"I have experienced Beth teaching percolating improvisational ideas that are easy and fulfilling to dive deep into and explore. She is very accessible, caring, encouraging and intelligent. Her directions are thorough, rich and clear. The unique captivating wisdom in her body inspires imagination and often humor in my own." - Belle Wolf, dance artist, US
Teaching Philosophy I’m passionate about teaching to students from beginning to advanced levels, and am proficient in teaching improvisation, partnering, contemporary technique, dance composition, basic to intermediate ballet, and physical practice for actors. My desire in teaching is to remove obstacles, both real and imagined, so that students may dive deeper into their innate creativity and physical capability both within and beyond codified forms of movement. I seek to concoct classes that aim to speak to the bodies in the room, instantaneously observing and acknowledging how the energy, the space, and the particularities of the individuals and the group generate a unique landscape of potential and ideas. I offer a palate of possibilities for an individual to clarify, refine and enrich the arena of expression of the body both internally and externally. With my background in science research, I naturally employ steps of the scientific method as a way to empower individuals to follow their own inquiries from observation to discovery, so that they may spark temporal and continual lines of research beyond class.
Improvisation - Class Description
We will warm-up through physical actions that cause us to sweat, think, see, hear, and feel more rigorously as we simultaneously tune our attention into our surroundings. We will utilize the energy generated to find unusual, yet natural portals into an infinite range of possibilities within our imagination to concoct worlds, scenarios, and physical scores that illuminate the seemingly unseen. We will learn how to physically enter and exit these worlds to generate architectures of the imagination. The culmination of our learning together will allow us to craft real-time choreography malleable to each student’s unique vision. *Other class descriptions available upon request. 
Teaching Roster
On-going Peridance Capezio Center, NYC, since 2018 Co-teaching with John Gutierrez Improvisation Practices through the International Certification Program Past BAIRA Summer Intensive, Detroit, MI Improvisation & Physical Theater with G^2, July 2019 The Global School, Kerala, India Contemporary Technique, June 2019 The Floor, Kerala, India Contemporary & Ballet, May/June 2019 Interact Theater, Minneapolis, MN Improvisation and composition, June & Dec 2018 The Floor, Kerala, India Contemporary & Ballet, April 2018 University of Washington, Seattle, WA Composition classes, October 2017 Gibney Dance, NYC Access 8 Program, April 2017 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Improvisation, Composition, Contemporary, Nov 2016 AmritaPuri University, Kerala, India Contemporary, August 2015 Via Folded Paper Dance Theater Project Sacred Heart College, Kerala, India Contemporary, August 2015 Via Folded Paper Dance Theater Project University of Washington, Seattle, WA Improvisation, Composition, On-going since 2007 Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA Guest Artist, music department, November 2013 SFDI Festival, Seattle, WA Improvisation, August 2013 Co-taught with Corrie Befort Studio Current, Seattle, WA Composition, Improvisation, October 2012 Velocity Dance Center, Seattle, WA Improvisation, October 2012 Velocity Dance Center, Seattle, WA Technique, Composition, partnering, July 2007 & 2011 Co-taught with Paige Barnes (2007) Co-taught with Corrie Befort (2011) Carol College, Helena, MO Contemporary, January 2008 Via Scott Powell Performance Dance Art Group, Seattle, WA Improvisation, April 2008 Photo credits: Kirk Donaldson, University of Michigan, MI
Sen Jansen, AmritaPuri & Sacred Heart College, Kerala, India |
Creative Process in Dance & Science
Key to both artists and scientists is the process of asking questions that spark a pathway of discovery. Although we encounter fully realized performances or published science research often, we rarely, if ever, have a chance to understand the process of developing the ideas, or modalities in which the work gets generated. Beth Graczyk, who has balanced a 15-year career as both dance artist and scientist, offers personal accounts of discovery and creation, illuminating fundamental aspects that are cross-discipline, as well as define ways in which the processes diverge. The desire is to speak to diverse audience of those interested in generating dialogue in fields seemingly unrelated to their own, breaking down barriers of intimidation, or separateness, to potentially instigate a shared experience and larger understanding of the creative process. PresentationsExploratorium, San Francisco, CA
Guest Speaker, May 2016 University of Washington, Seattle, WA Guest Speaker, October 2015 In collaboration with Biochemist Trisha Davis 50th Celebration of the Dance Department 
"I particularly enjoy that Beth's classes and processes involve a high level of attention to sensation, whether it's through moving in and out of improvisation and set material, or exploring a physical task, or engaging with specific textures and imagery. More than anything, I've noticed that Beth brings me into a state of tasting movement, which helps push me out of habitual patterns and find new possibilities in my body. When I dance with Beth I feel more three-dimensional, as if I have tongues on every surface of my body, on my skin, in my muscles, on my bones."
- Jan Trumbauer, dance artist & writer, US "I am a bharatnatyam dancer, and this was my first shot at contemporary style of dancing. To be honest I wasn't really sure I'd be able to pull this off, but Beth's constant support, and positivity really pushed me. She is a phenomenal dancer, who is very dedicated to her work, and it's beautiful to see someone dance with so much passion. She choreographed one of the dances I was part of, and it was so thought out, there was never a question about anything. Even one of the workshops she conducted, is was so beautiful, and soulful. There was so much peace in the way she worked, I felt I had achieved zen. She is very friendly, and connects beautifully with people." - Dhwani, dancer, Kerala, India
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