Organizer Information
EncoreEast is an ambitious performance company of older dancers dedicated to promoting creative, artistic, and performance excellence. The company commissions professional artists to choreograph new works, host workshops, and co-curate the biennial HOST conference with DanceEast—a premier regional dance house based at the Jerwood DanceHouse in Ipswich, UK. Together, they work to challenge societal stereotypes and generate positive, progressive images of aging through high-quality creative practices.
Title & Description
Pushing Boundaries Open Call: Experienced Movers Edition – Exploring Presence Through the GILA Method
Following past program successes, internationally renowned choreographer Galit Liss returns to DanceEast to lead an intensive four-day laboratory exploring the body's performative presence in space. This workshop focuses specifically on the GILA Method—a unique somatic and choreographic framework developed over 18 years to examine the distinct physiological aesthetics of the mature body. A selected group of 25 dancers will engage in personal exploration, structured improvisation, imagery, and movement research. Moving both individually and collectively, participants will uncover their unique movement portraits while investigating how the older body inhabits performance spaces. The intensive concludes on the final day with an integrated session alongside pedagogy workshop participants, featuring an informal public sharing of their creative exploratory journey.
Categories
Contemporary Dance, Choreography, Improvisation, and Somatic Movement Research.
Eligibility
- Age Target: Exclusively designed for older dancers and mature performers aged 50 and over.
- Experience Level: Open to experienced movers with a solid background in dance, physical theater, or embodied studio practices who are actively engaged in physical work.
- Skill Limitation: This laboratory targets rigour and extended learning; it is not suitable for beginners.
- Geographic Scope: Open to national and international applicants capable of traveling to the UK venue.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Professional Instruction: Four full days of immersive laboratory training led directly by award-winning choreographer Galit Liss.
- Artistic Growth: Access to the specialized GILA movement language, designed to raise creative ambitions and increase motivation for older performers.
- Networking & Sharing: Collaborative exchange within an intimate 25-member peer cohort, culminating in an informal work-sharing presentation at a world-class dance facility.
Application Fee
- Application Submission: Free.
- Participant Contribution: Selected dancers who are awarded a place in the cohort must pay a workshop fee of £175 for the full 4-day intensive.
- Additional Costs: Dancers are entirely responsible for booking and covering their own personal travel, accommodation, and daily subsistence expenses in Ipswich.
Application Requirements
Interested movers must complete the online digital registration profile. The application form captures:
- Personal & Contact Details: Full name, contact information, and verification of age bracket (50+).
- Movement Background: A summary of the applicant's experience in dance, choreography, or physical practice to verify eligibility.
- Motivation Statement: A brief note outlining why the applicant is curious about body research and exploring presence through the GILA method.
How to Apply?
Applications must be processed directly through the official Google Form portal. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is highly recommended.
- Application Link: Pushing Boundaries Google Form Portal
Key Dates
- Application Portal Opens: June 1, 2026
- Application Deadline: Rolling Selection (The call will close officially as soon as all 25 cohort places are filled)
- Intensive Program Dates: August 18 – August 21, 2026
- Informal Public Sharing Event: Friday, August 21, 2026
Location
The physical laboratory sessions and the final informal sharing take place live in the United Kingdom at:
- DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich
Additional Details
Choreographer Galit Liss is the recipient of the prestigious Rosenblum Prize for the Performing Arts and her international projects focus on expanding self-realization within the aging body. Because places are strictly capped at 25 participants, candidates should secure their registration quickly. Once confirmation of a spot is received via email, travel and housing arrangements should be arranged immediately.
Diirect inquiries: info@encoreeastdance.co.uk.