DUET LAB from practice to performance 2026

16 hours ago
3 min read

By Laisvie Ochoa and Raúl Saldarriaga

DESCRIPTION

A guided creation process for dancers interested in developing a duet from the ground up.

This 3-month trajectory supports participants through a structured journey, from first encounters and embodied listening to experimentation, composition, and final performance. Working in duos, participants will explore how to build trust, communicate through movement, and develop a shared artistic language.

The program draws from practices such as Contact Improvisation, contemporary partnering, and partner acrobatics, combined with tools for instant composition and choreographic development. Along the way, participants receive coaching and feedback to support both their technical and creative processes.

The trajectory culminates in the creation and presentation of an original duet of max 10 mins. At the Amsterdam Theatre House.

You can sign in alone or with a partner.

GENERAL INFO

Open to professionals and enthusiastic amateurs alike.

You can sign in alone or with a partner.

DATES: from Sep 20th to Dec 13th 2026

SUNDAYS: 14:30 - 17:30h

PLACE: Vredemburgh studio - Vredenburgersteeg 31-35, 1012 DZ Amsterdam

PERFORMANCE: Thursday, Dec 17th at Amsterdam Theatre House (open to the public)

PRICES*:

Regular-supportive: €350
Early bird: €290 (Before 31st of July)

*Excl 21% BTW

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT

Step 1: Fill in the registration form to tell us briefly about yourself, your motivation, and your preferred payment option. You can choose to pay the full amount all at once, or pay a €150 deposit at subscription to secure your spot, with the remaining balance due on the first day of the lab.

Step 2: We will send you an email with a secure payment link based on your choice.

Step 3: Once your payment is received, your subscription is finalised, and your spot is officially secured.

Refund Policy: Payments are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend, you can transfer your spot to another person until the 13th of September. Please contact us in advance so we can update the registration details and welcome the new participant.

BIO TEACHERS

LAISVIE OCHOA

I am a Colombian–Lithuanian choreographer, dancer, and teacher, and the Director of ConCuerpos, an inclusive dance company with a dual presence in Colombia and the Netherlands. My work brings together dancers with and without disabilities through artistic creation, education, and research. I originally trained in Psychology and Multimedia Creation in Colombia, and later completed a Master in Choreography and the Embodied Life Art Program in the Netherlands. I have been in love with dance, contact improvisation, partnering, release, circus, and yoga for over twenty years, and continue to deepen this long-standing relationship with movement.

RAÚL SALDARRIAGA

I am an artistic researcher, performer, choreographer, based in Amsterdam, where I lead the movement collective “Casagrafia.” I hold a BA in Art Pedagogy, a BA in Contemporary Dance, an MA in Interactive Media and Choreography, and an MA in Choreography (COMMA). For more than 20 years, I have been teaching, creating, and supporting artistic and creative projects in Colombia and across Europe. My work focuses on contemporary dance, partnering dance, improvisation, and Contact Improvisation, exploring movement as a space for creativity, playfulness, communication, and human connection.