NIEN MARI CHATZ studied and taught New Dance at the legendary School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam in the 80s and 90s. During these years she was initiatetd to Contact Improvisation by the pioneers of the form, Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Kirstie Simpson and many others. She has been performing and teaching in Europe and the USA since 1985. She danced with Compagnie Pauline de Groot (Amsterdam), Yoshiko Chuma, Tan Dun (NYC), Tanzfabrik (Berlin) and collaborated with other choreographers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists internationally. She currently lives in France, where she founded NOMADANCE Company. Her movement research work is based on Release & Alignment Technique, the principles of Body-Mind Centering and the Alexander Technique.