“In my teaching I am focussing on a movement practice which supports the ability to engage more fully in the physicality, the senses, feelings and mind. To become more fine tuned in the observation of, and engagement in our inner space, in relation with the space and time we move in. The aim of the workshop is to stimulate inventiveness and confidence in performing and creating. Depending on the time and level of the course, this work can move into movement practice, performance practice, creative process and choreography.”

Ria Higler is an Amsterdam based teacher, choreographer and performer. Since decennia she is connected to the SNDO (School for New Dance Development) as staff-teacher and from 1989 – 1998 as artistic Co-director. The SNDO is known for training students with a strong motivation to be choreographic artists who contribute to innovation in dance.

Ria Higler’s dance training started in the studio of Pauline de Groot, and in 1978 she graduated from the Modern Dance Department of the Theatre-school in Amsterdam. In the late 70’s she started a dance group and made several productions. After that she decided to take time to deepen her study, develop as a solo performer and collaborate with other artists.

Ria Higler’s interest lays in the research of body and movement in space, including mind and emotion, in relation to the creative process. She studied alignment/release with Nancy Topf, John Rolland, Marsha Paludan, all early students of Barbara Clark, a pioneer with incredible dedication to the art and science of human movement. She met Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen and studied BMC with her and her students. Ria developed the use of voice in her work and studied voice and singing, a.o gypsy singing with Ida Kelarova. Between 1994 – 2000 Ria travelled to Indonesia frequently to study with Suprapto Suryodarmo, and to perform and organise projects. Suprapto teaches a free movement practice, related to nature, ritual and spirituality. Between 2001 and 2004 Ria travelled with Suprapto to USA, Mexico an India (“where we practised on huge stones in an impressive rock landscape and we lived in caves for 6 weeks…”) to study, teach and perform and to collaborate with local artists including Anna Halprin, Simone Forti in USA and Chapo, a Mexican native Indian.

Ria Higler’s latest performance “Le Corps Bourgeois” was performed in 2008 in Amsterdam, Cologne, Chomutove-Tsjech Republic and Estella-Spain.