Improvisation Through the Chakras

Led by Elaine Gardner, ‘Improvisation Through the Chakras’: an improvisational exploratory dance workshop in collaboration with Nancy Hughes and Center Dance.

The dance workshop will be held in the current exhibiton, Scan, in the Project Space.
Free with Gallery admission.

The yoga experiences are being led by Yoga instructors from Yoga Parkside. Yoga Parkside's leadership is committed to diversity and inclusion, offering an accepting place to learn, grow, and heal, as individuals and as a community. The teachers’ support the mission and vision to foster transformation and wellness in our community in an a safe and accepting environment. A community that embodies peace through compassion, grace, and mindfulness.

Kathleen Ashwill has always loved the practice of movement from the time she was very young. The practice began to change her life and had an even deeper transformative effect when she began Siri Narayan Kaur Khalsa’s teacher training program in the fall of 2009. Kathleen had never embraced commitment to herself on such a deep level until she began that program. Kundalini Yoga has continued to provide her with the resilience to meet more of life’s challenges, providing a touchstone during turbulent personal and planetary times. The best gifts Kundalini Yoga has given her are a deep appreciation and love for her innate humanness.

The Yoga and Somatic Dance programming inspired by “SCAN” has been curated by Choreographer and Director Elaine Gardner Artistic Director of Pick of the Crop Dance, Nichols School Dance Program and yoga instructor at Yoga Parkside. A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Elaine Gardner studied dance, yoga, and somatics in the U.S. and Europe. Gardner founded Pick of the Crop Dance in 1980 and performed throughout the northeastern United States as well as in Scotland, Italy and Latvia. She created over 100 pieces as well as commissioning works by guest choreographers. Gardner has performed and collaborated with many internationally recognized choreographers. Additionally, she has served as a panelist for the NYSCA Dance Program and NYFA. Her professional concert dance work has been funded by the N.E.A, NYSCA, NYFA and regional arts councils. She teaches contemporary dance, creativity, dance composition and yoga at Nichols School in Buffalo. Gardner recently returned from guest teaching young professionals in Tucson Arizona, Seattle Washington, Rome Italy and Glasgow Scotland. Elaine has a 30-year history of artistic collaboration and as a founding member of the NY State Danceforce has been proud to present the work of many nationally recognized dance artists in W.N.Y. theaters, schools, and galleries.