Countertechnique Founder Anouk van Dijk returns to London with a dynamic workshop designed to recharge and inspire dancers for the season ahead. Across two half days and one full day, participants will explore how to sustain a long, fulfilling dance career while keeping their practice fresh, engaging, and adaptable to the ever-changing needs of the body.
Each day begins with a Countertechnique class, followed by a Practical Tools session introducing methods to enhance movement, expand spatial awareness, and support a sustainable practice. After lunch, the focus shifts to creation and performance, integrating Countertechnique tools with choreographic tasks to explore strategies that fuel creativity and support dancers during demanding performance and touring periods.
Designed for professional and advanced dance artists, as well as high-level college students, the workshop invites participants to move fully, think creatively, and perform at a high physical level. Places are strictly limited due to space restrictions, and advance booking is essential. Drop-ins cannot be guaranteed entry.
About Countertechnique
Countertechnique is a movement system to help the dancer think about the dancing body, focusing on the process of incorporating information into action. Within a clear structure of exercises, the Countertechnique class thoroughly prepares the body for rehearsal and performance, enabling dancers to move bigger, more fluidly and more spatially while becoming stronger and more flexible. The Practical Tools Sessions offer more in-depth and personalized information on how to implement the tools from Countertechnique in class, rehearsal and performance.
About Anouk Van Dijk:
Anouk van Dijk (NL) is the founding Artistic Director of Countertechnique. She has been the Artistic Director of the Australian contemporary dance company Chunky Move from 2012 – 2019. Before moving to Australia in 2012, Anouk van Dijk had an extensive career as a choreographer and dancer in Europe. Starting her career as a dancer in the late 80s, Van Dijk formed her own dance company in 1998 in Amsterdam, producing more than twenty full-length works that toured the globe. In 2012 Van Dijk was awarded the Golden Swan (Gouden Zwaan) – the Netherlands’ most prestigious dance accolade – in recognition of her outstanding artistic and academic contribution to dance in her home country.
Since arriving in Australia in 2012, Anouk van Dijk has created eleven further full evening works for Chunky Move, which have toured internationally extensively. Anouk van Dijk has collaborated across disciplines with renowned artists such as Falk Richter (Germany), Ho Tzu Nyen (Singapore), Theun Mosk (the Netherlands), Marg Horwell (Australia) and Ian Strange (US/Australia). Anouk currently works internationally as a free-lance choreographer, director and educator and has created works for, amongst others, some of Germany’s renowned theatres: hessisches Staatsballett Wiesbaden, the Münchner Kammerspiele, Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, Staatsballett Berlin, and for Skanes Dansteater/Malmö Opera (Sweden).
Dates & Times:
Friday 17 October 2 PM – 6 PM
Saturday 18 October 2 PM – 6 PM
Sunday 19 October 10 AM – 6 PM
Location:
Acosta Dance Centre
Price:
(two (2) half days and one (1) full day workshop) £180. Early birds £160 (buy before September 10)
This workshop has limited availability due to space restrictions, so we strongly recommend booking in advance to secure your spot and avoid disappointment. Drop-ins cannot be guaranteed entry.
Fri 17 Oct,
14:00 – 18:00
Sat 18 Oct,
14:00 – 18:00
Sun 19 Oct,
10:00 – 18:00
Acosta Dance Centre
London (GB)