Listen closely to the story of Undercurrent. Undercurrent is a Seattle-based dance organization. It’s dedicated to floorwork technique. It explores biomechanically sustainable movement practices. It also delves into experiential design, music videos, and immersive performances.
Undercurrent fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. It prioritizes care-centered community building. Originally founded in 2017 by Hilary Grumman, Liv Fauver, and Ashley Jade, Undercurrent has been solo-directed by Hilary since 2019. In 2023, Alethea Alexander, a Seattle-based artist, pedagog, and community organizer, joined.
Undercurrent offers varied floorwork classes. These range from community practice for all ages to advanced technique for professional dancers. Drawing on floorwork training, director Hilary Grumman has fine-tuned a thoughtful technique. She has incorporated methods from Piso Móvil, Flying Low, and Psico-Físico. She has been inspired by RUBBERBAND, Jorge Crecis, and Ihsan Rustem. Also influential were Adam Barruch, Moving Air, Duela-Cemento, A Surprised Body, and CONTINUUM. Thirteen years of personal floorwork research also contributed.
Movers learn conscientious mechanics within this practice. They nurture muscle memory to care for their joints. They experience floorwork flow, complex inversions, and unique tricks.
Since its founding, Undercurrent has led weekly classes year-round at Fremont Abbey. It is also taught at the University of Washington and Cornish College of the Arts. Workshops are held at art and activist organizations globally. These include New York City Center and FIDCDMX Ciudad de México. The Mark Morris Dance Center and Peridance Center New York have hosted Undercurrent. AWID Forum Brazil, Mosswood Hollow Retreat Center, and The Dance Complex Boston also feature the dance organization. Bodies of Empowerment SF, and Velocity’s SFD+I have all seen Undercurrent’s work.
Undercurrent hosts learning and community-building opportunities. These are done through collaborations with touring artists. Examples include Nicole von Arx, Ground Grooves, and Lavinia Vago. Elia Mrak and RUBBERBAND dancers have also collaborated. New dance works have been created and performed. Venues include CO—Seattle and Actualize AiR. Sessions in Place, The Round, and Ode at Mini Mart City Park have showcased Undercurrent. Studio Current Sessions, Starbucks, and music videos have also been venues. Collaborations often involve artists from other mediums. The aim is to shape an immersive environment for audiences.
Undercurrent classes investigate the vigor and mechanics of floorwork. They emphasize care, curiosity, and precision. Practitioners explore fluid ways of moving low to the floor. They use their body’s architecture to make movement smooth and strategic.
Undercurrent believes in the longevity of dance. It aims for this method of floorwork to be physically sustainable. The practice supports movers of diverse backgrounds. It helps them balance and condition their bodies. It also adds versatility to their movement toolsets.
Open-level/Intermediate classes ease into efficient fundamentals. They build muscle memory for inversions. They cultivate a floorwork flow at a downtempo pace. This class is designed for those with some floorwork experience. It also suits those with an active movement practice like martial arts or yoga. It helps them gain comfort moving low to the floor. They learn tools for injury prevention. It’s also a great space for those with extensive floorwork experience. They can condition, redefine old habits, and workshop their skills.
Advanced classes offer an uptempo practice. Hilary Grumman leads it for those with ample floorwork experience. They play with the rigor, flow, and range of this technique. The first half of class offers a constant stream of movement. It warms the body and juices the joints. It discovers new pathways. It cultivates both a personal and community practice. Foundations grow into more complex sequences. These include inversions and tricks. It culminates in a choreographic phrase. This incorporates the themes of each session.
So you have now gained a deeper understanding of Undercurrent. This Seattle-based movement project enriches the dance community. It emphasizes biomechanical safety, fluid choreographic sequencing, and care.