Brigel Gjoka, is an Albanian-born choreographer, dancer, and dance teacher, with a career spanning over two decades. He received his training at the Tirana School of Ballet and the Rosella Hightower in France. Between 2006 and 2010, he danced with Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin, Staatstheater Mainz, and the Nederlands Dans Theater.

Brigel’s Kinetic workshop (mechanical energy and distribution of effort in choreographic composition) will explore the following: Energy is the thread that binds us to the natural world around us. As dancers, we have the unique ability to harness this energy and use it to create movements that are both precise and expressive. In this workshop, we will delve deep into the mechanics of our own bodies, exploring how energy flows through every joint and muscle. We will investigate the interplay between effort and ease, questioning how much force is necessary to initiate movement and how to achieve a state of effortless motion. Through a variety of choreographic techniques, participants will analyze each step, learning to understand the mechanics of movement and how to create their own unique choreographic language.