EVENT ORGANISER & FOUNDER

My passion is organising and holding space skilfully, so people can come together with ease to nourish themselves and nurture relationships with friends new and old. I am also pretty good at teaching Contact Improvisation, well so people say at least ;-)

Alongside facilitating the smooth running of the camp and the morning circles, I will be offering some Contact Improvisation workshops to support you on your journey.

EVENT COORDINATOR

Hiyaaa! I'm Zov and you'll see me on site bouncing around doing one job or another, feeling very proud of it all coming together and watching what feels like the most wholesome magic happen on the beautiful site.

I'm a performer and creative, mainly working in movement, dance theatre and somatic practices. I've been aware of CI for a number of years and am constantly struck by how much it offers us, and in more ways than what is seen as a dance, so coming back to the camp is always a deeply inspiring part of my year.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Hola, I’m Alba! This year, I’m thrilled to be one of the volunteer coordinators at Emerging Hearts Camp. I’ll be helping with the setup and ensuring all the volunteers have the best experience while we soak in this incredible space.

As a paediatrician, my days are filled with busy, energetic children running around, so I’m beyond excited to step into a peaceful environment filled with dance, music, and nature. What I love most about the camp is the profound sense of community we build together and the beautiful vulnerability that allows us to truly connect and show our true selves. It’s a place of healing, and I can't wait for what’s ahead!

CONSENT COORDINATOR

Hi I'm Neil and I am a counsellor, coach and workshop facilitator, based in Stroud. In my work with people, groups and in relationships I work with consent, rupture and repair all the time and see them as the cornerstones to all connection and harmonious relating. I want to help bring authenticity and harmony to this wonderful festival and to the world at large by offering workshops. I also think all this 'work' needs healthy doses of 'play' and so I teach dance and sensual play too. Frankly I see the whole thing as a dance and play, and the skill is in learning how to play well with others.

NEURODIVERSITY SUPPORT

I fell in love with contact improvisation 4 years ago. I am also neurodiverse and I love exploring the interconnectivity between neurodiversity and embodiment. I have sometimes wrestled with how to include my neurodiversity in CI spaces, and I have become curious about what can create a nourishing rather than sensorially-overwhelming dance experience for me & others. I’m here at the camp this year to help to create a neuro-inclusive environment, where each of our unique brains, sensory systems and needs are more supported - so that we can all experience more safety, joy & aliveness inside and outside of our dances.

CARE & WELLBEING COORDINATOR

Helloo my names Jess, I care a lot about contact improvisation, connection and making sure the people around me feel safe and heard. 

This community of ours is special to all of us. So it’s important that we have a place to go to when we feel like our internal weather is all too much or when we feel we need shelter from the external goings on too. 

That’s why I am very happy to find myself on the wellbeing and welfare team again this year. We are first aid trained and work in the broad sphere of health and wellbeing. Do come along and share with us how you’re feeling, there will be someone on our team ready and willing to lend a listening ear.

MUSIC COORDINATOR

Referred to as the ‘dancing bass meister’, by Barre Philipps, David Leahy has dedicated the last 20 years to navigating the area between music and dance. Originally from New Zealand, David works as an improvising double bass player, contact-improvising dancer, composer, educator, and researcher. He is a prominent member of the London free improvised music scene and is a long-standing member of the London Improvisers Orchestra, as well as various other improvisation ensembles across Europe.

FILMMAKER

I love creating films that explore the beauty of movement, particularly in Contact Improvisation. Through CI, I can express emotions that words can't, and reveal the hidden layers of the human experience. This style of movement has a special way of connecting people, and it's something I'm passionate about capturing on screen. My goal when creating films is to capture the energy and beauty of CI and to create experiences that viewers can relate to on a deeper level. I love the creative freedom of film and the way it allows me to explore and express my own inner mystery and wonder.

PHOTOGRAPHER

My love affair with CI started around five years ago and took me to a place of being present in my body in a way I’ve never experienced before. My CI sessions and jams are filled with moments of joy, hardship, awkwardness and realisation, just like in real life.

As a photographer, I aim to capture these moments. The photos I take are not staged or posed for but are raw and real images of interactions, emotions, movement or stillness.

I feel grateful for having the opportunity to combine my two great passions at his year’s camp.

SOUND TECHNICIAN

This year I'll be taking on sound engineering duties at camp. I'm looking forward to making sure all the musicians, teachers and ecstatic dance DJs are able to get the most out of the PA systems in order to feed our dances with glorious sounds!