image credit Mat Simpson
Multidisciplinary artist and dance educator, Kait Ramsden will be the qathet ART Centre Artist in Residence November 8 – 15, 2024.
She will be offering a guided meditation and dance workshops in collaboration with the Memento Mori festival. See details below.
image credit Angela Fama
Kait Ramsden (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and dance educator. She is of settler descent working and living between the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Sel̓íl̓witulh Nations/Vancouver and Tio’tia:ke/Montréal.
She co-founded the dance-film collective Projet Contrabête (2015-2018) alongside Lara Oundjian, where she produced five dance films that have been shown in nine Canadian film festivals. Her choreography BALLS premiered at Festival Quartiers Danses (Montreal, QC) and was shown at Festivals Vue Sur la Relève (Montreal, QC) where it won the “coup de coeur” prize.
Since 2019, Kait has developed a sound practice using voice, field recording, and sampling which she has interwoven with her movement practice and choreographies. Her sound and movement performances have been shown most recently at What Lab (Vancouver, BC), Duplex Gallery (Vancouver, BC), Center of International Contemporary Art (Vancouver, BC), Active/Passive (Galiano, BC), and Found Festival (Edmonton, AB). She released her first single redmoon in 2023 under her solo project goddaughter.
Working as a dance educator for over a decade, her teaching practice seeks to offer an experience filled with movement, healing, and pleasure! Her beginner contemporary dance class is trauma informed and for all adult ages and abilities. The class celebrates the sacred energy of the beginner, and prioritizes the beauty of not knowing, trying, failing, and trying again. Class uses a mix of release technique – a form of contemporary dance that uses momentum and economy of movement to navigate dancing with the floor and through space – and experimental improvisation. When offered together these techniques provide many safe and playful pathways so that dancers may securely navigate new forms of movement.
Memento Mori Workshop – Guided Meditation on the Cycle of Life and Death
with Live Ambient Music
November 8
6:30 to 8pm @ qathet ART Centre
Performance artist and movement facilitator Kait Ramsden will guide a 40 minute meditation for deep contemplation of the cycle of life and death. The meditation will be accompanied by live ambient electronic music created by Big Zen, and will be followed by snacks, refreshments, and discussion. This meditation will focus on imagery of the four seasons as a way to conceptualize the cycle of life and death, as well as offer the time and space to feel big and small sensations in the body as another cycle of change. This workshop draws upon Ramsden’s practice of looping and ritual as both an aesthetic technique and tool to process change and loss. Participants will be encouraged to bring an object of their choosing to contribute to the shared altar, which will be incorporated sonically into the looping live ambient music.
$20 (sliding scale accepted)
image credit Mat Simpson
Adult Beginner Contemporary Dance Workshop
with Live Electronic Music
November 9
1 tp 3pm @ qathet ART Centre
Beginner contemporary dance class is for exactly who you think – beginners! Trying something new is hard, and this class holds space for the bravery of showing up for yourself and trying something new. This class is loosely based in “release technique” which is a way to describe different ways to roll around and get in and out of the floor. During our workshop we will explore rolling, joint mobility, balance, strength, jumps, and breathwork for grounding and healing. Kait will act as a guide throughout the class, but encourages participants to listen to their body as the ultimate guide. Any forms of movement or modifications in class are welcome. Class will be accompanied by live electronic musician Big Zen who will support our movement with lush ambient sounds and big electronic beats. Participants will be encouraged to wear comfortable clothing with long pants and sleeves to assist with sliding on the floor.
$20 (sliding scale accepted)
image credit Mat Simpson
Contemporary Dance For Kids!
with Live Electronic Music
November 9
11 to 11:40am @ qathet ART Centre
Kait Ramsden is a dance educator with 8 years of experience teaching ages 5 to adult. This contemporary dance workshop for children ages 5 – 12 will explore different techniques to roll around, different ways to cross the room, and exercise for jumping. This workshop will be accompanied by live electronic musician Big Zen who will support our movement with lush ambient sounds and bouncy electronic beats.
By donation
image credit Angela Fama