Philadelphia 2026 Global Underscore is Sat 6/20 10am-2pm
Loren Groenendaal
The next Philly Underscore is a Global Underscore, so we will be meeting and dancing simultaneously with many sites around the world. The 4 hour duration will include much time for luscious dancing, curiosity, reflection, and 2 meditations that connect us to the global community.
BASICS:
Philadelphia 2026 Global Underscore
Saturday, June 20, 2026 10am-2pm
Mascher Space Rear Studio, 1170 S. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19146
A prior Talk Through and Registration are required. Email your RSVP to verve...@gmail.com by 9am on Friday, June 19.
Tickets are sliding scale: $10-30, pay via cash, check, paypal or venmo at event, NTADTLOF
Invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/share/18fQCvQuNH/
WHAT IS THE UNDERSCORE?
The Underscore Practice is a simple and beautiful structure for a focused jam-like practice developed by Nancy Stark Smith. The structure is a precise, but open platform for investigation of contact improvisation and solo and group improvised composition. The score is an organic developmental nonverbal sequence that provides focus to the dancing community and opens up possibilities for movement, awareness, connection, and various physical/mental states. We (do our best to) commit to participating in the entire score (which includes resting, eating, digesting, observing, bonding with the earth).
Nancy Stark Smith, who originated the practice, describes it this way: "The Underscore is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation into a broader arena of improvisational dance practice; for developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable." More info: http://nancystarksmith.com/underscore
The Global Underscore (GUS) centers around a yearly event in which the Underscore is practiced simultaneously for a 4-hour period by people all over the world near the summer solstice (northern hemisphere). More info: https://globalunderscore.com/UNDERSCORE PROTOCOL:
The Underscore is a carefully held container and an intentional space. This is NOT a come and go jam. We aim to commit to the entire practice together. Those who Arrive at 10am and come to the Assembly shortly thereafter will stay through the conclusion by 2pm as it is customary to commit to the full session for an Underscore Practice.
YOU MUST REGISTER to participate in the UNDERSCORE by emailing verve...@gmail.com
A prior UNDERSCORE TALK THROUGH is required to participate in the Underscore. More about this below.
The studio is up a small flight of stairs. Bathrooms are down a full flight of stairs. Street shoes are NOT permitted in the dance studio. Eating may happen in the building's lounge, but not the studio and you must remove all food trash when you leave.
HEALTH /COMMUNITY CARE PROTOCOL:
Capacity is limited to 15 people.
I strongly encourage you to wash your hands once you arrive to the building and after the Underscore before you leave.
Masks are optional.
Touch with consent is permitted.
I am prepared to do contact tracing. If a participant discovers within 7 days after the Underscore that they are positive for covid, monkeypox or another infectious disease that could have transmission in the Underscore setting, please email verve...@gmail.com and we will let the rest of the group know about their possible exposure.
Since September 2022, Covid-19 Vaccination is encouraged, but not required.
Do NOT attend the Underscore if you have symptoms of COVID, have tested positive for COVID or have a known or possible COVID exposure in the last 10 days, UNLESS you have tested negative at least 5 days after exposure.
Do NOT attend the jam if you have symptoms of Monkeypox Virus (flu, fever, swollen lymph nodes, new skin rash), a current case of MPV, or a known exposure to MonkeyPox in the past 2 weeks.
A prior UNDERSCORE TALK THROUGH is required to participate in the Underscore.
If you haven't had a Talk Through and are interested in participating in the Philly Global Underscore on Sat 6/20/26, email verve...@gmail.com to inquire about setting up a Talk Through either via Zoom or in person. Some possible times for a Philadelphia based Talk Through with Loren include after 2pm on Wednesday, June 17 or before 6:45pm on Thursday June 18
QUESTIONS: verve...@gmail.com
ONGOING HUB FOR PHILLY UNDERSCORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaUnderscore
Streamingly,
-Loren
BA in Dance and Visual Arts
Certified Movement Analyst
Loren Groenendaal
Come celebrate the northern hemisphere's Summer Solstice through dance and dial out your Telescoping Awareness to connect to the whole planet!
BASICS:
Philadelphia 2026 Global Underscore
Saturday, June 20, 2026 11am-1pm (NOTE THE NEW SHORTER TIME)
Mascher Space Rear Studio, 1170 S. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19146
A prior Talk Through and Registration are required. Email your RSVP to verve...@gmail.com
Tickets are sliding scale: $10-30, pay via cash, check, paypal or venmo at event, NOTAFLOF
Invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/share/18fQCvQuNH/
WHAT IS THE UNDERSCORE?
The Underscore Practice is a simple and beautiful structure for a focused jam-like practice developed by Nancy Stark Smith. The structure is a precise, but open platform for investigation of contact improvisation and solo and group improvised composition. The score is an organic developmental nonverbal sequence that provides focus to the dancing community and opens up possibilities for movement, awareness, connection, and various physical/mental states. We (do our best to) commit to participating in the entire score (which includes resting, eating, digesting, observing, bonding with the earth).
Nancy Stark Smith, who originated the practice, describes it this way: "The Underscore is a vehicle for incorporating Contact Improvisation into a broader arena of improvisational dance practice; for developing greater ease dancing in spherical space—alone and with others; and for integrating kinesthetic and compositional concerns while improvising. It allows for a full spectrum of energetic and physical expressions, embodying a range of forms and changing states. Its practice is familiar yet unpredictable." More info: http://nancystarksmith.com/underscore
UNDERSCORE PROTOCOL:
The Underscore is a carefully held container and an intentional space. This is NOT a come and go jam. We aim to commit to the entire practice together. Those who Arrive at 11am and come to the Assembly shortly thereafter will stay through the conclusion by 1pm as it is customary to commit to the full session for an Underscore Practice.
YOU MUST REGISTER to participate in the UNDERSCORE by emailing verve...@gmail.com
A prior UNDERSCORE TALK THROUGH is required to participate in the Underscore.
The studio is up a small flight of stairs. Bathrooms are down a full flight of stairs. Street shoes are NOT permitted in the dance studio. Eating may happen in the building's lounge, but not the studio and you must remove all food trash when you leave.
HEALTH /COMMUNITY CARE PROTOCOL:
Capacity is limited to 15 people.
I strongly encourage you to wash your hands once you arrive to the building and after the Underscore before you leave.
Masks are optional.
Touch with consent is permitted.
I am prepared to do contact tracing. If a participant discovers within 7 days after the Underscore that they are positive for covid, monkeypox or another infectious disease that could have transmission in the Underscore setting, please email verve...@gmail.com and we will let the rest of the group know about their possible exposure.
Since September 2022, Covid-19 Vaccination is encouraged, but not required.
Do NOT attend the Underscore if you have symptoms of COVID, have tested positive for COVID or have a known or possible COVID exposure in the last 10 days, UNLESS you have tested negative at least 5 days after exposure.
Do NOT attend the jam if you have symptoms of Monkeypox Virus (flu, fever, swollen lymph nodes, new skin rash), a current case of MPV, or a known exposure to MonkeyPox in the past 2 weeks.