Conor & Anna – Announcing presenters

Conor and Anna are London based Shibari teachers who bring a unique and interdisciplinary approach to Japanese rope bondage. With a varied background in Urban mapping, linguistics and dance, their teachings are informed by a deep understanding of the principles of design and movement. In addition, their background in choreography and a deep respect for Japanese culture enables them to create authentic and visually stunning performances.

With a combined experience of 25 years in kink and rope, Conor and Anna have a wealth of knowledge and skill to share with students. Their approach to Shibari is characterized by a playful yet sincere questioning and exploration of the canon of the practice. They actively seek to reassemble traditional Shibari techniques in new and exciting ways, drawing inspiration from a variety of fields including linguistics, yoga, and spiritual practices.

Conor and Anna are full time educators, known for their ability to create a safe and inclusive learning environment for their students. They have taught private students, workshops, and conferences, and have been invited to perform and teach at festivals around the world. They approach  teaching with enthusiasm, sensitivity, and a contemplative mindset, always striving to enhance and further understand the discourse of Shibari.

Find out more at their Instagram: Conor & Anna.

Workshops

Bamboo Battle Royal

(Workshop level: L1-3)

Bamboo battle royale is a group workshop in which it is aimed to create a new harness which incorporates bamboo. Depending on the workshop size, the individual groups can be given specific briefs such as upper body, lower body, or full body. Alternatively, the groups can design a single multi-bamboo composition.

The workshop is concluded with a period of reflection in which each of the groups can relay the information that was gathered from their individual exercises. This way, a collective knowledge of rope technicality is created without a single author.

As rope discourse departs from the traditional Deshi or Ryu systems, a question arises as to who has ownership over which patterns and techniques. The subtext of this workshop is a conversation on intellectual property and the methods in which our post Japano-centric practice considers the a new non-hierarchical and multi various pedagogic systems.

Meisner’s repetition exercise for rope

(Workshop level: L1-3)

“Acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”

Sanford Meisner

Sanford Meisner was one of the most influential and respected acting teachers of the 20th century. His technique emphasises instincts and spontaneity as well as acting out of the truthfulness of the moment. His most unique exercise it the repetition exercise that was designed to achieve greater emotional freedom ans versatility, as well as training the participants to stay emotionally connected to each other.

We feel that this can be of great use in our rope practice and adapted his most iconic exercise for Shibari.

Interpreting Choreography

(Workshop level: L2-3)

In this class we propose a notation system for rope choreography as well as giving couples a written choreography to interpret within their own rope practice. We will see that the same sequence can have different expressions, aesthetics and interpretations while still working with the same choreography. Comparing, analysing, and taking about the different approaches, feelings and interpretations of a sequence can help to understand and steer away from copying or pursuing pictures we see and have in our heads but start to create unique aesthetics and messages within a given framework.

Participants must have some previous experience, should be able to tie the most common harnesses and suspend partially.