photography by Owen Burnham

After taking a ~2 year hiatus from dance and being in a not-so-great place, Emergent Improvsation was my portal back into dancing. I would go to decompress, process, and research whatever happened in the mind and body that week, and just kept coming. I joined the roster of teachers in 2023, and have been hosting Emergent Improvisation sessions at Peridance, Gibney, and other dance spaces in New York City since.

About Emergent Improvisation

Emergent Improvisation is a practice of presence and play. Crafted by Troy Ogilvie and Omar Zubair and built from the teachings of (adrienne maree brown’s Emergent Strategy), we take a democratized approach to dance improvisation, engaging in a deep sense of listening to activate the body, movement, sound, and environment as tools and sites for creative investigation.

Bookended by sharing circles, we begin with a meditative warmup that encourages grounding and somatic awareness, then build momentum by accessing ease, groove, and play to create an ecosystem of community care. Our class invites artistic exploration, witnessing, risk-taking, and creating new possibilities.

Hosting on a rotating schedule with Troy Ogilvie, Uila Marx, Lucia Gagliardone, Alexis Vinzons, and Omar Zubair. New time Fall 2025- Fridays 4:00pm at Gibney.

See full schedule and more at bio.site/emergent.improvisation.