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Two pairs of dancers doing partnered movements. One pair is holding hands and the other are touching just their palms.

Event Dates

Friday, February 14, 2025 5:30pm to 8pm

Harvard Dance Center, Studio 1 View map

66 Garden St., Cambridge, MA

https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/dance
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A Valentine’s Day mixer and jam that will begin with an all-levels workshop on Somatic Partnering developed by Dr. Ilya Vidrin, Research Fellow at Metalab (at) Harvard and Director of the Partnering Lab. Somatic Partnering offers a framework to develop meaningful connection, physical sensitivity, and focused attention on mutual attunement with others. Throughout the workshop, Dr. Vidrin will lead participants through a guided series of partnered movements that promote receptivity, responsiveness, and resilience. The movements will focus on subtle shifts in position, orientation, and direction communicated between partners.

This framework can be applied to any partnered dancing and is inherently non-gendered. Somatic Partnering involves “flow” sessions for partners to play, troubleshoot, and explore transitions between movements together. This session will evolve into open dancing/moving/partnering with live DJing by Omari Hayles. You can choose to incorporate the partnering lessons from the workshop or dance and let the music move you. There are no rules! 

Bring a friend, or a date, or come alone and meet others while honing your partnering skills, both on and off the dance floor. No previous dance experience necessary! V-Day sweets provided. 

  • 5:30pm mix & mingle
  • 6pm workshop
  • 7pm open jam


Free and open to the public! For all levels and abilities. Participants must be 18 years or older. 

Part of Technologies of Relating, co-presented by Partnering Lab and metaLab (at) Harvard, in partnership with the Office for the Arts (OFA) Dance Program

 

REGISTER FOR VALENTINE’S DAY MIXER & JAM WITH SOMATIC PARTNERING

 

About Dr. Ilya Vidrin

Dr. Ilya Vidrin is a Boston-based choreographer, researcher, and educator. Most recently, Vidrin has been featured as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2022), and has been artist-in-residence at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, National Choreographic Center, National Parks Service, North Atlantic Ballet, Ballet Des Moines, L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, Ballett Schwerin, and the New Museum (NYC), among others. Vidrin is Assistant Professor of Creative Practice Research at Northeastern University, Research Fellow at the Metalab (at) Harvard, and Director of the Partnering Lab.

Accessibility

Harvard Dance Center is accessible for wheelchair and mobility device users. If you have questions about the accessibility provided or need to request accommodations, please contact dance@fas.harvard.edu or 617-496-0314.

Event Details