Receiving Bachelor Degrees in Arts and in Education and an MFA in Dance Choreography, I have been a teacher since 2001. I teach professional dancers, actors, high school and elementary school students, and community dancers. The main courses I teach are Conditioning, Somatics (Alexander Technique), Solo, Contact, and Ensemble Improvisation/Composition. The classes/workshops range from one hour introductory classes for individuals to full-year courses for large groups.
Spiraling Upwards: Contact Improv Intensive with Mark Young and Suzanne Liska Toronto, January 17-21, 2018
Class Schedule:
January 17 6-7pm* Mark
Jan 18 and 19 10-12am Suzanne and 1-3pm Mark
Jan 20 1-3pm Suzanne and 4-6pm Mark
Jan 21 10-1145am* Mark and 2-4pm Suzanne
Location: 3rd floor Dovercourt House 805 Dovercourt Rd (North Bloor/West Ossington)
Cost: Full class series $200 regular, $180 before Jan 7, $155 CADA/Artists/Underemployed.
Limited subsidized spots available.
*Costs not included for Jan 17 Wed Jam Class with Mark, drop-in $10 reasondetre.com and Jan 21 Sunday CI Jam class with Mark, drop-in $15 6q.com/artwrestling.
Registration and more info:
Suzanne Liska suzliska@yahoo.com 416 704-8096
leviathan.lasqueti.ca
This Contact Improv (CI) Intensive was dreamed up at Leviathan studio this past June, where Mark invited Suzanne to teach. Flying on Mark's shoulders, Suzanne experienced his years and expertise researching spirals within CI. Together in this workshop they offer a somatic based study of various spiral patterns of movement integrated into partnering. Mark draws on his study of Tai Chi. He will introduce us to foundational exercises that demand a spiral coordination of the muscles, inspired by Steve Paxton's Spiral Rolls. By isolating various patterns on the floor we are able to draw awareness to sensations on the entire body to become soft and strong with fast reflexes. Suzanne’s classes integrate the Alexander Technique with CI. We will research how to access our underlying support, sensory awareness, spatial perception, strength and fluidity within spiral movement patterns. As we research spirals within CI, ease of weight transitions and effortless partnering results. We look forward to sharing our research with you! Classes will be taught for all levels of experience.
The Facilitators:
Mark Young has been doing CI since 1997. What began as fun re-hab after a traumatic accident quickly became a serious study. He also began a serious study of Tai Chi and Vipassana meditation around the same time, these are the foundations of CI. He has studied with Nancy Stark Smith, Ray Chung, Karen Nelson, John Faichney, Alicia Grayson, and attended numerous conferences with the originators of the form at Breitenbush Hot Springs retreat centre. In 2000 he committed all of his resources to the creation of Leviathan Studio, a dance studio in B.C. committed to the study of CI. leviathan.lasqueti.ca https://youtu.be/Ot5ML5KCEnY
Suzanne Liska (B.A., B.Ed, SSHRC funded MFA in Dance Choreography) is a dance artist, choreographer, and teacher, specializing in CI since 1998 and the Alexander Technique since 2008. She collaborates with dance artists Maxine Heppner, Pam Johnson, Karen Kaeja, Susan Lee, Kathleen Rea and Takako Segawa. Suzanne has taught workshop intensives for Collective Gulp in Ottawa, CCDC in Calgary, C.I.N.N. in Tokyo, and Leviathan studio in BC. Informed by the Alexander Technique, CI, BMC, Action Theatre, Viewpoints approaches and structured improvisation, she has been a faculty teacher at the Randolph Academy College program since 2011 and a course director in Dance at York University.
Moving, Living & Performing with Ease
Soma Workshops Monday, February 12 at 10 AM - 3 PM
A practical workshop with Suzanne Liska providing tools for increased ease and efficiency in movement and daily activities.
Co-presented with Esther Cieri and rj fleck, Certified Teachers of the Alexander Technique
In the morning, with Suzanne, we will:
Experience how kinesthetic awareness training integrates your body and mind to facilitate greater freedom, ease and confidence while moving.
Experience how to train your kinesthetic coordination, individually and in response to others.
Experience efficient techniques to interact effortlessly with your environment.
Experience coordinated and authentic movement to support your daily activities.
In the afternoon, with Esther and rj, we will:
Apply what we have learned in the morning, incorporating the principles of the Alexander Technique, to the activities, pursuits and challenges of our daily lives.
The Alexander Technique is a practical method of achieving an increased level of awareness and conscious direction of the use of ourselves. If you would like to improve your ability to move through your daily activities with less effort, stress and strain; if you would like to approach your life experience with more lightness and grace, this workshop is for you.
Trinity St.Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Full Day, 10am-3pm $86.29
Morning 10am-noon or Afternoon Session 1-3pm,$54.16
Registration: www.eventbrite.ca/e/ moving-living-performing-with- ease-tickets-40720219272?aff= efbeventtix
All are welcome: this workshop is for everybody who moves and does.
Soma Workshops Monday, February 12 at 10 AM - 3 PM
A practical workshop with Suzanne Liska providing tools for increased ease and efficiency in movement and daily activities.
Co-presented with Esther Cieri and rj fleck, Certified Teachers of the Alexander Technique
In the morning, with Suzanne, we will:
Experience how kinesthetic awareness training integrates your body and mind to facilitate greater freedom, ease and confidence while moving.
Experience how to train your kinesthetic coordination, individually and in response to others.
Experience efficient techniques to interact effortlessly with your environment.
Experience coordinated and authentic movement to support your daily activities.
In the afternoon, with Esther and rj, we will:
Apply what we have learned in the morning, incorporating the principles of the Alexander Technique, to the activities, pursuits and challenges of our daily lives.
The Alexander Technique is a practical method of achieving an increased level of awareness and conscious direction of the use of ourselves. If you would like to improve your ability to move through your daily activities with less effort, stress and strain; if you would like to approach your life experience with more lightness and grace, this workshop is for you.
Trinity St.Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Full Day, 10am-3pm $86.29
Morning 10am-noon or Afternoon Session 1-3pm,$54.16
Registration: www.eventbrite.ca/e/ moving-living-performing-with- ease-tickets-40720219272?aff= efbeventtix
All are welcome: this workshop is for everybody who moves and does.
Current and Upcoming University/College Courses
York University, Dance Improvisation, Winter 2018
Ryerson - sub-teaching for Phillipa Domville, Movement for the Actors, 2017/2018
George Brown - sub-teaching for Kathleen Rea, Movement for Dancers, Fall 2017
York University, Dance Improvisation, Winter 2018
Ryerson - sub-teaching for Phillipa Domville, Movement for the Actors, 2017/2018
George Brown - sub-teaching for Kathleen Rea, Movement for Dancers, Fall 2017
Dance Teaching Experience:
Conditioning, Somatics (Alexander Technique), Solo, Contact, Ensemble Improvisation/Composition
Conditioning, Somatics (Alexander Technique), Solo, Contact, Ensemble Improvisation/Composition
- Acting Division Faculty Teacher at Randolph Performing Arts - College Program, Toronto 2011 – 2017
- Course Director in the Fundamentals of Physical Practice (Conditioning, Somatics and Improvisation), York University, Toronto, 2016 – 2017
- Graduate Rehearsal Assistant - York Dance Ensemble, York University 2015-2016
- University/College Workshops for Philippa Domville (Ryerson University), Susan Lee, Julia Sasso, and Gwen Dobie (York University) and Kathleen Rea (George Brown College), Kaeja d’Dance (School of Toronto Dance Theatre ) Toronto, 2006 – ongoing
- Residencies for C.I.N.N. (Tokyo), Leviathan Studio (B.C.), Collective Gulp Dance Projects (Ottawa), Artists’ Play Dance Company, Mayfield Secondary Arts High School, Simcoe Dance, Peterborough and Calgary Jams, Japan 2005 – ongoing
- AIM Alexander Technique Informed Movement with Susan Sinclair 2012 – 2015
