organizing the individual and the collective body. We will propose games that illustrate aspects of music theory, engage in somatic and rhythmical explorations and guided improvisation. And we will dance together.

Interview with Francesca Pedullà about the Workshop