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In Short
My name is Jonathan Nosan. I have been a professional contortionist for 20 years and teaching internationally for 10 years. I’m 46. When I started training at 22 I couldn’t touch my toes. My handstand took 3 years to learn--the flexibility and strength developed methodically though my training with Mr. Lu Yi in San Francisco. Like many of my students, I didn’t have a natural flexibility; but I did have the drive and desire to physically push myself to an extreme I knew I could possess.
In celebration of two decades of contorting I will film and release five 50-80 minute videos for the public to share my knowledge: 1. Contorture™ Technique 2. Inversions 3. The Contorture™ Chamber: a full start to finish group class 4. Weighted Stretching 5. Inner Sanctum: Breaking down the moves in my act. These videos will be available as a 3 Workshop Series and a 5 Workshop Series depending on your level of masochism by online streaming and/or downloads.
This project is important to me. Performing and teaching my art sparks my soul, and I hope to help safely spark, ignite and light your Contorture™ path of extreme flexibility training. From here will follow Contorture™ Teacher Certification programs and who knows...maybe Contorture™ Chambers in your neighborhood.
But first, please contribute to my campaign to make this possible for me and my team to create this program of safe, methodical and deep training. Thank you so much in advance for your love and support! Without you this wouldn't be possible.
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What We Need & What You Get
Break it down now:
The films will be shot in Nashville Tennessee because its the Music Capital of the World. It is also much less costly than shooting in New York City. We have a top notch crew, cast and location in place--an 1885 tobacco, jam and hosiery warehouse renovated to create a complete experiential and inspirational product bringing you right into our Contorture™ Chamber.
This is way beyond setting up an iPhone and pressing record or hiring a Fitness Video Production House. We are creating personal training sessions with Jonathan and four demonstrators/students for you to learn and train together with--all the bells and whistles of fitness films created on a super slim budget.
- The Cost Needs are simple: location rental, equipment (3 cameras, lighting, sound), director, assistant director, producer, gaffer, boom operator, editor, hair, make up, demonstrator/actors, assistants, cost of insurance, pre and post production...oh and we can't forget...taxes, legal, web and crafty (food).
- When you donate to help us cover those costs then you will receive a perk--a present, a gift! We have sweet perks ranging from virtual high fives to awesome swag, private Skype lessons, and getting the Workshops before it is released to the public!!
- Okay. So lets say that we don't reach our goal. That would be sad, but okay. We will utilize the funds graciously received and make it anyway! We will not give up. This is happening and we are incredibly excited!
The Impact
This is a very special and important project to me. While touring the world I’m able to lead workshops and train individuals from circus, pole dance, fitness, and yoga disciplines and inevitiably their “aha” moment arrives—discovering a new pain free way of extreme movement, backbending, balance, counterbalance, and breath control.
I now have the time and connections to create a video series which will show and share my method of instruction and training in an environment and aesthetic you would expect from me.
This truly will be a workshop program I wholeheartedly can present to you in response to the years of requests for training, advice and guidance.
So who is this Jonathan Nosan??
Originally from Mt. Pleasant Michigan, Jonathan’s flexibility is not natural. He was simply well trained.
After graduating U.C. Berkeley in Asian Studies and Geography he was awarded a Fulbright to Japan to conduct research toward his PhD in Design of Sacred Space of New Religious Movements. His second research year was spent in a wood cabin with an outhouse in the Northwest Mountains of Kyoto. It was during that year he changed course from academics to acrobatics after seeing a Chinese Contortionist in Nagasaki and a Canadian Clown in Tokyo.
Jonathan moved to Manhattan in 1998 and has since developed a unique performance and teaching style. His work has been featured in film, fashion, television/commercials and on stage. 2010 brought the premier of his performemoirt piece BAGABONES and is currently touring the world with the spiegeltent spectacular LIMBO. He is president of Acroback Productions, a performance design firm catering to international galas and events.
He is an avid ceramacist at Mud, Sweat and Tears studio in Manhattan.
JONATHAN'S TEACHING/WORKSHOP (partial) HISTORY: 2014 International Contortion Convention (ICC) Cologne Workshops, 2012 ICC Las Vegas Workshops, Circus Warehouse NYC, Body & Pole NYC, Zurich Mystique Pole, Circus Adelaide Workshop, London Contorture at The Place, Sankalpah Yoga NYC, Pure Yoga NYC Workshop,Radu, Fly Fitness NYC, Crunch Gym Soho, International Pole Convention 2011, Still Mind Zen Center NYC.
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Risks & Challenges
Just like with anything there is always challenges and risks that arise. When filming there is always something that comes up.
- No matter what the risk that presents itself we can handle it. We have put together a team of professionals that are familiar with the risks and challenges of making a film. With a team of qualified film makers we can handle anything and make this happen!
- We have come up with a plan to be ready for any challenges. While filming we have put together a small team of Production Assistants to face all challenges head on so that we do not lose any valuable time while filming. Because remember.. time is money!
Other Ways You Can Help
Sometimes you just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean you can't help:
- Help us get the word out and make some noise about this campaign. Share this campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and any other social media site to help get the word out. You can also send it out via email to all of your friends! And don't forget word of mouth! Tell everyone you know.
- You can also use the Indiegogo share tools!
And that's all there is to it.
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Need more reasons why you should donate? Okay.. Don't take it from us, Take it from them!
"Jonathan Nosan is an unbelievably supple contortionist, flicking his legs over his head like a human scorpion in an act that feels more related to German expressionist cinema than Cirque Du Soleil." -London Evening Standard (Limbo)
"Jonathan Nosan can bend it better than Beckham, tucking his legs over his head as if his spine was made of rubber and scuttling about like a human arachnid." -The Telegraph (Limbo)
"It is as if yoga, mime, butoh, acrobatics and contortion had all been ingeniously crammed into the meat grinder of physical theatre to create an original and exciting new art form..." -Robert Lepage (Bagabones)
"A truly amazing contortion who provides the show with its single most disturbing image." -The New York Times (Twyla Tharp’s The Times They Are A-Changin’)
"Like any athlete, Nosan broadens what we think the human body is capable of, and shows us that it is possible to push beyond what we believe to be the physical limits of this world."
-nytheatre dot com (Bagabones)
Still not convinced? What???
Then just donate because Clover the Beagle says so...
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