Our Approach

  1. Improvisation as Exploration:
    We view improvisation not as a tool to achieve perfection, but as a playful exploration of the unknown. It’s a process where opposition and resolution coexist, creating opportunities for creativity to thrive.

  2. Performance as Presence:
    Performance in our work is about inhabiting the present moment with authenticity. We invite participants to listen deeply, say yes to what emerges, and build narratives that feel genuine and alive on stage.

  3. Playfulness and Curiosity:
    Inspired by the concept of curare (to care, to curate, to heal), our work encourages curiosityas a guiding force. Whether in group dynamics, physical connections, or solo explorations, curiosity leads to discovery.

  4. Fluid and Safe Movement:
    In contemporary dance, we explore a more fluid, adaptable body. Our approach emphasizes mechanisms and techniques that promote safety and sustainability—protecting the body while also ensuring the safety of others. Principles like alignment, balance, shared weight, and spatial awareness help participants move confidently and without harm.

  5. Community and Collaboration:
    Every workshop is a shared experience. We create a safe, supportive environment where participants can connect, take risks, and grow together as a group.

About Raúl Saldarriaga

Since childhood, dance has been a natural extension of play for me, a way to continue exploring and creating even into adulthood. I firmly believe that improvisation is an adventure into the unknown, where each movement is an opportunity to discover and creatively resolve challenges. I love all forms of improvisation, whether in dance, theater, or music, for the freedom and playfulness they offer.

One of the most meaningful moments for me is when, in the middle of a class, a communication channel opens between what I want to transmit and what the participants understand. Seeing how an idea or movement resonates and transforms someone's way of dancing is deeply rewarding.

My approach to dance has evolved through constant exploration of performance and improvisation. I'm passionate about inhabiting the present and being open to change, finding different games and sources of inspiration that enrich my artistic approach. I love exploring paths that intersect with different images, arts, and disciplines, creating a space where dance becomes a universal language.

Raúl Saldarriaga, an artistic researcher, performer, and choreographer, leads Amsterdam's “Casagrafia” movement collective. He holds two bachelors, BA in Art Pedagogy, and other one inContemporary Dance, an MA in Interactive Media and Choreography (Hanze University, NL), and an MA in Choreography and Community (CODARTS University and FONTYS University). With a decade of experience teaching Contact Improvisation in the Netherlands and worldwide, he has been invited to teach at CI Festival Asturias, CI Festival Sintra, and CI Festival Netherlands for the last 4 editions. Currently, he explores playfulness in adulthood through Contact Improvisation while teaching at Vrijehogeschool.