Facilitation
I have worked in higher education for over twenty years, delivering contemporary-dance-related subjects on BA/MA programmes in universities and conservatoires in the UK. My approach to delivering studio practice is based in movement research, encouraging a holistic approach to practice accompanied by contextual study and critical reflection. Since 2014, my facilitation practice has become focused around the delivery of experiential anatomy, the mover-witness framework (or ‘Authentic Movement’) and contemporary dance improvisation within professional development settings.
Current teaching engagements include workshop delivery on the MA/MFA in Creative Practice at Independent Dance/Trinity Laban (London) and on Janet Kaylo’s Laban/Barteneiff Somatic Studies International. I have delivered classes/workshops for London Contemporary Dance School, The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds), the Summer Dance Intensive (Vilnius), Mobius Dance (Leeds), Cheshire Dance, 24 Hope St (Liverpool), Barrowland Ballet (Glascow), Dance North (Findhorn), Exitmap (London) and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
I also work with artists as a creative mentor and postgraduate supervisor. To support these advisory practices, I participated in the Creative Articulations Process (CAP) catalyst training under the supervision of Jane Bacon and Vida Midgelow.
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Here’s a summary of forthcoming workshops and classes with more detail further below:
12 – 16 January 2026 IN-PERSON at Independent Dance (London)
morning class (10.00am-12.00pm each day)
BOOKINGS via Independent Dance
Feb – June 2026 ONLINE
reflect, re-align and reframe (cycle 4) (an online workshop series with Natalie Garrett Brown)
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com
Wed 25 Feb – Wed 1 April 2026 ONLINE (weekly)
experiential anatomy into movement – fluid presence: flow and containment
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com
26 – 29 March 2026 IN-PERSON at Bidston Observatory (near Liverpool)
let me hear your body talk! (a workshop with Mary Pearson)
BOOKINGS contact Mary or Amy: mary@mpersonator.com or info@amyvoris.com
31 July – 2 August 2026 IN-PERSON at the River Room Wellbeing Studio (near Lancaster)
Authentic Movement: An Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Moving and Witnessing
BOOKINGS contact Penny: hello@pennycollinson.com[a]
Oct 2026 – June 2027 IN-PERSON at St. Clement’s Church in Chorlton/Manchester across six weekends
experiential anatomy into movement workshop series
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com
27 – 29 November 2026 IN-PERSON at Wainsgate Dances
bouquet (a workshop with Katye Coe and Cath Cullinane) TBC
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12 – 16 January 2026 IN-PERSON at Independent Dance (London)
morning class (10.00am-12.00pm each day)
BOOKINGS via Independent Dance
These classes are informed by experiential anatomy and the improvisational values of the mover-witness framework (also referred to as ‘Authentic Movement’). The sessions begin with gentle prompts for moving which are gradually woven with experiential anatomy material. In the latter part of the session, we will explore the process of returning to (self-selected) movement content as an invitation to grow and deepen the relationship with it. The intention is to cultivate sensitivity to the emergence and quality of movement alongside an imaginative and atmospheric pleasure in solo-dancing. Time for reflection is embedded within the sessions and individualised responses are welcome throughout.
My approach to facilitating experiential anatomy has been influenced by the work of Linda Hartley, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Andrea Olsen, Caryn McHose, Satya Dunning, Miranda Tufnell, Natalie Garrett Brown and Fabiano Culora amongst many others.
*Please note that these sessions are designed for movers with prior experience of somatically-informed dance improvisation practices.
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Feb – June 2026 ONLINE
reflect, re-align and reframe (cycle 4) (an online workshop series with Natalie Garrett Brown)
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com
The fourth cycle of reflect, re-align, reframe will be offered from February 2026.
This programme brings together somatic movement and coaching practice to create space for artists, therapists, coaches and educators who are at a crossroads of their professional practice to reflect upon, re-align and reframe their work and/or career pathway from an embodied and creative perspective. Participants will be invited to move and reflect on their current work, drawing on somatic stimuli to do with orientation and transitions to generate reflections and insights. Sessions will involve some movement guided activities, as well as time for individual processing and sharing in small groups.
Sat 7 February 2026 (12.00-4.00pm UK time)
Sat 28 February 2026 (12.00-4.00pm)
Sat 21 March 2026 (12.00-4.00pm)
Sat 18 April 2026 (12.00-4.00pm)
Sat 16 May 2026 (12.00-4.00pm)
Sat 13 June 2026 (12.00-4.00pm)
Recordings of each session will be available for any sessions missed.
The cost of this programme will be £150 (waged) or £100 (unwaged). There are two places offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.
For ENQUIRIES or BOOKINGS, contact Amy on: info@amyvoris.com or doridheavybody@hotmail.com
One-to-one online coaching with Natalie and/or somatic movement sessions with Amy or Natalie are available at a reduced cost for those who take part in the programme (£25 per single session or a block of six sessions for £125).
*Please note that no prior experience of coaching practices is required to join this series, but some experience with your own in-depth processes as a mover is advantageous.
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Wed 25 Feb – Wed 1 April 2026 ONLINE (weekly)
experiential anatomy into movement – fluid presence: flow and containment
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com
These sessions are informed by experiential anatomy and contemporary dance improvisation practices which draw on the materiality of the body as a poetic resource. Each session will begin with a brief introduction to the day’s anatomical theme, followed by experiential explorations and gentle prompts for improvisation. The last section of the session will be accompanied by sound and offer space for integration. The overall intention is to cultivate sensitivity to initiation and quality of movement as well as an imaginative pleasure moving. Individualised responses are welcome throughout. The experiential anatomy content for this series will be focussed around fluid presence: flow and containment.
My approach to facilitating experiential anatomy has been profoundly influenced by Body-Mind Centering informed practitioners – such as Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Linda Hartley, Andrea Olsen, Caryn McHose and others such as Miranda Tufnell, Satya Dunning, Natalie Garrett Brown and Fabiano Culora – who work with the anatomical materiality of the body as a poetic and imaginative resource. The anatomical information or prompts offer ways of noticing and playing creatively with movement possibilities.
The same class will be offered (online) twice per week – fine to change time slots from week to week. The sessions are designed so that they can be attended as a series or on a drop-in basis. Audio recordings will be provided for sessions missed and it’s also possible to engage with the entire series asynchronously (i.e. just receive recordings rather than attending ‘live’).
*Please note that these sessions are suitable for those with some previous experience of experiential anatomy.
The cost is £6 pounds per session or £30 pounds for the series.
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com
WEEK 1
Wed 25 Feb, 9.00-10.15am UK time
Wed 25 Feb, 6.30-7.45pm UK time
WEEK 2
Wed 4 March, 9.00-10.15am UK time
Wed 4 March, 6.30-7.45pm UK time
WEEK 3
Wed 11 March, 9.00-10.15am UK time
Wed 11 March, 6.30-7.45pm UK time
WEEK 4
Wed 18 March, 9.00-10.15am UK time
Wed 18 March, 6.30-7.45pm UK time
WEEK 5
Wed 25 March, 9.00-10.15am UK time
Wed 25 March, 6.30-7.45pm UK time
WEEK 6
Wed 1 April, 9.00-10.15am UK time
Wed 1 April, 6.30-7.45pm UK time
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26 – 29 March 2026 IN-PERSON at Bidston Observatory (near Liverpool)
Let me hear your body talk! (a workshop with Mary Pearson)
BOOKINGS contact Mary or Amy: mary@mpersonator.com or info@amyvoris.com
A four-day intensive which blends somatics and performance-making.
Each day will begin with guided sensory explorations of different body systems and physiological phenomena through movement. We will work with touch, heart and fluid presence to awaken our sensitivity to materials, emotions and image-making.
In the second part of the day, we will connect with the organic and innate sense of storytelling within our bodies. Participants will be invited to incorporate different styles and practices of performance-making. These might be performance practices such as dance, clowning, physical theatre, drag and cabaret, as well as artists with ‘body-based’ visual art and writing practices.
Each evening, participants will have opportunities for sharing their own work / enquiries with the group – whether that means showing material in progress, project documentation, or reflections on something you’re making – as it feels right and relevant to the stage of each person in their making process.
*Please note this workshop is suitable for practitioners with some experience of in-depth somatic movement and / or performance practices. If you are interested, and aren’t sure if this is for you, please get in touch!
This is a residential workshop. The price includes delicious food catered for the group by a local artist and chef, plus accommodation at BOARC (Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre) in the Wirral (30 min from Liverpool city centre).
Arrival 2pm Thursday 26th, departure 3pm Sunday 29th.
Early bird price £275 until January 16th, 2026
Full price £325
In a small group of 12-15 people, participants may each have their own private rooms, however there may need to be some sharing (larger rooms have privacy partitions). Please let us know you are / are not willing to share to ensure smooth organising which meets everyone’s needs.
If you need to organise an alternative payment plan, or are experiencing financial difficulties, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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31 July – 2 August 2026 IN-PERSON at the River Room Wellbeing Studio (near Lancaster)
Authentic Movement: An introduction to the principles and practice of moving and witnessing[b]
BOOKINGS contact Penny: hello@pennycollinson.com
‘With an increasing capacity to concentrate, to listen to inner impulse, the mover learns to recognise the channel within which the creative or authentic energy flows.’
– Janet Adler (1987)
This three-day intensive offers an introduction to the mover-witness framework, often known as Authentic Movement.
At its simplest, this is a practice of moving with eyes closed while another person witnesses, without judgement or interpretation. From this simple structure, a rich and often surprising field of experience can emerge. Each day will begin by arriving in the body through guided movement and quiet attention. From there, participants will move into paired explorations of moving and witnessing.
The work invites a particular kind of listening – toward sensation, feeling and imagery. At times this may be experienced as a sense of ‘being moved’ rather than choosing or directing movement. There is no expectation to perform or to create anything. Instead, the emphasis is on noticing what is present and allowing experience to unfold in its own time. Over the three days, participants are encouraged to stay close to their direct experience, while also becoming aware of how inner and outer worlds meet – within oneself and in the presence of another.
There will be space to reflect and integrate through drawing, writing, and speaking together. Verbal sharing is supported by ‘percept language’ – a way of describing experience that stays close to what was seen and felt, rather than analysing or interpreting.
Penny and Amy’s approach is shaped by the teachings of Linda Hartley, and by their training in Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy.
Who is it for?
This workshop is for dance and movement practitioners who are new to Authentic Movement, as well as those wishing to return to its foundational principles. Participants are expected to have some prior experience of sustained somatic or mind–body practice, and a willingness to engage in a quiet, self-reflective process. If you are unsure whether this is the right context for you, you are welcome to get in touch.
Self-care
This practice involves sustained attention and self-inquiry, which can be both supportive and challenging. Participants are asked to take responsibility for their own physical and psychological wellbeing throughout the three days, and to consider their capacity to engage with this depth of process.
Dates & times
Friday 31 July 10:00am – 5:30pm
Saturday 1 August 10:00am – 5:30pm
Sunday 2 August 10:00am – 4:30pm
Location
Overlooking the River Lune, the River Room Wellbeing Studio in Halton (near Lancaster LA2 6ND) offers a simple and supportive environment for embodied, attentive practice. Please note that daily workshops will take place indoors. Participants are encouraged to enjoy the surrounding walks by the river throughout the weekend.
Cost
Sliding scale between £210-260 for all three days. Please pay according to your income and consider that payment includes administration fee, facilitation by Penny and Amy, refreshments of teas, coffee, biscuits/cake (including GF) and fruit. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.
To book please contact Penny: hello@pennycollinson.com
You will be sent a booking form which will ask for a short description of your experience of mind-body/somatic processing. Once your booking is confirmed you will be asked to pay a deposit of £100 to secure your place. Full payment must be made by June 19, 2026. We kindly advise you to read the cancellation policy before making your booking. BACS details will be shared on the booking form.
Biographies
Penny Collinson is a movement artist and registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist in private therapeutic, community and educational settings. She has trained for many years with Linda Hartley (IBMT), Miranda Tufnell, and is currently training with IFS (Canada) on their Stepping Stones programme. Spanning 23 years, Penny’s work at UCLan involved leading the MA Dance & Somatic Wellbeing: Connections to the Living Body. Her publications on the application of somatic practice in health and wellbeing contexts can be found at: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2869-7132. See more about Penny’s work at: www.pennycollinson.com
Amy Voris is a dance-maker, facilitator and somatic-movement therapist based in Manchester. Her practice is process-oriented and collaborative, driven by the desire to develop enduring relationships with people, places and movement material. Alongside her artistic practice, she has worked in higher education for over twenty years and completed training in Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy with Linda Hartley. See more about Amy’s work at: https://www.amyvoris.com/
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Oct 2026 – June 2027 IN-PERSON at St. Clement’s Church in Chorlton/Manchester
experiential anatomy into movement workshop series
BOOKINGS contact Amy: doridheavybody@hotmail.com or info@amyvoris.com [c]
This workshop series unfolds across six weekends:
10–11 Oct 2026 (Sat 2.00–7.00pm, Sun 12.30–5.30pm): The Presence of Bone
14–15 Nov 2026 (Sat 2.00–7.00pm, Sun 12.30–5.30pm): The Presence of Bone
6–7 Feb 2027 (Sat 2.00–7.00pm, Sun 12.30–5.30pm): Organ Presence
13–14 March 2027 (Sat 2.00–7.00pm, Sun 12.30–5.30pm): Organ Presence
24–25 April 2027 (Sat 2.00–7.00pm, Sun 12.30–5.30pm): Fluid Presence
5–6 June 2027 (Sat 2.00–7.00pm, Sun 12.30–5.30pm): Fluid Presence
Each weekend will explore a specific anatomical theme — related to bones, organs and fluids — through experiential movement practice. Sessions will include engagement with anatomical imagery and material, guided movement explorations and some hands-on work, alongside time for reflection and integration.
Approach
This work is informed by Body-Mind Centering®–influenced practitioners, including Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Linda Hartley, and Andrea Olsen, as well as Caryn McHose, Miranda Tufnell, Satya Dunning, Natalie Garrett Brown, and Fabiano Culora. These approaches engage the body’s anatomical materiality as a sensory, poetic, and imaginal resource.
Who is this workshop series for?
This series is for experienced movement practitioners working across teaching, therapeutic, creative, or performative contexts who already have familiarity with in-depth somatic movement processes.
Rather than offering a formal training or focusing on functional anatomy, the series creates space for personal exploration and embodied inquiry. It is best suited to those comfortable self-directing and holding their own process within a group setting. The work does not centre therapeutic group process.
To support depth of attention, the group will be limited to 10–12 participants.
Cost
Full series: £540 waged / £480 low income
Per weekend: £100 waged / £90 low income
It is possible to book for single weekends although priority will be given to those booking the full series. Payment in instalments is available.
Venue and access needs
Unfortunately, the venue is currently not wheel-chair accessible. To discuss any access needs, please get in touch with Amy.