Nancy Stark Smith and Karen Nelson (1990)

A Cappella Motion was a dance workshop held every year in Northampton, Massachusetts, from 1982 to 1996. It focused on Contact Improvisation, but also featured classes on other forms of improvisation and dance forms, as well as singing. The chief organizer (and performer) was the late Nancy Stark Smith, who is featured here in a contact dance with another workshop instructor, Karen Nelson. (Nancy is the one with the long braid.) I am posting this excerpt from the 1990 workshop, as a tribute. Nancy also taught classes around the world, and was editor of an international dance magazine, called "Contact Quarterly."

[@bethbastos3176]

Beautiful

[@bethbastos3176]

Karen, you are the best!

[@tarastepenberg474]

nancy's internal support is a gift to behold - a lovely duet - so many surprises - both have a great capacity to surrender and recoup

[@alaristodar2257]

Epic. Feeling such grief I never had the chance to meet her, only discovering her work close to when she passed. Now going into a rabbit hole and my heart hurts so much for her loss in this plane.

[@gabriellee6770]

Oh, yes, thank you very much for posting this. 🧡 Took many classes and workshops with Nancy, beginning 1986, and a couple or so workshops with Karen, and also with Alito Alessi. Hadn’t seen Nancy in many years, now, but still felt a connection. I love seeing her and Karen here. It feels like an immeasurable loss, Nancy’s passing, but her gifts are so enormous and plentiful, that the world and dance are richer for all she brought to us.

[@jonesthebear]

Ahhhh thank you so much. I miss her so much - this is really nourishing for me to watch. 💛💛💛

[@rythealee]

OMG, I love this!!!!!!!!!!

[@user-jy8nn6uv9n]

Pure gold.

[@TheChiChiLand]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this 💙🙏

[@ElianaeStone]

Really lovely thanks for sharing!

[@gorenkontent]

great performance! Thanks!

[@bethbastos3176]

Amazing

[@andrewsolway7655]

Totally amazing! ❤️❤️

[@renata3691]

THANK YOUUU!!!

[@chriscruzgra]

Incríveis!!!!

[@viopolence9227]

3:06 7:30

[@neznakomkacat]

This is incredible ❤