MOVEMENT INTENSIVE IN COMPOSITIONAL IMPROVISATION WITH THE ARCHITECTS / JUne 2026
D A T E S
Thurs. June 25 (arrive: 4-6pm) - Sun. June 28 (depart: 6:30pm) or optional departure Mon. June 29 (depart: 9am-noon)
Arrival on Thursday the 5th anytime between 4-6pm. When you arrive, we’ll do orientation at 6:30pm, and the first dinner and meet & greet session is from 7:30pm-9:30pm. Departure is Sunday 6:30pm-8pm (or folks can request to depart Monday morning for a $25-50 additional fee). There will be 2 movements sessions on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday (see sched below). The full and updated schedule will be sent to participants prior to arrival.
D A I L Y S C H E D U L E
BREAKFAST @ATLAND (8AM-9AM) chef-prepared and communal style at the Atland main house. Our dance deck is open for self-led morning practice/yoga/warm-ups.
MORNING IMPROVISATION SESSIONS W/ THE ARCHITECTS (10AM-1PM) The studio where we will gather for all movement sessions will be at the gorgeous and spacious Thayer Hill studio, just a few minutes up the road from Atland.
LUNCH (1:30PM-2:30PM) chef-prepared and communal style at the Atland main house, or brown bag option to take it on the go to the river or pool.
OPTIONAL SWIM BREAK @THE BEND you can take lunch on the go if you want to spend the afternoon break in the water. There is 1 swimming hole a short walk away which is perfect for post-class dips, another larger one with a community beach a bike ride away, a pool at the farm house, and a lake for those who want to explore farther away.
AFTERNOON IMPROVISATION SESSIONS W/ THE ARCHITECTS (3:30PM-6:30PM) The studio where we will gather for movement sessions will be at the gorgeous and spacious Thayer Hill studio, just a few minutes up the road from Atland. Sunday’s afternoon workshop will be a little earlier (2:30pm-4:30pm) since checkout is 5pm.
DINNER @ATLAND (7:30PM) chef-prepared and communal style at the Atland main house.
EVENING SESSIONS Evenings are left open for rest, socializing, hot tub soaks, games, and hitting up the local ice cream spots. We may have an evening screening at the barn where you can share any videos/films that you’re working on. Personal time for rest and integration may be taken whenever needed.
Atland is hosting a summer improvisation workshop facilitated by The Architects: Kathy Couch, Katherine Ferrier, Lisa Gonzales, Jennifer Kayle, and Pamela Vail, with guest musician Jason Palamara. Meals and lodging options available (see below). During the intensive, there will be time to enjoy hiking our trails, swimming in the river or POOL(!), sharing communal meals around the fire, and wood-fired hot tub hangs. We have doubled our lodging offerings so that there are 12 private indoor bedrooms available, 2 shared indoor bedrooms, and still many options to camp :) We encourage folks to lodge with us unless you’re local. Also, all movement sessions will take place near Atland at the beautiful Thayer Hill Studio.
The renowned Movement Intensive in Compositional Improvisation (MICI for short) is now here in Western Massachusetts, after its 14-year-run at Franklin and Marshall College. The intensive balances in-depth individual exploration with rigorous practice in spontaneous ensemble dance-making. Fresh perceptions and new choices are set in motion daily through provoking, open-ended questions.
Each kinesthetic/conceptual proposition acts as an entrance point for the mover and composer, a window into authenticity, connection, depth, and range. Of particular interest here is the emerging: compositional languages and modes of perceiving and engaging that are in-progress, unfolding, as-yet-unseen. Over the course of the weekend, the artistic integrity of one’s voice is sharpened in conversation with the whole and a dialogue emerges as individual aesthetics meet, interact, and expand.
All movement sessions will be held at Thayer Hill Studio, just down the road from Atland Residency.
T U I T I O N + M E A L S + H O U S I N G
Tuition: $350-$400 sliding scale / first half of tuition is due upon registration, meals/lodging fee is due April 1, and second half of tuition is due May 1.
Meals: $150 / includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all workshop days. Meals are required for those who lodge with us, and recommended (but not required) for those who are local and don’t need housing. Chefs for this workshop are Ampersand Paris and Amy Lynne Barr :)
Housing options: $150-$300 (tiered options include: 12 private indoor bedrooms, 2 shared indoor bedrooms, 2 cabins, 2 glamping spots, and 7 camping spots on tent platforms with an outdoor heated shower and beautiful new outhouse… we have camp gear for rent if needed). If you live nearby, you can pay just the tuition/meals fee, but for folks who are visiting from out of town we recommend lodging and eating meals with us.
There 2 scholarships available for artists, apply if cost is a barrier. Scholarships cover full cost of tuition (housing & food not included). Artists will be notified around Feb 1 scholarship results. To apply, reach out to: info@torilawrence.org
If you’re lodging with us, you may be assigned a chore when you check-in before orientation. Chores include sweeping the dance studio, helping with meal prep/cleanup, and tidying the living spaces. This is part of our ethos of communal living and sharing space with one another.
A P P L I C A T I O N
Open to the first 30 participants who register online and pay a deposit (deposit is half of tuition and non-refundable). Prior experience with dance improvisation is necessary. Everyone is welcome to register, but advanced improvisers will be given priority if we over-enroll. Must be at least 21 years old to apply. Please reach out to us if you have questions about if this workshop is the right level/fit for you.
Cancellation Policy: once you have paid the deposit and tuition, it is non-refundable. Housing and meal payments will be refunded (minus any paypal/credit card fees) if we are able to find someone on the waitlist to take your spot, so the sooner you let us know then the more likely we can find someone.
the ARCHITECTS
Kathy Couch, Katherine Ferrier, Lisa Gonzales, Jennifer Kayle, and Pamela Vail
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The Architects were born out of collaborations between Katherine Ferrier, Lisa Gonzales, Jennifer Kayle, and Pamela Vail in the late 1980s, later joined by Kathy Couch. For over 20 years, the quintet has been engaged in celebrating composition through their commitment to collaborative movement research. The Architects have presented their work and taught master classes in such venues as the Texas Dance Improvisation Festival; Chicago Dance Improvisation Fest; Jazz Fest, Burlington, VT (in collaboration with Ensemble V, directed by Arthur Brooks); The Fringe Festival, Minneapolis, MN; The Flynn Theatre in Burlington, VT; the University of Iowa; and Franklin & Marshall, Middlebury, Muhlenberg, Keene State, and Austin Community Colleges. They were the company in residence from 2001-2005 at Bennington College. For 13 years, 2006-2018, they held their weeklong workshop Movement Intensive in Compositional Improvisation (MICI) at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. They also offered “wiMICI” (winter Movement Intensive in Compositional Improvisation) each January from 2011-2013 in Tucson, AZ. In their professional and life-long devotion to choreography, improvisation, and teaching, the Architects bring a holistic and ferocious intelligence to the dialogue of dance-making and teaching, process and product, individual voice and ensemble composition, crafting, and opening to the unknown.
more about our space
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Over 40 acres of solitude tucked in the hilltowns of the western Massachusetts Berkshires -- boasting warm sunrises over the distant hills, lush forest for hiking and meandering river frontage on Bronson Brook and walking distance to the Westfield River to wade and soak in the cool mountain water or fish for native trout! We have over a mile of beautiful trails that were created around the main home -- a local architect designed masterpiece boasting a wonderful asian influence yet handcrafted from the very timberstock off the land on which it sits lending a refined rustic twist. 25 Min to Northampton and 10 min to the Berkshires! You can hike or bike to the best swimming holes around. Come escape and breathe in our cool clean mountain air :)
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linens, towels, pillows, comforters, blankets, shampoo & soap, TP
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There are two swimming holes near the house that you can walk or bike to. Farther away spots include Ashfield Lake and Chapel Brook Falls.
We also have a wood-fired hot tub that can be heated up for the weekend. The hot tub seats 5 ppl at a time and is right near the outdoor deck.
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We don’t allow guests who are not a part of the rental group unless you get approval from us ahead of time.
For our dance workshops, since space is limited, we can’t accommodate partners and families to lodge with us or attend meals for workshops, but if you would like to bring a family member(s), you can check out nearby lodging options like the Goldenrod Inn or Airbnbs in the area.
Even though we love animals, we have a no-pet policy. Thanks for understanding.
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hiking boots and warm socks
raincoat/poncho and any waterproof clothing you want to bring
bathing suit (if you want to swim in the nearby swim holes, river, and lakes)
swim towel / robe for the outdoor shower
anything you want to bring to the swimming holes (speaker, floaties, goggles, etc.)
kayak/paddleboard/etc.
flashlight/headlamp
bug spray
sunscreen
hat/visor
sunglasses
for those camping: tent, sleeping bag and pad, tarp for tent bottom and top (we get lots of rain, so this is highly recommended), pillow
bike (we have a few to borrow)
camping chair, hammock, anything you want to add to your campsite ;)
water bottle
waterproof sandals
warm weather clothes for any heatwave days
cool weather clothes for chilly summer/fall evenings
toothbrush & toothpaste
backpack
snacks (campers, you have to store these inside the house, no food or drinks in the tent)
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Chesterfield General Store has basics, baked goods, beer, and wine, and great pizza and sandwiches - Th-Su only.
The Cummington Creamery Co-op on Rte 9 offers baked goods, wine, and beer, every day.
Williamsburg Market on Rt 9 in Williamsburg is about 10 minutes away.
Oliver’s Farm Stand (seasonal) on Route 9 in Goshen, about 10 minutes away, self serve and really excellent in a pinch - frozen meats and fish, veggies, condiments, breads, meats. Highly recommended.
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Cell Service is spotty in the hilltowns, only AT&T works at the house. But luckily we have fast WiFi, so you can connect to WiFi calling and you won’t miss any calls/texts. Or you can take the chance to unlpug and not connect to service or internet, up to you!
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The Chesterfield General Store (Fri-Sun) coffee, sandwiches, soup, pastries and baked goods, groceries, wine and beer, and have inside and outside dining - great for a quick lunch. Has a great brick oven pizza, but order early!
Elbow Room Coffee Shop (10 min away in Williamsburg) excellent burritos and coffee. Female/queer owned.
Liston's Bar and Restaurant in Worthington is 10 minutes away with good pub fare, fun atmosphere inside and out; has some vegetarian but few vegan options.
The Goldenrod Country Inn in Worthington has an excellent menu and cocktail bar; sometimes serves weekend breakfast. Queer owned.
The Creamery in Cummington (daily) offers excellent prepared foods, groceries, wine and beer, and have inside and outside dining - great for a quick lunch.
Sena Brewery (Fri-Sun) excellent beer. bring your own food. pets welcome.