Welcome to this one day workshop for a fun and enjoyable collaborative learning experience designed for both dancers and musicians.

Key information

Course length:

Full day or 3 hours.

Art form:

Contemporary Dance and Jazz (music). Suitable for all levels from beginners up to those studying at undergrad level in these art forms. 

Mode of study:

In-person. Held at your institution.

Contact details:

hello.soundofmovement@gmail.com

Joel Rocca - 07944558959

Join this exciting one day workshop for an enjoyable day of practical hands-on learning. Enhancing skills in creative thinking, collaboration, improvisation, and composition/choreography. 

Students of music and dance come together in this cross-artform workshop creating and learning together in a collaborative environment. 

Workshops play a crucial role in the development of musicians and dancers, offering a variety of benefits that contribute to their growth, skill enhancement, and overall artistic development.

What makes this workshop unique is that it involves both musicians and dancers; working, learning and creating together in a collaborative environment. Lead by an engaging team of young musicians, dancers and educators who are pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz, classical, afrobeat and dance.

Our tutors have expanded on conventional approaches to improvisation and composition, having set out to challenge and redefine music making and collaborative performance.

Using a plethora of cues, parameters, predetermined music and invitations, our tutors have produced a methodology which allows musicians to be guided and informed in real time by dancers movement, and in turn, dancers to be guided by musicians through what and how they play.

The workshop, designed for both music and dance education, uses this methodology as the foundation to teach and refine key skills in performance, composition, improvisation, harmony, rhythm, choreography and movement skills. The workshop will be specifically tailored for the instrumentation of the group.

Inspired by ‘The Sound of Movements’ own work ‘The Sound of The Suite’, the workshop is a collaborative, hands on, performance-based learning experience in which participants will spend time creating a piece of work consisting of a composition and choreography. Participants will use this template to improvise over, taking it in turns to interact with one another, experimenting with self-expression and creativity whilst being introduced to key movement, improvisational and compositional skills.

The collaboration between the musicians and dancers is a dynamic and interdisciplinary process which inspires new ideas and perspectives.

Participants will gain a variety of benefits from attending this workshop including; skill development, collaboration and ensemble skills, genre exploration, technical training, choreography exploration, body awareness and conditioning, cultural and historical context of music and dance, aural and listening skills, development of expression and artistry and feedback from professionals.

Guidance and feedback will be given from our established professionals who are working in the industry today. With a background of qualifications from top educational institutions and high-level performance accolades, our tutors provide knowledge and experience of their field, industry insights, networking opportunities, customised guidance, constructive feedback, inspiration and motivation, and will demonstrate real-world application.

Participants will be encouraged to explore their creativity, learn how to create music and choreography and perform in an ensemble. Musicians will learn how to work and create alongside dancers and vice versa.

The course includes sessions on:

• Play, spontaneity and freedom

• Cooperation

• Making brave choices

• Developing confidence

• Composition and choreography

• Embodying character and communicating emotions/ideas

CLICK HERE for more information and a detailed layout of how the workshop will be structured.

Overall Workshop Learning Objectives

• Developing collaboration skills

• Learn and develop preexisting improvisation skills

• Growth in personal confidence, self expression, developed creativity and ability to work with others in a collaborative environment.

• Learning to improvise whilst following either a dancer or musician.

• Aural development.

• Musicians will develop their Harmonic knowledge, learning key compositional and improvisational skills.

• Musicians will develop their skills and abilities whilst working in an ensemble.

• Dancers will develop their abilities with working with musicians, learning key skills in guiding and communicating with musicians.

• Creativity, artistry, expression and confidence building through collaboration.

Benjamin Rocca is an award winning UK Jazz pianist based in Hertfordshire and London. He works around the country performing his original music as well as working with artists such as Flo Blue. He released his debut album “Being” in December of 2023. Benjamin is an associate lecturer at the University of Kent teaching piano, as well as teaching privately both in London and from his home studio in Hertfordshire.

With a background deeply rooted in the traditions of Jazz, Ben gained a distinction Masters from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama in Jazz performance. Having a keen eye and passion for art and spirituality, Benjamin is certainly an expressive and interesting artist.

While completing a first class undergraduate degree at Canterbury Christ Church University Benjamin was awarded The Rickards Memorial Prize: Awarded for outstanding contribution to improvised music as well as the 2015/16 Performance Prize: Awarded for the highest recital mark in Music.

His sound is energetic, captivating, soulful and intense, yet Benjamin has the capacity to bring all colours of the pallet both with fire through his exceptional facility on the instrument contrasting with his delicate, considered and intelligent touch. For 3 years in a row, Benjamin has worked as a teaching assistant alongside internationally acclaimed players such as Julian Siegel, Liane Carroll and Simon Purcell for the international Jazz Summer School where he has developed his skills in leading ensembles and workshopping Jazz and improvisation for adult learners from across the world.

Joel Rocca is a professional jazz saxophonist, composer and educator. Joel founded ‘The Sound of Movement’ through his love of jazz and dance, taking time to dedicate his masters research project on the creation of their methodology.

Joel began performing music at a young age, before going on to read a degree in music at Canterbury Christ Church University. He then returned to London as a professional musician, performing with various ensembles internationally. After a few years working professionally, he then completed a masters in jazz performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance during which time he studied and took lessons with Julian Seigiel, Byron Wallen, Martin Speake, Braxton Cook and Melissa Aldana. In his performance career Joel has performed at top venues across the country including Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Live Jazz club in Chelsea and Holborn and Wembley Stadium. Alongside a busy performance career, Joel has recorded for various artists such as Freeez. As a composer, Joel has written the music for ‘The Sound of Movement live project, as well as producing music for adverts for Lacoste and Camden Town Brewery, and the podcast series ‘Nip in The Bud’.

In education, Joel has taught in a multitude of different environments. He currently works for Hertfordshire Music Service in which is teaches one to one instrumental lessons, and runs first access workshops, a project involving groups of young individuals learning music around an instrument, providing music education to those who can’t afford it. Joel is also an assistant tutor at the International Jazz Summer School; an adult education residential, in which he works alongside Simon Purcell, Julian Siegiel, Lianne Carrol and Will Glaser in offering jazz education to adults through workshops, group performing and classes. Joel also teaches privately, with students of all ages and abilities.

Hannah George is a dancer, choreographer, rehearsal director, and teacher based in London and Herts. Hannah graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire with a first class honours degree in Contemporary Dance, and she is also an alumna of the National Youth Ballet. Hannah continues to work with the National Youth Ballet as a choreographer and teacher. 

Hannah has performed works by choreographers and directors such as, Fubunation, Sean Gandini, Hubert Essakow, Etta Murfitt, Kerry Biggin, Ruth Gibson, and Christopher Hampson at multiple venues including Sadlers Wells, De Doelen Concert Hall, and Théâtre d’Orléans. She has also worked alongside choreographer Otis Cameron-Carr as rehearsal assistant for a new work as part of the autumn Draft Works at the Royal Opera House. Hannah teaches at various schools including the Centre for Advanced Training and youth programmes at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and often works in inclusive dance settings most recently assisting the Critical Mass Dance Collective and choreographing a version of Romeo and Juliet for NYB’s ‘All In!’ - an inclusive dance project in collaboration with Parable Dance. Excerpts of which will be featured at Sadlers Wells in February. Hannah has been with the Sound of Movement collective since its beginning and is excited to continue sharing our innovative, collaborative, and artistic ideas with young artists and audiences.

Benefits to attending this workshop:

• Artistic Exploration. Participants gain a unique opportunity to explore the synergy between contemporary jazz music and dance, fostering creativity.

• Collaboration Skills. Enhances participants ability to collaborate with musicians and dancers, promoting teamwork and communication.

• Musicality Development. Improves participants understanding of musical elements, rhythm, and improvisation within the context of contemporary jazz.

• Movement Expression. Provides a platform for dancers to express themselves through contemporary movements and interpretive dance.

• Interdisciplinary Learning. Encourages a holistic approach to the arts by combining music and dance, expanding participants interdisciplinary skills.

• Performance Confidence. Offers participants the chance to develop and showcase their performance skills, fostering stage presence, ensemble leading and confidence.

• Creative Choreography. Empowers participants to create innovative choreography by intergrating their dance skills with live contemporary jazz music.

• Cultural Appreciation. Explores the cultural aspects of contemporary jazz and dance, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation for diverse artistic traditions.

• Lifelong Enjoyment. Instills a love for the arts, encouraging participants to continue exploring and enjoying contemporary jazz and dance beyond the workshop.

Carli Trowbridge is a freelance dance artist born and based in West London.  She trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire under the tutelage of various choreographers, including Divya Kasturi and Fubunation.  Since graduating with a first class honours degree, she has been training with Avant Garde and Company Jinks.  Her on stage credits include performing choreography by Dani Harris-Walters and Simeon Qsyea at venues such as the Rose Theatre, Kingston; the Pentland Theatre, London Studio Centre; and The Place.  She has also performed in a number of concept movement videos choreographed by Fabio Fiorillo and Viki Cercek.

Her enthusiasm for learning and adopting new skills through a beginner’s mindset has paved her experience in styles ranging from contemporary and ballet, through to hip-hop, commercial and pole dancing; and she seeks to combine all of these forms within her own movement practice.  Beyond this, Carli shares her love for the arts through teaching dance to local school children in Ealing, and through the rural touring of a dance work she recently co-choreographed.  Performing in humble venues across Gloucestershire, Dorset, and Somerset, she has taken dance to those who have little-to-no access to it, and thus she continues to hone her craft while tending to the needs of the wider society.

Carli has been a collaborator with the Sound of Movement project since the very beginning and she is extremely excited to be sharing the collective’s work and practice in schools and universities across the country!