Flourish Improvisation for Groups
Dancers of all levels have joined together in Red Sage Collective to create a new style of improvisational dance for groups. The Flourish format strives to be accessible to all dancers, inclusive of any dancer who wants to participate, and respectful of the history and contributions that inspire and inform the movements.
Please check back frequently! We are adding new movements every month. If you are interested in joining us for our weekly Flourish Group Improv classes, you can register here.
Values:
Accessible- The adaptable and two-sided movements in Flourish are created for all bodies. All of the movement components we create will be available for free on this website. Our costuming is low cost and flexible so that all genders and body types are comfortable.
Inclusive- Flourish is designed so that all levels of dancers can dance together in a performance. We dance to all styles of music and each performer is responsible for researching the music/song/lyrics to make sure they don’t stray from our stated values. We welcome anyone who wants to join us, only asking for respectful behavior and enthusiastic participation. Self-serve scholarships are available to make participation inclusive of anyone who has a desire to create and learn.
Respectful- We are striving to ethically use music, credit our sources of inspiration, and acknowledge all of the dancers who contribute to the creation of a movement. We believe respect is an ongoing and deliberate choice and we will continually strive to “know better, do better”.
Flourish 3/4 Shimmy Infinity Move
Like other styles of group improv, Flourish needed a move that was easy to use for traveling. While Lisa was watching a video by dancer, Wang Yan, she was inspired by an arm movement. She reached out and asked her permission for us to use it and she agreed!
Back Figure 8 Infinity Move
When Lisa first thought of creating a new style of group improv, her sister, Terri Allred suggested a back figure 8 as a movement that was simple enough to be executed well and that all dancers look good doing.
Face Box Combo- Lisa Allred
Face Box was inspired by classes Lisa took with Olga Meos and Danielle Hutton. Classes with Olga taught me the appeal of unique arm positions. She liked the way Danielle shifted from front to diagonal in a combo she taught. She also likes the idea of combining sharp and gradual movements for visual interest and that is an overarching stylistic theme in Flourish.
Blue Moon Combo- Lisa Allred
When Lisa first started dancing she attended workshops with Blue Moon Dance Company (Patti, Emily, and Sara Beaman and Dawn Ruckert) where she learned the movement at the beginning of the combo. The final 8 counts are the first half of a combo she learned from Dawn Ruckert called the Jill Parker Maya that Dawn learned from Jill Parker.
Hip Bump Infinity Move- All
A basic hip bump is a great movement to travel so a perfect fit for Flourish!
Jackie’s Jets Combo- Jackie Sloan
Jackie’s Jets was created by Jackie Sloan. “Jets” are blasts of particles emitted by a galactic nucleus, and only occur in pairs going opposite directions. This seemed like the perfect name for this combo.
Jackie’s Jets is inspired by Jackie’s ballet training, cabaret bellydance (Babylon Mood), and includes aspects of other Flourish movements.
Level Quick Turn Combo- Lisa Allred
Level Quick Turn was inspired by Vaudeville, a Red Sage Fly Fusion dialect move and created by Lisa.
Moving Hip Circle Combo- Lisa Allred
Lisa doesn’t remember where she learned a moving hip circle but it is a simple and easy movement to add and it can be done in a square to make it more visually interesting!
Moving Maya Combo- Terri Allred
Moving Maya was created by Terri Allred for her FCBD with Veil dialect. We modified the arms to reflect the 3/4 shimmy arms.
Origin Combo- Susan Conley
Origin was created by Susan Conley and inspired by a previous troupe drill.
Present Combo- Mickey Amos
Present was created by Mickey Amos, inspired by Hawaiian dance classes, and used with the permission of her teacher, .
Side Vamp Combo- Mickey Amos
Side Vamp was created by Mickey Amos, inspired by Hawaiian dance classes, and used with the permission of her teacher, .
Starling Combo- Christine McCann
Dirt Devil Combo- Tiara O’Neal
Backstroke Combo- Lisa Allred
During a beach trip, Lisa was playing on the sand while Alan was taking pictures and came up with this movement in spired by the waves and wind.
Vaudeville Combo- Lisa Allred
During the pandemic, Red Sage created a Moulin Rouge inspired online performance. This short combo was the way we ended this performance and we liked it so much we decided to make it a part of Flourish. Amy Jae came up with the awesome name.
Coquette Combo- Terri Allred and Patti Chiarini
Coquette is a movement that Terri and Patti created for FCBD with Veils dialect. It is beautiful, fluid and looks great even without a veil.
OG Layers- Lisa Allred
During the pandemic, Lisa has been taking classes with Olga Meos. OG Layers is a combo that Olga taught in one of her classes. If you haven’t taken a class with Olga, we highly recommend it!
Grapevine Combo- Jennifer Kusnyer
Grapevine is also a movement used in many styles of dance. Jennifer suggested adding it as a way to add move movement into Flourish. Our sassy arm position makes it a fun addition.
Sidewinder Infinity- All
Sidewinder is a common upper body move and a great addition to the Flourish infinity vocabulary.
Parrot Combo- Lisa Allred
Lisa created this combo for a sword workshop where the sword is balanced on your right shoulder. The combo was so much fun that we decided to add it to the Flourish vocabulary. The cue for the movement is a nod to the name, parrot!
Dusk ‘till Dawn- Amy Jae Crawford
Barton Stomp- Combo by Christine McCann
This combo was inspired by the choreographer, Charissa-Lee Barton who did the Peacemaker choreography. It includes grounded stomps and unexpected flourishes.
Sunflower Combo- Léda June Van Doren
This movement was inspired by cabaret moves that Leda learned in her first years of dancing with a variety of teachers, including her first dance teacher who was Ukrainian. It invokes verticality and growing up because the arms are brought up twice.
