b12 summer | main event
research or die.
© arnaud falchier
© vim vigor / showing jason cianciulli
b12 summer main event
— // —location: eden***** studios
Shannon Gillen
vim vigor | former dancer with johannes wieland
everything now
VIM VIGOR redefines the acting process, blending the transformative power of Meisner Technique with an innovative approach designed to meet the evolving needs of dancers, choreographers, actors, directors, and artists across the globe. This workshop is perfect for dancers ready to dive deep into the world of acting, and for actors who want to elevate their movement vocabulary and physical storytelling. Led by VIM VIGOR co-directors Shannon Gillen and Jason Cianciulli, this workshop is all about unlocking your raw emotional energy, igniting your imagination, and mastering the focus needed to fully immerse yourself in performance. We provide the tools to help you embody characters with visceral authenticity, creating a magnetic presence on stage that connects deeply with your audience. Throughout the workshop, you'll push the boundaries of your craft—discovering the stakes that drive your story, transforming movement into emotional expression, and crafting relationships that resonate with depth and urgency. Imaginative Action and Radical Attention are core elements of the workshop, helping you embrace spontaneity, stay present, and respond in real-time with complete freedom. Ready to break through creative limits and discover new dimensions of your artistry? This is where your performance evolution begins.
the description reflects an artist’s idea which was developed at the time it was submitted to b12. it may have changed by the time the workshop or the performance project is starting. please stay flexible. thank you!
biography
Shannon Gillen is the artistic director of VIM VIGOR (US). Her creative work has been commissioned across the USA, Canada, Central America, South America and Europe. Projects include commissions by L.A. Dance Project, dance.films for BAM, NY Fashion Week, Danceworks at the Lobero Theatre, Hubbard Street 2, Gibney Dance Company, over het lj in (NL), Jacob's Pillow, agnes varis (NYC), arthur miller (mi), BDT at the ICA in Boston, Ruvuelo (Chile), Mainfranken Theater Würzburg (DE), Arts Umbrella in Vancouver (CA), the International Solo-Tanz Theater Festival in Stuttgart (DE), TIF theater in Kassel (DE), de dansers (NL), as a think big choreographer-in-residence at Staatsoper Hannover (DE) and at Princeton where she was a choreographer in residence; notable festivals and venues include Springboard Danse, New York Live Arts, Prisma Festival in Panama, Judson Church, PULSE art fair/Art Basel, Bryant Park, NYC's River to River festival, Perry Mansfield, and The Joyce. In 2024 Gillen created work for the IUA in Iceland, and in 2025 she will create work for The University of Limerick and the IAB in Barcelona. Gillen is an Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Michigan. she is a graduate of The Juilliard School and earned her MFA from Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. she trained in meisner acting at maggie flanigan studio, in nyc, and with her colleague, Jason cianciulli, has since adapted many of these practices into VIM's methodology for movement practitioners.
company info
vim vigor
VIM VIGOR is a physical dance theatre company under the artistic direction of Shannon Gillen and co-choreographer, Jason Cianiculli. Founded as a collaborative think tank, VIM brings together innovative and profoundly gifted artists from around the world to create original, cutting edge, dance theatre. since its founding, VIM has performed and taught at renowned venues and festivals across the USA, Europe, Canada, Central America, South America, and in nordic countries. in tandem with building new works, vim established an education platform in 2015, dedicated to supporting the professional lives of artists of all ages with ongoing classes, workshops, and annual winter / summer intensives. as in-house artists at the university of michigan, vim recently launched michigan movement performance project, a program that runs seven weeks embedding participants with two professional companies, where they will train, create and perform new work, audition for companies, and deepen their choreographic voice through on-going mentorship. this program is open to all professional artists 18+. additional details on this and many of the exciting new projects that vim is creating are available on the company's website.
assistant biography
jason cianciulli
jason reese c. is a psycho-physical theatre artist whose research is grounded in floorwork, partnering and physical theatre methodology. he is a co-choreographer with vim vigor and recently received their mfa at the university of michigan. after receiving his bfa at suny purchase, jason returned to the school to teach as an adjunct professor. through vim, he has taught at various institutions including the juilliard school, nyu tisch school of the arts, the university of michigan, barnard college, and columbia university. additionally he has collaborated with shannon gillen on creations for la dance project, gibney dance company, boston dance theater, and springboard danse montreal. previously, jason was a performer and rehearsal director with sleep no more nyc. www.vimvigordance.com
please be aware of our early bird special offer for this workshop! you can apply for this offer up until the 24th of march 2025. after the 24th the regular workshop fee applies. applications are accepted up until one day before the workshops starts.
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