In the heart of New Mexico’s high desert, where the light paints the landscape in surreal hues, Lamy has quietly become a magnet for dancers seeking transformation. Far from the noise of urban studios, this historic railroad town offers something rare: space—both physical and creative—to redefine your movement.
“Contemporary dance isn’t just steps—it’s the body unlearning to relearn,” says Marisol Vélez, artistic director of Lamy Movement Project. “Here, we train dancers to listen—to the land, to their breath, to the stories their joints want to tell.”
Why Lamy?
The high desert’s expansive vistas and crystalline air create an almost meditative training environment. Studios with floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of juniper-dotted hills, turning each session into a dialogue between body and landscape. Unlike crowded city programs, Lamy’s intimate workshops (capped at 12 dancers) ensure personalized attention.
The Training Difference
Local studios blend techniques from:
- Release-based contemporary (influenced by Trisha Brown and Skinner Releasing)
- Axis Syllabus for sustainable biomechanics
- Improvisational scores inspired by desert ecology
“After six weeks in Lamy, I stopped ‘performing’ contemporary and started inhabiting it. The space rewires your creative instincts.” —Javier R., former NYC ballet dancer
Signature Programs
Dawn-to-Dusk Intensives: All-day sessions that pair studio work with site-specific movement explorations at nearby Ghost Ranch.
Improvisation Labs: Weekly sessions where dancers respond to live music from Santa Fe’s experimental jazz scene.
Choreographic Residencies: Month-long programs for emerging creators, culminating in pop-up performances at Lamy’s historic train depot.
The Community Vibe
Mornings start with shared coffee at the Lamy Station Café, evenings unwind with communal dinners under strings of papel picado lights. There’s a reason 70% of participants return—it’s as much about the people as the pedagogy.
