WINTER/SPRING 2026
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FORM: Language, body and breath
Led by our Artistic Director Katherine Murphy Lewis and local favorite Andrea Parson
WHEN & WHERE
April 18th & 19th
10am-4pm At Bodyvox Dance Center
What language lives in our bodies? How does breath inform our stories? What happens when we blend our body, breath and language?
In this weekend intensive we will blend the body, breath and language to create dynamic stories that move us. Combining the expertise of local Contemporary Dancer Andrea Parson and From the Ground UP’s Artistic Director Katherine Murphy Lewis, we use the combination of personal narrative and movement through dance and physical theater practices.
Throughout our time we will dive deep into the process that will help you fully embody your story. Each participant will get to immerse themselves in the process of creating new work through the lens of the body. With approaches that create a unique pathway that leads to risky, personal new work, engaging the whole body.
** NOTE: This process was developed in the rehearsal room during the creation of Andrea’s new work You Can’t Be Serious, directed and dramaturged by Katherine and written and performed by Andrea. After the world premier in fall of 2023 in partnership with BodyVox, currently on tour.
*Open to individuals of all movement backgrounds and levels.
COST $250
Limited Subsidies Available
Email Katherine at katherineftgu@gmail.com to request financial support, make payment or if you have any other questions.
dance X Camera
A Creative Exchange
a two-day interdisciplinary experience that is part workshop and part creative lab for artists working across movement and cinema.
Led by Rachel Slater
when & where
New Expressive Works
May 2nd & 3rd
11am-4pm
Designed for dancers, filmmakers, and hybrid artists.
This workshop explores the creative relationship between movement, the camera, and editing. Participants will engage in a curated mix of discussion, short screenings, hands-on exercises, and collaborative experimentation - building practical tools, exchanging ideas, and generating raw material.
Over two days, we’ll explore the choreography of the camera, planning for the edit before you shoot, and how framing, pacing, movement, and perspective inform each other. The workshop emphasizes process, collaboration, curiosity, and creative exchange, supporting participants in developing ideas, approaches, and material they can carry forward into future work.
Participants should wear movement-friendly clothing they’re comfortable being filmed in, and bring a notebook and a phone or camera.
RAchel’s Bio
Rachel Slater is an interdisciplinary artist working across dance, film, and storytelling. Based in Portland, Oregon, she maintains a strong connection to New Orleans, where she serves as Director of Dance Film at BODYART’s International Dance Festival NOLA. She is also the co-Artistic Director of Muddy Feet Contemporary Dance, alongside Suzanne Chi.
A graduate of the former University of the Arts, Rachel has performed for Minh Tran & Company, Franco Nieto, Tracey Durbin, Carla Mann, and BODYART, among many others. She is an alumna and former faculty member of the Jefferson Dancers, and a dedicated mentor to young artists.
Her choreographic work has been presented across the Pacific Northwest and nationally, in cities such as Detroit, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as internationally in Amsterdam and Melbourne. Dance films created with Muddy Feet Contemporary Dance have screened in 25 countries and at over 45 festivals worldwide, earning multiple awards.
Rachel’s creative work orients around visceral, textural movement and the excavation of memory and emotion. A Resident Artist at FLOCK Dance Center and 2024 Miller Foundation Spark Awardee, she is currently developing her first evening-length solo, Daughter Debris. She is offering workshops at the Portland Grief House, and will be a 2026 From the Ground Up Resident. Rachel believes that artmaking can be a radical, humanist act—one that supports and amplifies stories, deepens empathy, and builds community.
*Open to all individuals of any background, no experience necessary.
COST $300
Limited Subsidies Available
Email Katherine at katherineftgu@gmail.com to request financial support, make payment or if you have any other questions.
Creating Comedic Characters from the self
A weekENd intensive Blends Clowning Foundations, Personal Discovery, Costumes & Objects
Led by Emily Newton
when & where
Location TBA
March 28th & 29th
11am-4pm
In this playful, high-energy workshop, participants will discover how to create original comedic characters by drawing directly from their own personality, quirks, impulses, and imagination. Using core principles of clowning—authentic presence, emotional honesty, bold physicality, and joyful failure—we’ll uncover the unique humor each person carries naturally.
Through guided exercises, improvisations, and creative exploration, participants will:
Tap into their own stories, habits, fears, and delights as sources for comedy
Experiment with movement, voice, rhythm, and exaggerated emotion
Build characters through physical discovery rather than intellectual planning
Explore how costumes, found objects, and personal items can transform or amplify a character
Learn to play with the audience (real or imagined) through responsiveness and vulnerability
Participants are invited to bring costumes, accessories, or everyday objects that spark curiosity or silliness—these become powerful tools in revealing new comedic personas.
Whether you’re a performer, creator, or simply curious about clowning, this workshop offers a supportive space to embrace your ridiculousness, amplify your uniqueness, and craft comedic characters that feel both surprising and deeply authentic.Whether you’re a performer, creator, or simply curious about clowning, this workshop offers a supportive space to embrace your ridiculousness, amplify your uniqueness, and craft comedic characters that feel both surprising and deeply authentic.
Emily’s Bio
Emily June Newton is an international comedic performer originally from Australia, now based in Portland, Oregon. Known for her eccentric, fully embodied characters and dynamic audience interaction, Emily’s work pushes the boundaries between performer and spectator. Her signature creations include Frank (the world’s most entertaining entertainer), Pat McKensie (Australia’s self-appointed Cultural Ambassador), The Rat King, and The Bard (Mike Bennett Studios).
Emily has performed nationally and internationally with acclaimed companies such as Terrapin Puppet Theatre (AUS), Oregon Children’s Theatre (USA), CoHo Productions (USA), The Children’s Art Theatre of China (CHN), and Dell’Arte International (USA).
Described as “comedic gold” by Broadway World and a “standout clown” by The Mercury PDX, Emily holds an MFA in Ensemble-Based Physical Theater from Dell’Arte International. She is the co-artistic director of the CoHo Clown Cohort, faculty at the Institute of Contemporary Performance (PETE), and a proud member of the Portland chapter of Fou Fou Ha, San Francisco’s premier burlesque clown troupe.
COST $250
Limited Subsidies Available
Email Katherine at katherineftgu@gmail.com to request financial support, make payment or if you have any other questions.