RESEARCH LAB for practitioners
Barcelona, Spain
28. September - 2. October 2026
Workshop promoted by La Bonita Barcelona
The Hair Suspension LAB is a space for exploration and research, an opportunity to step beyond your comfort zone, venture into uncharted territory, and share with others who are passionate about this beautiful discipline.
This laboratory encourages a conscious and safe practice, allowing you to connect with your creativity and express the beauty of your own movement.
Technical Research: Mastering counterweights and exploring diverse lines of movement using bungee cords.
Collective Presence: Through guided improvisation, we will experience suspension as a group, exchanging roles, finding collective balance, and moving with deep awareness, active listening, and freedom.
We want to allow new stimuli to emerge for the movement and expression of this wonderful practice.
What's included?
Technical Mastery: A detailed review of the hair knot and its intricate mechanics.
Postural Health & Dialogue: In-depth discussions on physical well-being, sharing collective insights and personal experiences to foster a sustainable practice.
Physical Preparation: We will cultivate presence through conscious breathing and movement. Our focus will be on spinal mobility, structural alignment, from the feet to the crown, and connecting with the organic flow of spiral movement.
Guided Improvisation: Transitioning from individual exploration to collective synergy, we will refine our active listening and non-verbal communication.
Hair Suspension Sessions
Our suspension work will follow a clear, focused direction:
Bungee Dynamics: Throughout the LAB, we will explore the elastic qualities of bungee movement and the unique possibilities they offer for group connection.
The Art of Counterweight: Working in pairs, we will tune our sensitivity to find a harmonic dialogue, discovering balance and fluid momentum while counterweighting one another.
The Rigger’s Role: Holding the rope for another is more than a responsibility, it is an art. We will explore the “rigger as a partner,” learning to intuit and follow the movements of the person suspended on the other side through a playful, experimental approach.
This LAB is ideal for those seeking creative input to develop a new act or for practitioners wanting to venture beyond their comfort zone.
Final Sharing & Creation
The final session will be an open studio for a small audience. We will immerse ourselves in a rapid creation process, translating the week’s research into a creative performance.
A chance to share our findings with locals and friends. A bar will be available, along with good vibes to celebrate and connect.
• Workshop in English and Spanish
• Maximum capacity 10 participants
• Accommodation is NOT included!
Timetable
Monday September 28 from 10:00 to 16:00
Tuesday September 29 from 10:00 to 16:00
Wednesday September 30 from 12 to 18:00
Thursday October 1 from 10:00 to 16:00
Friday Ocrober 2 from 12:00 to 18:00
Who is it for?
This workshop is aimed at practitioners with previous experience in hair suspension.
Eager to investigate subtle sensations and explore new possibilities of movement in
connection with the other participants.
*This is not a beginner’s workshop for learning the hair knot, so please join only if you already have experience and feel comfortable lifting off the ground.
*Priority will be given to students who have previously trained with Ingrid.
Requirements
• Bring your own kit for the knot to float, along with curiosity and a willingness to explore and share with fellow hair suspension artists.
• If you have any injury related to the spine, check with me before booking!
Your mentor
Ingrid Esperanza
Is a Mexican artist, performance creator, and researcher with nearly twenty years of experience in hair suspension. Her approach has evolved from dance and hybrid languages toward a dimension that integrates the symbolic, the somatic, and stage presence.
For the past eight years, she has dedicated herself to expanding this discipline through research and conscious training, developing a methodology that views the technique as a tool for personal exploration. In her practice, self-knowledge and a fine-tuned listening to the body allow for the development of a unique personal language.
As a high-level mentor, she has guided the training processes of artists from world-renowned companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Finzi Pasca, Franco Dragone, and Cirkus Cirkör, while collaborating with various contemporary circus companies across Europe and Mexico. Her teaching promotes a practice oriented toward well-being and physical integrity, placing special emphasis on body preparation and the balance between grounding and suspension to facilitate a safe and conscious evolution.
Where?
LaBonita Cooperativa is a circus training space in Barcelona, where artists and performers gather to hone their craft in a collaborative, creative environment. With its open, community-driven approach, it offers a unique blend of circus arts, acrobatics, and physical theater, fostering innovation and artistic expression in a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
The Workshop will take place in LaBonita, Barcelona on the coast of Catalonia, Spain.
Barcelona is a vibrant blend of stunning architecture, rich history, and Mediterranean charm, offering everything from Gaudí’s masterpieces to sun-kissed beaches and lively markets.
With its delicious cuisine, bustling streets, and a perfect mix of tradition and modernity, Barcelona invites travelers to explore, relax, and immerse themselves in its unique culture.
How to get here
The nearest airport is BARCELONA (BCN).
Click here to check your connecting flights.
It’s also possible to fly to Madrid (MAD) and take the bus/train to Barcelona.
Book your spot!
For registrations: message Manuela Gracián directly at formacion@labonita.coop
The price is 350 €
If you have any doubts, message me (Ingrid) through the contact form on this website.
cancellations
Cancellations are not refundable, however:
• If you cancel for personal reasons, the money will only be returned if the place is occupied