facilitated by Akeim Toussaint Buck
A space to dance, learn and grow together. These sessions will be powered by two strands of my practice.
Earthflow is the focus of moving from the central line/core of the body all whilst working with the malleable and adaptive abilities of our joints. My focus is on how the body reorganizes itself naturally, following the weight of the pelvis and cranium. The pursuit of this sensation is driven by set exercises and improvisation tasks, where a numerous of movement disciplines are utilised: Capoeira, Caribbean Dance, Release Technique, Graham Technique and more.
Beatmotion utilises the voice to explore movement quality, musicality and intentional improvisation. For over a decade I have explored and deconstructed vocal improvisation in relation to dance improvisation to create some games and exercises to support a way of thinking and using the voice as an extension of the body and find the musicality the voice can lend itself to. This has been my practice to hold the dancer and musician in me expanding on one’s skills in both arenas.
Classes are always accompanied by live music and participants are encouraged to stay active and engaged through their own creative aliveness in the space.
This is an open level invitation so regardless of your experiences or expertise, this is a space where you can come and find your own joy and aliveness from the endeavour of dance and creative practice. For beginners it’s a stroll into the unknown held together with foundations and for intermediates/pros it is a chance to sharpen your foundational skills and train as part of a community.
Autumn Timetable
Monthly Fridays
Sep 11, Oct 9, Nov 20, Dec 18
6.30-8pm
drop in Prices
Drop In: £20
Payment goes directly to the artist via PayPal. Please leave your name and email address so the artist can thank you and give any updates directly.
Open level class
Teacher
Akeim Toussaint Buck
Akeim Toussaint Buck is an award-winning interdisciplinary performer and maker, born in Jamaica and raised in England. Graduating from The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2014, Akeim began creating his own work in 2015, launching Toussaint To Move in 2016 with the creation of ‘Windows of Displacement’. TTM’S intention is to create moving, thought provoking, accessible and free-spirited projects. Exploring a variety of themes to challenge, enlighten and entertain audiences in a visceral way, calling on multiple art forms to weave a spectacle. Audiences are invited to not just observe, they are implicit in the experience. The work aims to reflect on reality, looking at ongoing socio-political issues, with a humanitarian intention.
The aesthetic of Toussaint’s work combines dance and other art forms such as; creative writing, film, poetry, beat-box, singing and acting to tell stories capable of bringing a variety of audiences together. Akeim’s movement is informed by methodologies of KickBoxing, Yoga, Capoeira, Caribbean Dance, Hip Hop and Contemporary Dance. Improvisation and acute listening are at the core of Toussaint’s practice of vocalisation and movement, called Beatmotion. The artist embraces the holistic potential of performance to translate the affective dimension of socio-political realities.
Access and Amenities at SDS
Siobhan Davies Studios is mostly accessible to wheelchair users, with lifts to all floors. There are two accessible parking spaces available on site which can be booked in advance. Blue Badge parking is also available nearby on West Square and Garden Row (for a full map visit the Southwark Council website). Our main door is not power assisted.
Amenities include:
- Changing facilities*
- Communal showers*
- Lockers
- Toilets / wheelchair accessible toilets
- Kitchen: tea and coffee making, fridge, and microwave (not fully accessible)
* Our changing facilities and showers are not fully accessible. Our closest publicly available and fully accessible changing facility is at The Castle Centre, a leisure centre 0.3 miles away from the studios. You can find full details of their features here.