{"id":15301,"date":"2023-08-26T16:27:17","date_gmt":"2023-08-26T20:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/?page_id=15301"},"modified":"2026-06-16T10:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T14:38:07","slug":"locomotors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/projects\/locomotors\/","title":{"rendered":"Locomotors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"line-height:1.58;letter-spacing:0.6px;font-size:28px\" class=\"has-custom-lineheight has-custom-letterspacing wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recent Performances:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Friday September 5th, 2025<\/strong>; Windhover Center for the Performing Arts. With special guests <a href=\"https:\/\/magma.center\/about\/\">Sarah Slifer Swift<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/derickmelander.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/derickmelander.com\/\">Derick Melander<\/a>. 8pm. <em>We had a great time performing here. It was a breezy night, and Derrick&#8217;s clothing-sets (&#8216;prop-tumes&#8217; as we came to call them) really took on a life of their own.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saturday September 6th, 2025; Movement Arts Gloucester Mass (MAGMA). Workshop &#8211; Rehearsing the Unknown: Collective Improvisation Improvisatison Techniques. 1-4pm. <a href=\"https:\/\/magma.center\/event\/5209\/\">Tickets and information.<\/a> <em>note: also a fun and interesting experience with a particularly open set of participants. Very memorable for me!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized has-filter-vintage\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"748\" height=\"431\" data-attachment-id=\"15302\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/projects\/locomotors\/screen-shot-2023-08-26-at-3-29-08-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.29.08-PM.png?fit=748%2C431&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"748,431\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.29.08-PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.29.08-PM.png?fit=748%2C431&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.29.08-PM.png?resize=748%2C431&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15302\" style=\"width:365px;height:210px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.29.08-PM.png?w=748&amp;ssl=1 748w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.29.08-PM.png?resize=300%2C173&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Locomotors is a music and dance group inspired by the jazz tradition of open-form improvisation, sometimes known as \u2018free jazz\u2019. The group also has a special interest in the somatic connection between sound and movement, and in using that connection as a basis for artistic creation and exploration. The core members are myself, Michael Joviala, piano and composition, and Dawn Pratson, dance and choreography. The group was in residence as part of a pilot program of the <a href=\"https:\/\/newyorkdalcroze.org\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/newyorkdalcroze.org\/news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Chapter of the Dalcroze Society of America<\/a> in 2023. Some of that work has been collected on a Youtube <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLNo6CUicTLxSeLQ11_lkWH-URkq3Y-XhI\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLNo6CUicTLxSeLQ11_lkWH-URkq3Y-XhI\">playlist<\/a>, and I&#8217;ve written about us on a couple of occasions on this <a href=\"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/loco-motors\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/category\/loco-motors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On October 27 2023, we were joined by legendary saxophonist\/woodwind player <a href=\"https:\/\/www.martyehrlich.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.martyehrlich.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marty Ehrlich<\/a> in a performance at the Mark Morris Dance Center. The following day we offered the final workshop in our series on collaborations between improvising musicians and improvising dancers at the Lucy Moses School, Kaufman Music Center, New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s a video of our performance at the International Conference of Dalcroze Studies (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dalcroze-studies.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.dalcroze-studies.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICDS<\/a>) held at Carnegie Melon University in August of 2023:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SMaHCMIPbvo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Locomotors is Expanding!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On <strong>September 5th, 2025 <\/strong>Dawn I were joined and director of Movement Arts Gloucester Massachusetts (<a href=\"https:\/\/magma.center\/\">MAGMA<\/a>) Sarah Slifer Swift and visual artist Derick Melander at a special performance at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next day, Saturday <strong>September 6th<\/strong>, Dawn we offered a public workshop at MAGMA, Rehearsing the Unknown: Collective Improvisation Techniques. This is a lovely space (we performed here two years ago). The class culminated in a short performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The transformative power of collaboration through improvised music and dance is available to all. We&#8217;d love to work with you or your group. Drop us a line below&#8230; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"752\" height=\"537\" data-attachment-id=\"15305\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/projects\/locomotors\/screen-shot-2023-08-26-at-3-34-20-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?fit=752%2C537&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"752,537\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?fit=752%2C537&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?resize=752%2C537&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15305\" style=\"width:339px;height:242px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?w=752&amp;ssl=1 752w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-contact-form is-layout-flex wp-container-jetpack-contact-form-is-layout-2916f6f8 wp-block-jetpack-contact-form-is-layout-flex\"><a href=\"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/projects\/locomotors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Submit a form.<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recent Performances: Locomotors is a music and dance group inspired by the jazz tradition of open-form improvisation, sometimes known as \u2018free jazz\u2019. The group also has a special interest in the somatic connection between sound and movement, and in using that connection as a basis for artistic creation and exploration. The core members are myself, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":19169,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15301","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9ohMj-3YN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19169,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/projects\/","url_meta":{"origin":15301,"position":0},"title":"Projects","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"November 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Locomotors Locomotors is an improvising music and dance ensemble. Dancer and choreographer Dawn Pratson has been my principal collaborator and dance director for several years. Visit the Locomotors page for performance videos, writing about our process and current news. Solo Piano In 2025, I released Whirled, an album of solo\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-26-at-3.34.20-PM.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19608,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/news-and-events\/","url_meta":{"origin":15301,"position":1},"title":"News &#038; Events","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"September 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Click here to see the current list of Dalcroze classes I\u2019m offering at the Kaufman Music Center. I'm offering a short course on improvisation for Dalcroze teachers through the Virtual Dalcroze Meetup (VDM) organization. It starts September 21st, 2026 and runs at 10:00 am NYC time for the next two\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/about\/","url_meta":{"origin":15301,"position":2},"title":"About","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"July 18, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"I am an improviser, composer and teacher based in New York City. My main instrument is piano, but I've been known to pull the clarinet out once in a while! I released an album of solo piano. It's called Whirled. Available on Bandcamp or at your favorite streaming service. (Just\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2020\/08\/IMG_4578-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2020\/08\/IMG_4578-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2020\/08\/IMG_4578-1-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2020\/08\/IMG_4578-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2020\/08\/IMG_4578-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2020\/08\/IMG_4578-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11908,"url":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/writing\/","url_meta":{"origin":15301,"position":3},"title":"Musical Subjects","author":"Michael Joviala","date":"November 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Writings about music and music education from my perspective as a Dalcroze teacher and practitioner. In January 2025, I released an album of solo improvised piano. You can find it here on Bandcamp for download, or search for me on your favorite streaming service! Series: Articles on the Musical Subjects\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/02\/Joviala-Cover-02jan25_small-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/02\/Joviala-Cover-02jan25_small-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/02\/Joviala-Cover-02jan25_small-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/02\/Joviala-Cover-02jan25_small-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/02\/Joviala-Cover-02jan25_small-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/cpsess1042171136\/frontend\/paper_lantern\/filemanager\/2025\/02\/Joviala-Cover-02jan25_small-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15301"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19572,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15301\/revisions\/19572"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joviala.com\/jovialaworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}