Fat Liberation * Empowering Community
Body Home Fat Dance leads classes and creates performance centering our fat community. Our goal is to inspire joyful movement, connection with our bodies, and creative expression that engages our fat bodies. We're exploring an empowering and nuanced theory of fat liberation, one that goes beyond body-positivity or body image, and really digs deeper into our personal and lived experiences. We do this by connecting with our own embodied selves within the context of community. Dance classes and embodiment classes offered here in Portland, OR. We also have a touring group and solo performances exploring meaningful movement in fat bodies.
Upcoming Performance
Weighted Bodies Virtual Viewing Party
We invite you to join us via Zoom for a shared viewing of Weighted Bodies. We will screen the 20 minute performance and then have a discussion with cast and choreographer.
Upcoming Classes
Feeling Fat
taught by KT Kusmaul
We will deeply feel into our fat bodies through embodiment exploration and creative movement. We will practice deepening into the sensations in our bodies and how to perceive and honor that somatic wisdom. I’ll guide you into exploring how your body moves, not despite your fatness, but fully embracing your fat. We are going to get curious about jiggles and folds, the momentum and gravity of fat bodies.
Dance Classes with KT
Right now we are doing occasional pop-up classes which are announced via email list first, and then social media. Watch those spaces for most up to date class info.
Exploring Embodiment
taught by Tara Blaine
This class is a space to experiment with embodiment. A time to explore deep connection and awareness of our physical selves. An opportunity to abandon agenda, analysis, or commentary. An invitation to step back and put our bodies in the driver’s seat of our experience. These classes are offered intermittently as both drop ins and a series.
Back by popular demand 2020! Registration not yet open, but stay tuned!
Where have I seen you before?
Press: What are they saying about us?!
Who are we?
KT Kusmaul (she/they)
Founder, Artistic Director, dance teacher
KT is a fat, queer, non-binary, white, able-bodied human who is passionate about community, creativity, and mutual liberation from oppressive systems. With a history of creating radical gender performance in an underground queer art scene, now they are using their creative skills to bring fat liberation performance art to life. They also bring their background in health care, bodywork and mental health to layer in the healing opportunities in these gatherings. They have been inspired by many teachers and mentors including Meshi Chavez, Pepper Pepper, and the cast of Weighted Bodies.
Who are we?
KT Kusmaul :
Founder, Artistic Director, dance teacher
KT is a fat, queer, genderqueer femme who is passionate about community, movement, creativity and mutual liberation from oppressive systems. While in youth she had fairly traditional dance and theater training, she found herself come alive through drag, gender performance and queer dance. Performance and choreography credits include DKPDX, Homomentum, Untrained I, Cattitude, music videos for Athens Boys Choir and Scream Club.
Tara Blaine :
Exploring Embodiment teacher
Tara teaches embodiment exploration classes and dances in classes and performances with this amazing community of fat movers. After studying a variety of dance techniques throughout her youth, Tara transitioned into yoga and meditative body work in adulthood. She's spent the last decade studying and exploring a variety of modalities in order to build a practice that feels authentic and nourishing for fat bodies. In addition to teaching and dancing, Tara is a writer, marketing strategist, and creative process consultant.
We:
This community
"We" are also the incredible community that has come together to build Body Home! This includes the invaluable Sara Hass who manages so much organizing and administrative work, and will answer all your questions with care. The supportive and welcoming folks who are here to create space and lift each other up. And also, the incredible cast of "Weighted Bodies" who is helping to explore meaningful movement in fat bodies.
FAQ
Hey, that is a really great question!
What styles of dance do you teach?
In the flagship dance class, KT teaches an eclectic style with a focus on Jazz and Contemporary. Most classes include a warm up and learning choreography.
Where are you located?
Portland, OR. Though we have been known to travel up to Seattle on occasion. We primarily teach classes out of SomaSpace in the Hollywood District and FLOCK Center for Dance in an arts space in industrial NW Portland.
How accessible is the space?
SomaSpace is ADA accessible. The front door threshold is about an inch tall. Two bathrooms are individual, gender neutral and have space and bars for chair users. Parking is mostly on the street. There is parking in the A-boy lot after 6pm with permit (come into studio to get the permit) and they have 1 accessible spot. Studio is 3 blocks from Hollywood transit center. The space is not scent free due to other users of the space, but ask no one to wear scents. Studio is hard wood floors, has AC and heat.
FLOCK is a converted industrial building, so there are some irregular features. There are no stairs to reach the studio. Parking is on the street and then you must walk up a steep driveway. After that it's flat or ramps. Bathrooms are single stall, gender neutral, and large with grab bars. Studio has good quality heat and AC as well as two air filters. Hard wood floors. Not dedicated scent free but I am never aware of overt scents or chemicals.
Stools provided for option of supported movement. Participants are encouraged to create and ask for adaptations to movements that will best honor their body's ability and comfort. Please ask for more details for your access needs as I am eager to work with you to make this a more accessible space.
Do I have to be fat to join?
This space is created with a focus on creating a safe and joyful space for fat folks. We like to call it fat-centric. Folks of any size are welcome to join us, though we ask not to dilute the overall intention of the space.
What do I wear?
Whatever is comfortable to move in. Most people wear leggings, yoga pants or shorts with a T-shirt. For your feet consider barefoot, dance shoes, or sneakers if they are dedicated to indoor activity.
Is the price flexible?
Yes. I try to start with affordable prices. I offer discounted tickets and reserved spots for BIPOC, transgender and gender non-conforming folks, superfats/infinifats, and folks with disabilities. And, please if the cost feels prohibitive contact me and we can work out an arrangement.
FAQ
Hey, that is a really great question!
What styles of dance do you teach?
In the flagship dance class, KT teaches an eclectic style with a focus on Jazz and Contemporary. Most classes include a warm up and learning choreography.
In Exploring Embodiment, Tara creates a space to explore deep connection and awareness of our physical selves. We’ll practice listening to our bodies and allowing them to express their needs. We’ll seek ease with supported rest. We’ll follow prompts to experiment with sensations and movement.
Where are you located?
Portland, OR. Though we have been known to travel up to Seattle on occasion. We primarily teach classes out of SomaSpace in the Hollywood District and Yoga NW in the NW District.
How accessible is the space?
SomaSpace is ADA accessible. The front door threshold is about an inch tall. Two bathrooms are individual, gender neutral and have space and bars for chair users. Parking is mostly on the street. There is parking in the A-boy lot after 7pm with permit (come into studio to get the permit) and they have 1 accessible spot. Studio is 3 blocks from Hollywood transit center. The space is not scent free due to other users of the space, but ask no one to wear scents. Studio is hard wood floors, has AC and heat. Stools provided for option of supported movement.
Yoga NW is ADA accessible. There is one bathroom which has space and bars for chair use. Parking is entirely on the street. Space is not scent free, but ask that no one wear scents to the space. Studio is hard wood floor, has AC and heat. Props provided for supporting comfortable positioning in laying or sitting.
In the dance class, participants are encouraged to create and ask for adaptations to movements that will best honor their body's ability and comfort. Exploring Embodiment class has no choreographed movements or structured right and wrong ways to practice, so it is very adaptable to all bodies and abilities. Please ask for more details for your access needs as I am eager to work with you to make this a more accessible space.
Do I have to be fat to join?
This space is created with a focus on creating a safe and joyful space for fat folks. We like to call it fat-centric. Folks of any size are welcome to join us, though we ask not to dilute the overall intention of the space.
What do I wear?
Whatever is comfortable to move in. Most people wear leggings, yoga pants or shorts with a T-shirt. For your feet consider barefoot, dance shoes, or sneakers if they are dedicated to indoor activity.
Is the price flexible?
Yes. I try to start with affordable prices. I offer discounted tickets and reserved spots for BIPOC, transgender and gender non-conforming folks, superfats/infinifats, and folks with disabilities. And, please if the cost feels prohibitive contact me and we can work out an arrangement.
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© 2019