Queering CI & Embodying Queer Joy
In this year’s Queer CoCo Jam, we’ll explore what it’s like to center Queer Joy, liberate ourselves, our bodies, and our relationships from supremacist narratives, and investigate what it means to queer contact improvisation. Let us infuse queer joy into our bodies and our dances as we dismantle the confines of limiting heteronormative conditioning.
Bring your joy, your grief, your pleasure, your play, your curiosities, your quietness, your loudness, your tenderness and your fierceness. All skill levels are welcome!
During this jam, we aim to create a trauma-informed, anti-racist, and liberatory container in which to explore CI, somatics, co-regulation, deep listening, play, prayer, ritual, song, and reciprocity with the land.
What is a CoCo Jam?
Community Collaborative Jams are a new and unfolding program concept at Earthdance which launched in early 2022. This new programming thread was driven by the desire for more opportunities to dance CI and to connect with the community in smaller containers. Similar to Seasonal Jams, the CoCo jam have hosts and some support staff, however the hosts may have less direct influence on the schedules, and they may have varying degrees of leadership or dance experience. Compared to the Seasonal jams, the workshop offerings and schedule will be more influenced by the participants themselves and created on a more adhoc basis.
In preparation for attending a CoCo jam, you may want to ask yourself: What are you currently researching or inspired to offer? Is there something you hope to lab, share, or play with?
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Queer COCO Jam Details
- Attendance: An average of 15 – 40 people will attend this jam and is open to all movement levels & backgrounds.
- Jam Options: Full Jam. And, a Saturday Drop-In (Only if you have been to Earthdance Before).
- Newcomers: If you have never been to Earthdance, we ask that you only sign up for the Full Jam. This will allow us to better welcome and orient you to Earthdance.
- Be ready to co-create! – We will send out a shared document for folks to fill out who would like to offer something during this co-creation weekend when you register.
COCO Jam Arrival, Onsite Check-In, Opening Circle, and Departures.
- Arrival/Check-In: Thursday, September 19-22 from 4-7pm front of the Farmhouse. Dinner is 6-7pm.
- Opening Circle: Friday, September 20 at 10am. We encourage all NEWCOMERS to attend the Opening Circle.
- Saturday Drop-In (Only for folks who’ve been to Earthdance before): Arrive/Check-In Saturday, September 21 between 8-10am. Breakfast is 8-9am. Departure at 10pm day of.
- Closing Circle: Sunday, September 22 12:30pm-1pm, Lunch 1-2pm.
- Final Clean: Sunday, September 22 at 2-3pm.
- Departure: All participants will depart after the final group clean at 3pm on Sunday, September 22nd.
Our Fees Explained
Earthdance offers a sliding scale payment for participation in this event, please take a moment to reflect as you decide on where you best fit.
Your level of contribution is self selected and does not need to be advocated for. However, we invite you to remember this contribution is currency and we ask that you stretch where you are able so that those who cannot stretch as far of a financial distance may also have potential access to community events. As you choose your rate please consider the following factors:
- Your access to income and wealth, as connected to family and partnership, both currently and anticipated in the future.
- The historical, systemic impacts of wealth accrual based on culture, race and other intersection marginalizations for you and your family.
- The regional ease of your attendance, while some community members can drive to Earthdance, others will need to consider tuition based on their ability to travel longer distances.
Equity & Access Tickets
Although we’re not able to offer any full scholarships this year, we’re excited to offer up to 3 FULL JAM Equity & Access Discounts to individuals who feel part of an underrepresented and/or marginalized group in CI and have a relationship with CI. We know that for those who come from marginalized populations showing up to spaces filled with primarily privileged groups can be a challenge, and can feel vulnerable.
Apply Here! Application Deadline is September 16th.
For those who do not identify as marginalized and are in a represented group of CI, we invite you to stretch in your payment to help support those who cannot stretch and create a more diverse jam experience for all.
Note: While Earthdance is making efforts to better support Equity & Access at all its events, this jam offers particularly strong support for diversity, equity, and inclusion through:
- Reduced pricing offered to people self-identifying as being underrepresented and/or marginalized in CI.
- Classes and discussions that aim to bring up the level of awareness and inclusion at the jam as a whole
- Affinity spaces (jams, discussions, etc.) for particular groups of people to connect, share CI space together, and rest from the pressures of being in a minority status at the jam.
Housing Options
Gratitude Lodge at Earthdance Tickets
Includes a bed in the Gratitude Lodge, Jam offerings, and food during the jam.
The Gratitude Lodge (a.k.a. the Earthdance dorm) is the main lodging facility, connected to the Farmhouse by a short wooded trail. The lodge includes large and small rooms featuring dormitory-style bunks and beds (twin & queen size) and is included in the base Jam cost. Beds are available on a first come basis.
Camping Tickets
Includes a spot to camp at Earthdance, Jam offerings, and food during the jam.
Commuter Tickets
You will have access to the Jam offerings including food for the event.
Commuter Health Care: We ask that you please use caution when commuting and limit, if possible, to just commuting to and from your home and Earthdance, staying away from large crowds to maintain the health and well being of the other Jam participants.
Nine Mountain is NOT available.
PRICING
GRATITUDE LODGE
Financially Wealthy – $625
Financially Abundant – $500
Financially Stable – $400
Financially Coping – $325
Financially Strained – $275
CAMPING
Financially Wealthy – $600
Financially Abundant – $475
Financially Stable – $375
Financially Coping – $300
Financially Strained – $250
COMMUTER
Financially Wealthy – $575
Financially Abundant – $450
Financially Stable – $350
Financially Coping – $275
Financially Strained – $225
Saturday, September 21st DROP-IN (Only if you’ve been to Earthdance before)
Financially Wealthy – $450
Financially Abundant – $300
Financially Stable – $200
Financially Coping – $125
Financially Strained – $85
Cancellation Policy
Refund available up to 14 days (September 5th) before the event less a $75 processing fee.
No refunds available less than 14 days (After September 5th) from the start of the event.
Partial refunds might be given if a cancellation takes place under extenuating circumstances (e.g. a death of a 1st or 2nd degree family member, serious non-preventable illness or accident requiring hospitalization). Refunds in such cases remain at the discretion of the local organizers and will be decided on a case to case basis according to the timing of the cancellation and other factors. We do not offer refunds if you catch a cold, the flu or COVID after the cancellation date.
Health Precautions
No specific requirements on vaccination status are needed to attend this event. Please take adequate measures to limit your exposure in the days before. If you are feeling sick, or have a known close exposure to someone with COVID in the past 5 days, please sit this one out to keep the community well.
Participant Community Support
Earthdance runs as a community, thus part of the participation is that all individuals contribute to 1-2 work shifts (typically meal cleans) throughout the event and participate in a final house clean on the last day of the event. These are great ways to connect more with your fellow participants and Earthdance staff, and to feel more at home in the Earthdance buildings & grounds. Your contributions to this collective caring of this space are invaluable!
Earthdance’s buildings are ADA accessible. More info here.
HOST BIOS
Olive Frank
Olive Frank loves a good contact improv dance. After 9 years of dancing contact improvisation in various countries and communities, she is still researching what makes a good CI dance so satisfying. And, she is eager to research that with you.
Sarah Zucchero
Sarah Zucchero is looking forward to this gathering between witches, wizards, and mages of CI. She herself is a weird CI disciple. Her prayer is this: may we all be amused and fed well by our co-created spell!