UPCOMING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS — FALL 2026
ONGOING SEPT-JUNE
Led by Manuela Lucia Tessi or Maria Mavridou, with a soft and gentle warm-down by Monika Stepak at the end of each class.
This open-level class is for all movers who would like to develop their floorwork and improvisation skills. We explore the possibilities of dancing on the ground through rolling, sliding, spiralling, gently falling and rising. Working with breath and a soft movement quality, we look for greater freedom and range in movement. Effortlessness is my favourite word in dance: how can we find ease, pleasure and playfulness as we move?
Alongside floorwork, we practise improvisation tools and playfully learn movement sequences.
Open level — all movers welcome. Registration: Sign up by SMS or WhatsApp with Monika: +31 650 99 80 32
Organised by Movement Academy OT301
See trailer of Manuela’s class https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVVYpv6vCsI
OCTOBER 23 AND 24
Exploring Limbondo with Vintani Nafassi
Limbondo is a traditional unisex dance of the Makonde people of Mozambique, celebrated during festive seasons as a symbol of community, unity and cultural pride. In Makonde culture, music, song and dance are inseparable. All Makonde dances begin with a song, followed by the drums and then the steps — a living tradition in which rhythm, movement and voice are one. In this workshop, Vintani Nafassi invites participants into the rhythmic world of Limbondo. Through hands-on instruction and shared practice, participants will learn the basic steps and movements of the dance while exploring its circular formations, symbolic gestures and the pulsating rhythms of the traditional Ntoji and Likuti drums.
The workshop also offers an introduction to the traditional instruments that accompany Limbondo, weaving movement, rhythm and cultural exchange into a space for discovery, connection and celebration.The workshop is open to everyone. No prior dance experience or knowledge of African culture is required. Whether you are a dancer, musician or simply curious, Limbondo welcomes every body and every level.
Vintani Afonso Nafassi is a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, musician and researcher from Maputo, Mozambique. He holds a Master’s degree in African Music Performance from the University of Cape Town and has taught and performed internationally across Africa, Europe, South America and Asia. His practice is dedicated to preserving and sharing the living heritage of African music and dance.
Info & registration: manuelaluciatessi@gmail.com vintaninafassi.com
OCTOBER 24
Body and Sound— A Workshop with Manuela Lucia Tessi & Vintani Nafassi
Led by Manuela and Vintani, this workshop is for movers and sound makers alike.
Together, we will explore the musicality of movement and develop a deeper sensitivity to sound. Participants will investigate the relationship between movement and the sonic dimension through phrasing, space, rhythm, counterpoint, tension and the qualities of movement and sound. Particular attention will be given to the expressive power of pauses — moments of listening, suspension and transformation.
Does sound lead, or does movement? And how do the two shape one another?
Throughout the session, we will explore how movement can enter into dialogue with sound, developing precision, listening and awareness within our own practices.
The workshop opens a space for research and reflection on the musicality of movement. Manuela and Vintani will share tools drawn from their individual artistic journeys, as well as from the movement and sound practices they have been developing together through their long-lasting artistic collaboration.
2020 Upcoming
Weekly online movement research classes Thursdays 10:30-11:45
Workshop by Manuela Tessi and Thalia Laric “Imagination and Musicality” 7-11 December 2020 @OT301 Amsterdam
2020 Past
-9 and 16 June Body and Music Bodlabot , 19:30-21:30 OT301 Amsterdam
-11 August Body and Musicworkshop part of Open Workshops within annual Improvisation Summer Course 19:00-21:00 Studio 1 OT301 Amsterdam
PAST
-20 to 24 January and 10 to 14 February Improvisation Course for MTD3 students at Theatreschool, Amsterdam
-9, 16, 23, 30 January and 6, 13 February workshops Body and Musicat Dansdrift , Thursdays 20:00-22:00 Den Haag
-8, 15, 22, 29 January and 5, 12, 19 February Floorwork and Improvisation classes at Bodlabot , 18:00-19:30 OT301 Amsterdam
2019
11 September till 4 December every Wednesday (except for 9, 16, 23, 30 October class by Monika Stepak) 18:00-20:00 Floorwork and Improvisation class, Bodlabot Studio OT301
-24 September and 1 October Tuesday 19:30-21:30 Improvisation Workshop Series ” Movement in Time” Bodlabot Studio OT301
-8 and 15 October Movement Research classes Tuesdays 9:00-11:00, Obs Community Centre, Cape Town
-19 and 20 October Composition Workshop for dancers and musicians, Sat and Sun 10:00-14:00 at Cruce, Arte y Pensamiento, Madrid info elgarage.teatro@gmail.com
-24 October Composition Workshop in Madrid for dancers and musicians, 17:00-20:00 Casa de Vacas, Madrid
-30 October Workshop at Theatersalon, ic.w. Claudia Maioli, Teatro Munganga Amsterdam
-9 till 13 December Classes Monday to Friday 10:00-11:30 Profitraining at Dock 11 Berlin
See class Trailers:
Movement/Floorwork class
Music/Dance composition i.c.w. musician Coila-Leah Enderstein
PAST
-22 January Tuesday Improvisation workshop 19:30-21:30 Bodlabot Studio OT301 1st floor Overtoom 301 1054HW Amsterdam
-29-31 January Liceo Musicale Omegna, Italy. Music and Movement workshop for 4h and 5th year students with Maria Luisa Pizzighella and Manuela Lucia Tessi
-6, 13, 20 February Wednesdays Floor work & improvisation 18:00-20:00 Bodlabot Studio OT301 1st floor Overtoom 301 1054HW Amsterdam
-10 March till 7 April (dates of classes and location to be announced) Movement Classes for Music Dance 021-Cape Town
-29 April till 10 May Profitraining at Dock 11 Berlin “Tone and Musicality” Monday to Friday 10-11:30
-August Artistic Advisor at Improvisation Summer Intensive 2019
2018
-Tuesdays 19:30-21:30
Improvisation 16 and 23 October Manuela Tessi
More info about the workshop series and other teachers, prices and sign up:
http://katieduck.com/bodlabot-ot301-improvisation-wokrshop-series/
Coming Tuesday Workshops in 2018
6 November Katie Duck , 20 and 27 November Makiko Ito , 11 December Vincent Cacialano
Bodlabot Studio OT301 1054 HW Amsterdam
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–Wednesdays 18:00-20:00
Floor work & improvisation with: Manuela Tessi
17 , 24 , 31 Oct , 7 Nov.
Contact improvisation with: Thalia Laric
14 , 21, 28 Nov 5, 12 Dec Sign in & info by: WhatsApp 0650998032 or: movementot301@live.com
LIMITED CAPACITY. Open to all levels.
Bodlabot Studio OT301 1054 HW Amsterdam
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–Thursdays 20:00-22:00 Dance Improvisation at Dansdrift den Haag (Replacing Ana Leonor Ladas)
1, 8, 22, 29 November 6, 20 December
Danslab, De Constant Rebecqueplein 20b, Den Haag
PAST
-21 to 28 July
Dance workshops for adults at Buitenkunst Drenthe
-30 July to 18 August
Improvisation Summer Course 2018
Artistic Director: Katie Duck with Miri Lee and Manuela Tessi
I ll be teaching every morning movement classes and an intensive Music Dance Workshop follow link for full programme
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Sessions:
–Sunday Sessions ongoing 18:30-20:30
Practice sessions, lead by Katie Duck, myself of local artists
Bodlabot studio (first floor) OT301 Overtoom 301, 1054 HW, Amsterdam.
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Past
-Wednesdays 14 and 21 March, 11, 18, 25 April
Floorwork and Improvisaton, open level
18:00-20:00, Bodlabot studio (first floor) OT301 Overtoom 301, 1054 HW, Amsterdam.
– Tuesdays 3, 10 April and 1 May
Tuesday Bodlabot workshops series (ongoing every Tuesday with different teachers)
19:30-21:30, Bodlabot studio (first floor) OT301 Overtoom 301, 1054 HW, Amsterdam.
-Thursdays 19, 26 April and 3 May
Dansdrift Workshop- Impulse, Intuition, Imagination, Future
20.00 tot 22.00 uur, Danslab, De Constant Rebecqueplein 20b, Den Haag
-Monday to Friday 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 May
Profitraining- The sensitive, sensible and sensuous body
10:00-11:30, Dock 11 Kastanienallee 79, Berlin
-12 and 13 May
Music and Dance collaboration Workshop with Friederike Wendorf and Manuela Tessi
with final presentation/performance of participants
12 May 12:00-16:00 and 13 May 17:00-20:00 K77 Kastanienallee 77, 10435 Berlin
Presentation 13 May 20:15
-Tuesday 13 June –19:30-21:30 Dance Improvisation: The Sonic Body
part of Bodlabot OT301 Improvisation Workshop Series
The work will start from the body, and how can we differentiate movement intention and quality and place that in relation to sound.In particular in this workshop we will work with phrasing emerging from the use of breath, how the consciousness of breath can be a tool for creating musicality in the movement or movement in the music. We will explore different tones of physicality and (for musicians) qualities of sound, refining the readability of intention in sound and movement, to be able to commmunicate with the material being generated.The aim is to encourage each performer to be engaged in their own personal research of physicality of sound and movement, with curiosity and playfulness.
Bodlabot studio (first floor) OT301 Overtoom 301, 1054 HW, Amsterdam.
MIN 5 people in the class / Max 10 people per class / one day €12 / two days €20 / cash on arrival.
-Ongoing: Wednesday Classes at Bodlabot studio OT301
18:00-20:00 Movement research. Single classes, open level. Beginners welcome. Next classes before summer 14 and 28 June
-24 July till 20 August –Improvisation Summer Course 2017 – See here full programme
-24 July till 3 August Music Dance Workshop with Mary Oliver (music) and Manuela Tessi (dance)
– Movement Classes by Miri Lee (24 July-4 August) Manuela Tessi (7-18 August)
-Sunday 30 April Music Dance Workshop
Manuela Tessi and Friederike Wendorf , 13:00-17:00 E 40 Bodlabot studio OT301 Overtoom 301 Amsterdam facebook event
-2 till 13 January,-6 till 10 February 13 till 17 March
Profitraining at Dock 11, Berlin
2016
-2 till 13 May Profitraining at Dock 11, Berlin
– 20, 21, 22 and 23 June 2016 Contemporary Class, HJS Amsterdam
– 19 July- 13 August -Movement Classes at Katie Duck improvisation summer course
every day from 19th July till 13th August , 11:00-13:00, alternating with Miri Lee, check here schedule
-13 till 20 August: Buitenkunst Drenthe
-24 and 25 August 2016 movement class at Orgelpark within Katie Duck’s Orgelpark improvisation workshop
-10 and 11 December 2016 : The Sensitive, Sensible and Sensuous body 2 days workshop in Instant movement composition, ended with a performance with the paticipants 13:00- 17:00 Studio 3, Weg naar Rhijnauwen 3 Utrecht-ongoing Modern Dance Class Advanced Buurtcentrum De Witte Boei Amsterdam (course ended June 2016)
Manuela Lucia Tessi 
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