Improvisation Continuums: theorising practice across disciplines
Call for papers
Abstracts
About Presenters
Conference Programme
Registration
Accommodation
Venue, how to get here
Cardiff and South Wales
Contact us
Improvisation Continuums: theorising practice across disciplines
Date: 12 – 14 April 2007
Hosted by: Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, South Wales UK
Venue: Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, North Road, Cardiff
Keynotes speakers confirmed
Stephen Nachmanovitch
Al Wunder
Ralph Yarrow & Tony Frost
Please note: Regretably due to changes in work commitments Anne Bogart is now unavailable to contribute to Improvisation Continuums 2007.
The inaugural Improvisation Continuums conference is dedicated to providing a forum for discussion and debate about the re-emerging place of improvisation in arts practice. This conference provides a structure and a space for artists/practitioners/teachers/scholars to share ideas and debate about the application and relevance of improvisation in arts practice today.
Hosted by the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan, Wales the vision for the Improvisation Continuums is to facilitate dialogue and examine contemporary expressions of improvisation. Trans-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary in focus it aims to encourage dialogue across aesthetic disciplines: dance, jazz and popular music, theatre, live performance art, sound, spoken word, radio, visual art, film and performative digital media.
Call for Papers
Reviewed deadline for submissions 01 Nov 06
Improvisation Continuums will seek to structure discursive spaces within which artists/practitioners/teachers/scholars who integrate improvisation into their work meet and develop theory.
A range of thematic/content areas will be featured so that as practitioner/scholars we are engaged in articulating and documenting the theory that informs the way we practice and apply improvisation in:
- Composition
- Devising
- Making work
- Rehearsal
- Text interpretation
- Development
- Live film editing
- Performance
- Actor, Dance, and Performance Training
- Other Teaching & Coaching
Papers could also address specific elements to do with:
- structure and form;
- interactivity between the traditional/indigenous and the innovative;
- practice and performance context and/or content;
- the ‘who’ it is that is improvising – the ensemble; the soloist; the duet; the chorus.
This is a chance to interrogate your passion – it may be linked to a specific form: free play, viewpoints, long form improvisation, contact impro, action theatre, playback theatre, theatresports, you fill in the rest.
Similarly, you might be interested in questioning how you speak and write about improvisation; the languages you use – being in-the-moment; liveness; embodied; play, yes… and; being on the edge; finding surprises; bypassing the critic; stepping outside the box; call and response; not holding back …
Submissions that tackle transdisciplinarity are encouraged. Papers will be considered on related themes. While the actual structure of the conference will emerge in response to expressed areas of interest by presenters there is scope for performances, practice as research, and some workshop-style sessions, however early preference will be given to expressions of interest that addresses the call for academic papers in which theory is developed.
300 word abstracts should be submitted by 01 November 2006 to impro2007@glam.ac.uk
Abstracts
Paper/panel abstracts are in the process of being curated into the full
conference programme. For a glimpse of what is on offer click here for a
full list of abstracts.
About Presenters
People from music, dance, drama, performance, art and film making worlds are
presenting at the conference. Click here for an update on who they are.
Conference Programme
A full conference programme is now available. There is more detailed information about presenters and their the individual papers in the Presenter Bio’s and Abstracts section.
Registration
Download the registration form here
Standard Fee: £195.00
Standard Early Bird: £175 (for registrations paid by 28 Feb 2007)
Student/Concession Fee: £110
Student Early Bird: £85 (for registrations paid by 28 Feb 2007)
Friday Evening Conference Dinner (Optional): £30.00
Day rates are available on request
Registration fees include: participation in all conference sessions, welcome reception, morning & afternoon teas and lunches on 12–14th April, conference program and satchel. All prices are inclusive of VAT.
Accommodation
Cardiff has a fantastic variety of accommodation options including 5 star hotels to bed and breakfasts and backpacker hostels. Delegates can choose from a range of options just walking distance from the conference venue. Here are just a few options.
Bed & Breakfasts
Cathedral Road on the opposite side of the park to Welsh College is an infamous strip with a host of options for the middle of the range and includes a full Welsh Breakfast.
We recommend:
The Town House, 70 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LL
Phone: 02920239399
Email: thetownhouse@msn.com
Web: “www.thetownhousecardiff.co.uk”:
£49.50/night for singles; £65/night doubles.
Preste Gaardens, 181 Cathedral Road, Cardiff. ** Fully Booked **
Phone: 02920 228607;
Email: stay@cosycardiffhotel.co.uk
Web: www.cosycardiffhotel.co.uk
11 rooms from £35/night for singles; £55/night for doubles.
Beverley Hotel
75 Cathedral Road
Cardiff South Glamorgan CF11 9PG
Tel: 02920 343443
£49.95 – single; £69.95 – double
Crowndale Hotel
58 Cathedral Road
Cardiff South Glamorgan CF11 9LL
Tel: 02920 344060
£30 – single; £55 – double
Hotels
Lincoln House, 118 Cathedral Road, Cardiff,
Phone: 02920230537
Web: www.lincolnhotel.co.uk
Singles from £50/night; doubles from £85
Holiday Inn, 1, Castle St, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF10 1BS
Phone: +44 2920247206
Email: jon.murphy@ichotelsgroup.com
Web: www.holiday-inn.com
Manager John Murphy is offering a special rate on 2 or 3 nights (including breakfast) if you book before the end of February. 2 nights (£88/night); 3 (or more) nights (£77/night); quote [Glamorgan: Impro Conference]
Budget
Abbey Hotel, 149–151, Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF11 9PJ
30 rooms from £40.00 includes breakfast, phone: 02920390896
Web: www.bandb4u.co.uk/Home/default.htm
Riverbank Hotel
53–59 Despensar Street, Riverside, CF116AG
Singles £36/night midweek; £42/night Friday & Saturday, includes continental breakfast
Also has a range of double or twin options if you are travelling with friends.
Web: www.nosda.co.uk
Super Budget Option
Cardiff Backpacker – a slightly longer walk here for £27.50/night (minimal breakfast provision).
Web: www.cardiffbackpacker.com
For further options check out: www.visitcardiff.com
How to get here
The conference is to be held at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, North Road, Cardiff.
Welsh College is situated in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, opposite the neo-classical buildings of the city’s Civic district. Nestled in the spectacular gardens of Bute Park It is only 5 minutes to the city centre and the infamous Millennium Stadium.
The registration desk will be open from 4pm on Wednesday April 11th and again at 8am Thursday April 12th with an opening ceremony scheduled for 10am that morning in the Bute Theatre. This will be followed by the first keynote address.
Signs will be posted, and there will be a permanently staffed information desk open throughout the conference.
There is very useful information on the RWCMD website that will guide you in finding the campus. Go to www.rwcmd.ac.uk/howtofindus/index.asp
Cardiff and South Wales
Whether its for Castles, Rugby or Dr Who Cardiff is known all over the world as a friendly, green, historical (sometimes hysterical) city on the Bay. For useful information on Cardiff and South Wales see www.visitcardiff.com
Contact us:
Rea Dennis
impro2007@glam.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries
University of Glamorgan
Pontypridd UK
CF37 1DL
+44 1443 483422 (fixed)
+44 7962 627555 (mobile)
