Creation of small danced solos/self-portraits based on a personal collection of photographic images that will serve as a basis and visual dramaturgy for the choreographic portraits to be developed by each participant.

During the 2 days of the laboratory, participants will be invited to explore and develop their own solo proposals based on different methodologies and processes of creation in contemporary dance with the artistic coaching of the Portuguese choreographer Rafael Alvarez, also allowing a crossing and intersection of the collective process. At the end of the laboratory, an informal presentation and exhibition of the work-in-progress will be organized, integrating the different solo choreographic segments and sharing the different photographic collections that integrate the research and creation process, in a logic of installation/choreographic landscape.

Inspired by the japanese art genre “ukiyo-e”, which flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries in Japan. Its artists produced woodblock prints and paintings of such subjects as female beauties, kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers, scenes from history and folk tales, travel scenes and landscapes, flora and fauna, and erotica. The term ukiyo-e (浮世絵) translates as “images[s] of the floating world” or floating/fleeting/transient world, as the Japanese term used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects of Edo period Japan (1600–1867).

Each participant must previously create and select 5 images/photographs (in jpg digital format) for the beginning of the Laboratory (these images can be complemented with new ones during the workshop). The selection of these images is free and can follow a symbolic, subjective or metaphorical, circumstantial or random, fictional or abstract,

realistic or factual logic, which in different ways can feed/map/map the proposal for the construction of a possible self-portrait/dance biography.

– In addition to these 5 digital images, each participant must bring a cartridge Instax Mini pack of 10 or 20 film sheets (to be used to print their images during the workshop).

– In the end, participants will keep their personal collection of around 10 instax mini photographs that document their individual mouvement projects.

Open to all participants with or without prior experience in contemporary dance andwith interest and motivation to deepen their experiences and work tools in contemporary dance/performance from the perspective of creation and interpretation. Participants from other artistic areas (visual arts, photography, theater…) are encouraged to participate.

Limited to 10 participants maximum.