What's On
There are three rooms in Dragon Hall, but you will notice that only two rooms are on our schedule. This is because the Purple Room is going to be available all day as social space for chilling out and socialising. The other rooms - the Main Hall and the Green Room, are going to be filled with all kinds of exciting things. These exciting things, in fact:
12.00 - 12.30 : Welcome
Main Hall
Some boring announcements, some exciting ones and a great big welcome for everyone from the organisers!
12.30 - 1.30 : Session 1
Main Hall
Poly 101
An introduction to polyamory for everyone just starting out on the road to ethical non-monogamy. If you’re new to polyamory this is for you. We will probably cover common problems you might encounter, ways to start, what style might make you happiest, strange new words and how not to mess up.
Facilitated by David Franklin
Green Room
Poly 201
A more detailed look at living as a polyamorous person, for everyone who's been doing this for a little while. Led by a group of long-time poly folks, we'll be exploring some of the ins and out of practicing polyamory in the long term.
Facilitated by Grant, Simon, Chris and Eunice
1.45 - 2.45 : Session 2
Main Hall
Tantra: Exploring the dark and the light
Experience a taste of full-body presence, communication and intimacy; with exercises to help increase heart-centred communication by removing barriers, which creates ease in all relationships. All while having fun and being yummy! Come soak up some love and learn some useful tools with Avi Esther.
Facilitated by Avi Esther
Green Room
Polyamory in the Academic World
This workshop will be facilitated by Chris Campbell; a psychologist by training, working in at a London university and doing research on consensual non-monogamy. Some of you may have taken part in her research already - thank you! She will be using this workshop to share some of the latest findings and hear from you about what you think researchers should be looking at next. What do you want to see research on? What are useful questions about poly and poly people that you want answered? Would you like to get involved? Do you have any research that you'd like to share? If you're interested in the application of science to your own relationship experiences then please come along and share your thoughts.
Facilitated by Christine Campbell
3.00 - 4.00 : Session 3
Main Hall
Poly & Kink
Polyamory brings a whole new set of considerations to BDSM. Managing multiple doms & subs; negotiating limits & boundaries with each partner, both individually and with regards to their impact on your other partners; trying to remember who likes what and how; and numerous other issues. In this workshop you'll be able to discuss these issues, and anything else you'd like to suggest with like-minded individuals in small(ish) groups.
Facilitated by Alex Winson
Green Room
Ask Polly's Troubleshooting Skillshare
A chance for new and experienced poly folks to get together and talk about practical problems that have arisen in their poly practices, as well as sharing ways they've handled problems. We'll mostly be discussing troubleshooting in small groups; expect lots of participation!
Facilitated by Ask Polly (Ludi Valentine)
4.15 - 5.15 : Session 4
Main Hall
Postromantic Dance
A workshop about drawing connections between some issues in polyamorous relating and some aspects of contact improvisation - looking at dependency, autonomy, support, falling and fear of falling, reciprocity, leading and following, etc, as they appear as physical principles in the movement practice, and as they appear in attempts to forge affective relations beyond and against compulsory heterosexuality, male domination and privilege, and the norm of monogamy.
What is contact improvisation? For one, it is notoriously hard to describe. Really, you have to do it to understand it. But I can say this much: At the basis of the practice are the physical contact between two or more partners, the relation to gravity, and to the momentum of moving bodies. It's about letting go of excess tension, waking up the reflexes and sense of balance, and working with weight. It is a very subtle way of interacting and negotiating through touch and movement.
Facilitated by Daniel Mang
Green Room
Dealing with the Media
For better or for worse, open relationships, polyamory and ethical non-monogamy are pricking the ears of the press at the moment. From the commission of a new reality TV show on the matter, to recent features in The Independent, The Guardian, on ITV and Radio 4 Woman's Hour - many of us are being contacted for comment. For anyone who would be interested in speaking out but isn't quite sure or is keen to discuss how, as a community, we raise our profile in a constructive manner - a beginners session on dealing with the media.
Facilitated by Amanda Jones
5.30 - 6.30 : Session 5
Main Hall
Poly Parenting
An informal discussion for parents and those interested in parenting. How does parenting work if you're not in a monogamous pair? What legal issues might polyamorous parents face? How does having children affect your relationships? How do you talk about this to your children? And what are the benefits and challenges to parenting in this way?
Facilitated by Nik
Green Room
Polycule Plastacine Modelling
We challenge you to make a model of your polycule using the medium of plastacine and straws! If you have partners or metamors in common with other people then you could even join them up to make a polypolycule. All told - fun with a room full of plastacine.
Facilitated by Matthew Bobbu
6.30 - 6.45 : Thanks
Just a quick word from the organisers before what will be our dinner break for some, and home time for others. Don't wory, we'll be pretty tired out by then so it won't take long.