Vertical Dance Workshop with Steep Horizon Dance
Facilitated by Cam Moreno and Chris Black
September 24 & 25 OR October 4 & 5
Two seperate workshops - Each workshop is two three hour sessions
An open level workshop for movers who are interested in the challenging and rewarding mode of harness-based vertical dance. Participants will get the chance to fly, skim, glide, swing, and tumble. No prior experience required. Minimum of 4 participants needed to hold the workshop, max of 6 participants allowed. Please register early!
Vertical dance is a kind of aerial dance that uses climbing gear—harnesses and rope and fixed anchors—to get suspended and move in the air. In this workshop, several off-the-ground options will be available, such as being fully suspended in space, skimming just above the floor, or dancing sideways using a wall as your dance floor.
This workshop will offer detailed instruction on equipment use, methods for safely exploring movement possibilities, as well as options for beginner, intermediate, or advanced pathways.
An open level workshop for movers who are interested in the challenging and rewarding mode of harness-based vertical dance. Participants will get the chance to fly, skim, glide, swing, and tumble. No prior experience required. Minimum of 4 participants needed to hold the workshop, max of 6 participants allowed. Please register early!
Image Credit: Winter Ramos
Who is it for?
This workshop will offer safe ways to explore and play while being supported and suspended. It is open for beginner to advanced movers. It is primarily a dance workshop, meaning the instruction will be geared towards finding a movement style that feels good to you with specific tools, examples, and feedback (rather than a more circus-style workshop geared toward learning specific tricks).
Workshop Times:
There are two seperate workshop dates offered:
September 24 & 25, 2025 @ 6-9 pm
October 4 & 5, 2025 @ 12-3 pm
Sample Schedule:
Day 1: Gear & safety review
Warm up
Demonstration of basics
Rotating sessions with built-in breaks
Day 2: Warm up
Demonstration of additional skills/ideas
Rotating sessions with built-in breaks
Options for gentle partnering/group dancing using vertical dance skills
Option to stay overnight at WildHeart before or after: Come early or stay late. Reach out to us at contact@wildheartcenter.art to confirm your stay.
Frequently asked questions
- What is my harness size?/What size harnesses do you offer? We will have the following size harnesses available:
XS (waist 24”-29”)
S (waist 29”-31.5”)
M (waist 31.5”-35”)
L (waist 35”-39”)
If this does not work for you, please reach out to us at contact@wildheartcenter.art - Can I bring my own climbing/dance harness to the workshop? Unfortunately, we cannot allow outside harnesses into these dance workshops, because we have no way to account for the safe use of them, i.e., no way of knowing when it was bought, how it’s been stored, and if it is safe to use.
- Do I need to have a dance or aerial/vertical dance background? No. This workshop will offer safe ways to explore and play while being supported and suspended. It is primarily a dance workshop, so the instruction will be geared towards finding a movement style that feels good to you, with specific tools and examples about how to do that, rather than a more circus-style workshop geared toward learning specific tricks.
- Anything I need to know about harness-based dance, what to do, what not to do? There are some things that will make this more comfortable and feel better on your body. The two main things are:
- Food/drink: Harness-based dancing can put a lot of pressure on your abdomen, and being upside down and/or spinning are also possible, so it’s not a good idea to eat a big or heavy meal right beforehand. Snacks are fine before and during the workshop, and having a meal around 2+ hours before the workshop also works well. Acidic foods, like coffee or anything tomato-based, are not good in combination with this kind of physicality. Additionally, please arrive hydrated, and stay hydrated during the workshop.
- Clothing: It is super important to wear clothing that covers your skin anywhere the harness sits, but especially at the waist. Otherwise the harness can chafe and pull at your skin as you move. Layering is also really helpful. Some versions of this could include: high-waisted leggings or bike shorts with a long shirt over it; a leotard with dance clothes layered on top; or a long, form-fitting tank top with another tank top or T-shirt over it and stretchy bottoms. Jeans, short shorts, and crop tops are not recommended.
- Should I not try this kind of aerial dance if I have a physical injury or medical condition? Please reach out directly to the facilitator, Cam Moreno, at morenocourtney@gmail.com, if you would like to know more about whether this workshop can work for you and your body!
Location
WildHeart is located on 46+ beautiful acres in the Hudson Valley.
This workshop will take place in the Dance Barn. If you’re coming to WildHeart for the first time, please visit our Directions page for arrival info.
About the Facilitators
Cam Moreno (they/them) spent over twenty years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a performing artist, aerialist, and dance teacher. With a background in modern dance, contact improvisation, and vertical dance, they were a longtime company member and previous Associate Artistic Director of the vertical dance company, BANDALOOP, performing and teaching across the U.S. as well as all over the world. After moving to New York in 2022, Cam formed Steep Horizon Dance, with the aim to develop site-reactive and vertical dance in the Hudson Valley, collaborating with local dancers, musicians, and shadow artists in traditional and unconventional performance spaces.
Chris Black (she/her) is a choreographer and performer now based in the Hudson Valley after living in San Francisco for 30 years. She has made work for theaters, parks, museums, a Tokyo acting school, and a wedding, and has won numerous awards for her choreography. She has been a dancer/collaborator with Steep Horizon Dance since 2024.
Register for the Workshop
This workshop is now full. If you are interested in being put on a waitlist, please email contact@wildheartcenter.art to express your interest.