Disabilities in Dance
Today, during the session with Amy Voris and Andrea Barzey we had a discussion about the disabilities in relation to dance. We had two good examples in our group, one person from our group who has some not physically seen disability, and another one was girl 3rd year student of Dance in our university. First of all, I think it is really useful for all of us to discuss these things, especially when we have in any way disabled people around us. It is needful to know each other as much as possible so we could find solutions, support each other and work things out. It is useful for us as a humans as well, the humanity and tolerance is also something to learn. It also give us some knowledge in order to be better teachers in the future, the knowledge that we can adapt in so many situation we can probably meet up in the future, because some of the disabilities signs can be understood as a hightened problems that everyone can face sometimes, independently if person is disabled or not; it make us more attentive, able and ready to cope with it. Finally, it make us more sensitive and patient.
Another really good reason to know these things is for us as an artists. Having some thoughts about how these people cope with problems and adapt, looking for another possibilities they find in order to get the same result was really interesting. Especially watching this. As a proof we had some exercises that we did following instructions that gave the person who lives with this everyday - we tried to work only trying to use one side of the body, as less as possible including another one. It was something nice in noticing particular body parts in our own bodies, specifications of it. It also give some extra thoughts about things we might not always notice, like where the movements are initiated from, or how we can change shape of movement having the same prospect. I think it is also a work to think or notice:
- our own strong and weak sides or parts of the body;
- about what is acceptable for us;
- where are our limits;
- how we can deal with problems made by circumstances (for ex. - mood, physical state (like tiredness), feelings,etc.)
- what and how do we feel about touch; what are the limits of it; when it becomes too intimate;
- our own space need; how it changes depending on a day or particular time;
- our body as a unique creation;
- distinctiveness;
General thoughts; Body Story
Being a bit selfish and thinking about my own feelings, reactions and my own journey, I had some general thoughts about that (however sometimes being selfish on purpose when you are studying is not so bad thing, we all need to experience and find things in our own bodies to be able to understand the others). So thinking about my own journey, I think I am still looking for my weak and strong sides and parts of body, even I noticed that the right side is usually leading a bit or initiating from (especially when I do turns); I find myself usually quite brave and open in trying new things even it can be quite dangerous; however I need some personal space, but it's more about my mind space (it's still probably about my distrust of my English, and I think I need some time things to make sense), I find a very little of limits thinking about touch when we are working, because I get them as a way to experience and support rather than something intimate - it is better when other people feel the same and touch me being confident of what they are doing; I find myself a little dependent on mood or other circumstances, maybe because it is because it's too much going on; I am still thinking about the distinctiveness of myself and my body;
However, I can see some really big change in my journey - in the past (including last months) I was really taking everything so kind of wide, I was trying to get as much as possible not necessarily thinking how much sense it actually make, a simple example - my movements - it was usually so wide, high, I was trying to learn as much as possible in any quickest way, not even thinking of possible injuries; I was like trying to reach higher and higher growing apples from the tree not focusing on an actual taste of the one's I can reach without much efforts. And now I catch myself more and more focusing on less, getting deeper in a smaller things, exploring small movements. Now for me THE LESS IS MORE. And I really enjoy it because I think it makes me stronger in so many ways. So this time working thinking about disabilities I worked with a "LESS IS MORE" idea. Somatic practices and wake up sessions really support me working with that!!! So I find it a way to cope with stress as well, and a better quality in my whole studying.
By the way, at the moment I think I wouldn't be ready to teach disabled people, I think it is because I need to do some findings in myself before, to study more, probably my own state is not ready to do that yet. And I am quite impatient. However, I don't mind and it is useful when some disabled people are around when I am studying, and working with them also give so much for both of us (even I am not actually distributing people into able or disabled groups). It is even quite encouraging and inspiring, it can sometimes be like a stimulus point when we struggle somewhere or get lazy or lost, giving up. If these people can do, why can't I?
I think we all are disabled sometimes or somehow, so we have not that big difference from people who actually are, it's just probably the different amount of help, support, time or other needs are needed to cope with things.
At the end of the day, it is important what we improved, developed or reached for ourselves, what limits we exceed in our own life rather that being better than someone else.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
Objects and puppets. +play
OBJECTS
As far as I remember, the first work related to objects was Theatre class with Glen noble on 10th January 2012. It was improvisation session about spontaneous performance making. We were creating invisible objects with our hands, gifting them and responding being gifted, having a clever idea and adding some information about gifted person. In other words, we created imaginative things, objects, having an idea, making a piece of story, creating the situation, character, relationship, activity and ware, as object becomes not the prime thing. Invisible objects itself allowed to find situation ahead, continue actions. We worked in lines, in pairs (creating particular continuous situation) and in groups (playing with a soft ball), noticing people reactions and spontaneous actions that everybody make, especially when their status changes.
I found it really interesting, because working with invisible objects and creating them, I had an opportunity to open my imagination and "make" whatever I want, I wasn't limited by things I actually have. However, it wasn't that easy for me as I thought - it was difficult to create spontaneously, quickly react, find similar shape of invisible object, thinking about the size, the temperature, state, etc.. Responding was tricky to avoid questioning, keep natural, worrying how do I look (if i'm doing it right, if my English is good enough to explain what I wanted to explain, etc.). I feel I am still fighting with my fair of audience on acting, especially improvising.
I liked the spontaneity of actions, and I was impressed what a surprising situations were created. It was interesting to notice, how few words or few sentences can create such an clear situation, can give so much information. However, I still need to keep working with saying YES for everything I am suggested, because I still catch myself saying NO, and it limits or probably distracts my partner to keep improvising, it doesn't allow to open creativity as much as possible. It is also very useful experience for responding, working with other people negotiating and in co-operation development.
Next time I was concentrating on objects was during the Theatre class with Joff. It was about ANIMATION. It was a work with a piece of paper (we used newspaper). We explored the natural quality of it, (how it moves, falls, speed...) we crumpled it and repeated our exploration, checked this quality and differences. Then, as we started to play with it more and more, I was surprised and impressed what kind of shapes and ways of changes we can find and how many things we can create playing and using our imagination. When we watched ways to move it in different shapes, I found it really strange that it was actually interesting and catching the eyes, the piece of newspaper suddenly becomes a character, becomes alive, and you can make stories! It was so unexpected for me, I thought it should be boring and disappointing, but it actually wasn't. Moving it the speed becomes important, can make it so effective. Sometimes such a delicate, small and slow, careful movement or moving can be very interesting. Literally the material doesn't really matter, because it gets totally different quality and form. Watching other people creations I found some objects so cute even it wasn't anything spectacular. It became obvious for me, that the more you play with particular object or thing, the more you find and you can keep improvising like days.
Some weeks later we continued our work using PUPPETS. We made our own puppets using a square piece of material. This time we focused more on HOW to move it, the quality of moving in order to make it as much similar to something alive as possible. It was so fun when we added some sounds as well. The most important things to think about working with this kind of puppets are gravity, fixed points, bending quality and slow motion, which works the best, as it is so hard to make even simple movement that would make sense. This experience for me showed how creativity and imagination can show such a big things which usually are not noticeable at all. And it was another time, when I found playing really worth in a creation process.
22nd February 2012
Improvisation
Amy Voris
The last but the most impressive work with objects was with Amy Voris during improvisation class. We played with a stuff we found around the space, 3 objects each person. Moving around the space and creating and making changes by playing in other group's compositions we saw the variety of beauty or meaning in compositions. I really liked how teamwork can assist finding something new, something beautiful and meaningful. I also found that it helps to keep going, by giving a new ideas ahead for the others as much as showing how creative everyone can be, and what a difference it does in the result. As we continued working connecting all these little compositions into one big composition, which was amazing. The more we played, the more we enjoyed finding new and unexpected, undiscovered ways to change the whole picture, the more creative we became. But the most fun and impressive was placing ourselves into that picture, becoming part of it. It was like different, unexplored land, and we were the part of it. Then we started to explore one particular object from that picture and noticing the quality of it, etc. I choose a pillow. It was such a simple object to explored by I liked it and was looking for things I didn't notice before. Support was the nicest thing of this object, even it is quite obvious. I also found that making composition using such a simple objects we use everyday, gives some character, meaning of being for each of it, the cause to be there, which makes ourselves to think deeper about things we don't usually think about too much. Hightening or using it not on purpose or not as usual we make it important somehow.
In my future work I will definitely explore it more and more, because it gives so much really good ideas for performances in so many ways, starting from giving idea or fulfilling it, going to a space filling compositionally , etc... I found that objects actually make sense.
The project of 3rd year students that we went to see after we finished class, their experience, their exploration and work they did working in the same method using objects, really fascinated me. It showed how endless this can be, and how open-minded we should be to create something really nice. And how fun as well, because I've tried to get involved into their work. It was really easy going process, which made sense.
General Thoughts
All this experience exploring objects should be very useful for me during my all course, especially on IPP1 projects and in my future works of course.
It also reminded me the Mel Brimfield : This is Performance Art exhibition we were in Warwick mead gallery with Polly Hudson in the autumn. There were some pictures of objects, objects' compositions that I can still remember and it was beautiful.
I also found relationship between this experience and researching, reading that I've done. Gary Izzo in his book "The art of play" writes so nice about playing, and I really liked the way he described power of play talking about the children playing, how they create some beautiful, magical places using their imagination, and if you want to see what they see, if you want to be the part of that magical space and creation, a part of game, you can not say NO at any time. I also like his statement that play is a natural state. And notice that play has it's own unique and unalterable rules,how it builds community and so many other things that is useful to know and notice.
So I find more and more interesting things and importance of play in artist life.
Addition.
In some way,we all can be an object ourselves. This thought came from the Theatre class with Glen when we worked about Organic improvisation, about copying, mirroring each other, exploring other people habitats, behavior, then transforming it, including sounds, etc... the copied person becomes an object. Considering that objects itself can be a start of creating process, "using" people as an objects to get the idea is quite interesting in my opinion, and it gives a chance to make something familiar for the audience in a result - performance.
As far as I remember, the first work related to objects was Theatre class with Glen noble on 10th January 2012. It was improvisation session about spontaneous performance making. We were creating invisible objects with our hands, gifting them and responding being gifted, having a clever idea and adding some information about gifted person. In other words, we created imaginative things, objects, having an idea, making a piece of story, creating the situation, character, relationship, activity and ware, as object becomes not the prime thing. Invisible objects itself allowed to find situation ahead, continue actions. We worked in lines, in pairs (creating particular continuous situation) and in groups (playing with a soft ball), noticing people reactions and spontaneous actions that everybody make, especially when their status changes.
I found it really interesting, because working with invisible objects and creating them, I had an opportunity to open my imagination and "make" whatever I want, I wasn't limited by things I actually have. However, it wasn't that easy for me as I thought - it was difficult to create spontaneously, quickly react, find similar shape of invisible object, thinking about the size, the temperature, state, etc.. Responding was tricky to avoid questioning, keep natural, worrying how do I look (if i'm doing it right, if my English is good enough to explain what I wanted to explain, etc.). I feel I am still fighting with my fair of audience on acting, especially improvising.
I liked the spontaneity of actions, and I was impressed what a surprising situations were created. It was interesting to notice, how few words or few sentences can create such an clear situation, can give so much information. However, I still need to keep working with saying YES for everything I am suggested, because I still catch myself saying NO, and it limits or probably distracts my partner to keep improvising, it doesn't allow to open creativity as much as possible. It is also very useful experience for responding, working with other people negotiating and in co-operation development.
Next time I was concentrating on objects was during the Theatre class with Joff. It was about ANIMATION. It was a work with a piece of paper (we used newspaper). We explored the natural quality of it, (how it moves, falls, speed...) we crumpled it and repeated our exploration, checked this quality and differences. Then, as we started to play with it more and more, I was surprised and impressed what kind of shapes and ways of changes we can find and how many things we can create playing and using our imagination. When we watched ways to move it in different shapes, I found it really strange that it was actually interesting and catching the eyes, the piece of newspaper suddenly becomes a character, becomes alive, and you can make stories! It was so unexpected for me, I thought it should be boring and disappointing, but it actually wasn't. Moving it the speed becomes important, can make it so effective. Sometimes such a delicate, small and slow, careful movement or moving can be very interesting. Literally the material doesn't really matter, because it gets totally different quality and form. Watching other people creations I found some objects so cute even it wasn't anything spectacular. It became obvious for me, that the more you play with particular object or thing, the more you find and you can keep improvising like days.
Some weeks later we continued our work using PUPPETS. We made our own puppets using a square piece of material. This time we focused more on HOW to move it, the quality of moving in order to make it as much similar to something alive as possible. It was so fun when we added some sounds as well. The most important things to think about working with this kind of puppets are gravity, fixed points, bending quality and slow motion, which works the best, as it is so hard to make even simple movement that would make sense. This experience for me showed how creativity and imagination can show such a big things which usually are not noticeable at all. And it was another time, when I found playing really worth in a creation process.
22nd February 2012
Improvisation
Amy Voris
The last but the most impressive work with objects was with Amy Voris during improvisation class. We played with a stuff we found around the space, 3 objects each person. Moving around the space and creating and making changes by playing in other group's compositions we saw the variety of beauty or meaning in compositions. I really liked how teamwork can assist finding something new, something beautiful and meaningful. I also found that it helps to keep going, by giving a new ideas ahead for the others as much as showing how creative everyone can be, and what a difference it does in the result. As we continued working connecting all these little compositions into one big composition, which was amazing. The more we played, the more we enjoyed finding new and unexpected, undiscovered ways to change the whole picture, the more creative we became. But the most fun and impressive was placing ourselves into that picture, becoming part of it. It was like different, unexplored land, and we were the part of it. Then we started to explore one particular object from that picture and noticing the quality of it, etc. I choose a pillow. It was such a simple object to explored by I liked it and was looking for things I didn't notice before. Support was the nicest thing of this object, even it is quite obvious. I also found that making composition using such a simple objects we use everyday, gives some character, meaning of being for each of it, the cause to be there, which makes ourselves to think deeper about things we don't usually think about too much. Hightening or using it not on purpose or not as usual we make it important somehow.
In my future work I will definitely explore it more and more, because it gives so much really good ideas for performances in so many ways, starting from giving idea or fulfilling it, going to a space filling compositionally , etc... I found that objects actually make sense.
The project of 3rd year students that we went to see after we finished class, their experience, their exploration and work they did working in the same method using objects, really fascinated me. It showed how endless this can be, and how open-minded we should be to create something really nice. And how fun as well, because I've tried to get involved into their work. It was really easy going process, which made sense. |
| Green stuff:) |
 |
| Allocation according to colors. |
 |
| A part of the final result we reached:) |
 |
| 1st year student's creativity :) |
General Thoughts
All this experience exploring objects should be very useful for me during my all course, especially on IPP1 projects and in my future works of course.
It also reminded me the Mel Brimfield : This is Performance Art exhibition we were in Warwick mead gallery with Polly Hudson in the autumn. There were some pictures of objects, objects' compositions that I can still remember and it was beautiful.
I also found relationship between this experience and researching, reading that I've done. Gary Izzo in his book "The art of play" writes so nice about playing, and I really liked the way he described power of play talking about the children playing, how they create some beautiful, magical places using their imagination, and if you want to see what they see, if you want to be the part of that magical space and creation, a part of game, you can not say NO at any time. I also like his statement that play is a natural state. And notice that play has it's own unique and unalterable rules,how it builds community and so many other things that is useful to know and notice.
So I find more and more interesting things and importance of play in artist life.
Addition.
In some way,we all can be an object ourselves. This thought came from the Theatre class with Glen when we worked about Organic improvisation, about copying, mirroring each other, exploring other people habitats, behavior, then transforming it, including sounds, etc... the copied person becomes an object. Considering that objects itself can be a start of creating process, "using" people as an objects to get the idea is quite interesting in my opinion, and it gives a chance to make something familiar for the audience in a result - performance.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Following the practice of Skin Release Technique
We also had the discussion and notice of shoulders' alignment, because some lifting or tense sometimes comes when we hold our ribcage. It is quite tricky but important to keep our shoulders released when we keep ribcage holded. And the lower part of ribcage as well, because we don't want to be in tense, we just want a nice posture. I found it nice to feel someone tip-topping under the bone in the chest that are one of the most important ones in shoulder movement. A new experience of getting know your own body structure. After that I moved my arm in different ways, to notice how this bone gets involved in movements, and I found it very active.
23rd February 2011
Polly Hudson session
We continued working with supple and soft body, softness, especially in the joint sites. This time the beginning was similar as we started working with Florance Peake, on our feet, finding the supplement and softness. I have noticed, that this time I found that supple feeling quicker than some weeks ago, that probably shows the development and some kind of result already. I think it is because I am really getting into this technique and I really like it, it works on purpose for my body and even mind.
Later on we experienced some new thing, when the back of hands helps. We tried to find kind of edges reaching with the back of our hands, what reminded me my personal work related to circles and some IPP1 workshop about bubble of ourselves with Glen Noble. Another step forwards still working with the back of the hands was in contact to other people, when the touch of this part of body gave the impulse to move. It helped me notice which body parts I move least and reminded me these places, which gave a different quality as the supplement comes after the touch. It was really beautiful contact improvisation work with purpose, giving and responding.
Laying on the floor and releasing the body, this time I needed a little more time to get the released state. At the beginning I wasn't able to concentrate, because I could hear someone out of the room talking, making some noise, it really annoyed me. But as soon as the music came, my state, focus and even mood changed somehow. In addition, maybe because I was quite awake before getting into this state, it took a bit longer to release as well, but I got some unusual feeling on my releasing journey- this time instead of heaviness before released state I felt something like being lifted without any of my efforts. It was so interesting and strange so I kind of miss the words to explain it.
We did "River" work again. The basic thing before working further is sliding. The whole foot sliding takes basic here. I found really difficult to start sliding fluently and continuously, and then I've tried to speed up, and quick moving helped me sort this out, my feet probably adapted or got used to. Then I was able to work with tipping, falling, flowing... in supple movements. Doing similar thing I usually was concentrating on, for example, lifted leg, or other body parts that do biggest changes of natural shape, but this time I was focusing on my supported leg. I noticed, that the more supple and soft it is, the more free my movements are, and I can do more with the rest of my body, even like it is the lifted leg. The support we take from the floor is really important for a better quality of movements.
Concentrating on that back line, that I've explained in my previous posts (similarities between human and horse tail), the pelvic position also helped to improve the movement's quality, length and alignment in my body.
We also had the discussion and notice of shoulders' alignment, because some lifting or tense sometimes comes when we hold our ribcage. It is quite tricky but important to keep our shoulders released when we keep ribcage holded. And the lower part of ribcage as well, because we don't want to be in tense, we just want a nice posture. I found it nice to feel someone tip-topping under the bone in the chest that are one of the most important ones in shoulder movement. A new experience of getting know your own body structure. After that I moved my arm in different ways, to notice how this bone gets involved in movements, and I found it very active.Saturday, 25 February 2012
WARM UP
I was thinking about what works the best for me to warm up, get opened, make my body become awake and ready to go, or even to get creative. As soon as our body becomes awake, the same happens to our mind.
The thing I noticed, that is important for me to find a comfortable space, a nice place that I like to be in. Another important thing I found - silence. It is needful to really arrive into myself, to get out of unrelated things, to leave things behind, get off the stress and annoying things; To release my body and mind. When I get enough time, suitable place and silence, I do slow motion movements, stretches, articulation, curving and uncurving, folding and unfolding. I like the support of the floor and trying to find every piece of my body. Then I speed up step by step and slowly go into the standing level. Then I am ready to go. I find this notice important, because it means I know my body more and more and I am more able to work with it and develop in a less possibility of injuries.
I was thinking about what works the best for me to warm up, get opened, make my body become awake and ready to go, or even to get creative. As soon as our body becomes awake, the same happens to our mind.
The thing I noticed, that is important for me to find a comfortable space, a nice place that I like to be in. Another important thing I found - silence. It is needful to really arrive into myself, to get out of unrelated things, to leave things behind, get off the stress and annoying things; To release my body and mind. When I get enough time, suitable place and silence, I do slow motion movements, stretches, articulation, curving and uncurving, folding and unfolding. I like the support of the floor and trying to find every piece of my body. Then I speed up step by step and slowly go into the standing level. Then I am ready to go. I find this notice important, because it means I know my body more and more and I am more able to work with it and develop in a less possibility of injuries.
Feet
New findings
During the Theatre warm up session with Katye Coe we worked with the spine, noticing the neck and tensed areas when the head is released, finding the middle back, curving fully when skull goes towards the floor. Repeating it several times I've noticed some interesting thing happening with my feet. I find quite difficult to get the right parallel position standing on my feet, especially without looking, and even I find, I am not always sure it is exactly correct. However, as soon as I bend my knees and give the hips some space as it is shown in the picture, my feet naturally easy find the correct and nice parallel position! The only thing that helps is moving the thighs until you find what is right for you and for alignment from hip to foot. After this notice, I kept the feeling of right parallel position for the whole session. It seems like I find ways the best suitable for my body and already feel the development!
What works the best for your body?:)
Other thing we worked about was thinking about the stronger side of our body. Most people have one side stronger or more developed than the other. It is even noticeable on which handed person is. I am right handed, but I am not sure which side of my body is stronger. Some years ago I thought the right side is the strongest one in my body, more flexible, etc., but after the injury that i had in the back of my right leg it changed. I couldn't work or keep developing my right leg flexibility for couple of years because of that injury, so now it is almost the same strength in both sides. I think it should probably change during the time, but I am trying to focus on both side developing. It is important to do that, because difference between strength of muscles can affect serious injuries, such as spine disc's displacement or others.
New findings
What works the best for your body?:)
Other thing we worked about was thinking about the stronger side of our body. Most people have one side stronger or more developed than the other. It is even noticeable on which handed person is. I am right handed, but I am not sure which side of my body is stronger. Some years ago I thought the right side is the strongest one in my body, more flexible, etc., but after the injury that i had in the back of my right leg it changed. I couldn't work or keep developing my right leg flexibility for couple of years because of that injury, so now it is almost the same strength in both sides. I think it should probably change during the time, but I am trying to focus on both side developing. It is important to do that, because difference between strength of muscles can affect serious injuries, such as spine disc's displacement or others.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Skin Release Technique
Skin
Release Technique
Our
beginning of familiarizing with this particular technique was by reading some
articles about it. However, the very first impression wasn’t strong enough for
me to really understand what it is until I’ve started to explore it by moving
during the class with a cover teacher Florance. I really enjoyed it from the
very beginning, because we started laying on the floor with an image of melting
(which meaning I found more and more by exploring this technique further),
disappearing, giving up, etc. The nice thing of this is taking off all your
stress, giving for you body some time to relax. Standing on our feet and moving
the weight from side to side, moving the weight thru all foot by really soft,
articulated and slow movements I also liked as an effortless work with my body.
As we came to a wide moving and phrases I noticed how easily and effortless my
body came into that active state and became ready to work, became vital. I
found the feeling of openness, freedom, “ready to go”. I felt how I came so
light and soft as well.
Working
with Florance Peake phrases I liked the fluency of the movements and she also
explained some technical things that widen my knowledge and made my moving
easier and more fluent.
The next
time we worked with Skin Release Technique was an IPP1 class with Polly Hudson. As
always, I really enjoyed the beginning with finding the nicest places to be in
the space. Later on, we worked in pairs by releasing laying person’s body by
touching, squeezing, brushing, giving pressure on the flat spaces of the body
like shoulders or hips, rotating joints, etc.
or even placing hands on the body. It is interesting, that even only
placing hands can release by reminding that particular place of body and by
warmth. It also helps to find a breath, notice small things happening in your
body. As I was laying, it was really impressive for me, because even I felt
tired before the class, by this exercise my body and mind came into some
strange and interesting state between sleeping and being awake. And when my
partner Alex tried to take me on my feet to have a walk in that released state,
he found it quite difficult and he even needed Polly’s help to do that because
I didn’t hear the instructions that we are going to come on our feet so I came
back on the floor several times until they finally took me up. And then, when
Alex took me for a walk with my eyes closed I felt something that I have never
felt before, like I was walking somewhere out of space, imagined some walking
on the clouds or something. Only things Alex gave me to touch like curtains,
wall or pen gave me the feeling of reality.
Another
thing to mention, is when I was leading Alex and releasing his body, I found
interesting noticing how human body gets released. I mean it is visible in some
way. It becomes so soft. As a feedback, me and Alex decided, that it was better
for me to be the second one who was leading, because I already knew how much
pressure I should give in different places of the body or how to touch.
Warmth
At the same
day, we had another class with Polly, and during it I went into that
interesting state between sleeping and being awake again. I am not sure, but it
is a possibility that I fell asleep for a moment this time. This time I have
tried to notice my breath more, soft tissues of my body, especially fingertips
and the power in releasing of it. I took a very little drawing after this class
which somehow shows my feeling and understanding of this technique and the
feeling of melting.
We also
explored the feeling of space, the awareness by noticing that somehow our body
feels and reacts if somebody is coming behind you, even couldn’t hear or see
it. It shows how powerful our sensations are.
February 9th, 2012
SPONGY Skin Releasing class with Polly
We worked
imagining our body being spongy, spongy tissues; in my minds varied different
images of my “spongy” parts of body, spongy parts of bones, spongy bones as a
whole, spongy muscles, spongy moving, etc. It made me moving so soft and effortless,
however, it felt like my body was ready to move, warm enough.
These pictures are taken from my artist journal, my reflections and first thoughts about this class and my feelings, the images that came into my head .
As we moved
with an image of river, I really could imagine the river, especially
witnessing, watching other people moving. In my opinion, the floating, wide,
continuous moving thru the space at the same level made this image so similar
to the river. It was so playful, sensitive, delicate, vital, childish adorable,
free. It was like a fly. It was so refreshing and this exercise had a color in
my minds – blue. So this is a picture from my artist journal about that. And
some other pictures I found in the internet, which shows what I imagine
somehow, in some way.
A little,
but important notice about alignment and posture, that we noticed during the
same class with Polly. This is about a shape located from the bottom of upper
back to the knees, or even lower. Polly compare it to horse back shape, which
made a clearer image for me. It is like similarities of the tails between human
and animals and about releasing it. Working in pairs we released this space by
brushing down using the back of hands (I think we used the back of hands to
avoid any intimate associations or just to make receiver feel more comfortable)
at the same time as receiver rolls down and back upwards. It was amazing
technical notice for me, because feeling the edge of your back and a shape of
it rolling helps to find how to do that correctly, to keep a right position, position
of pelvic at the same line as heels and not giving weight to much backwards.
My further
thoughts and questions, things to explore are about what is happening in your
body keeping practicing, noticing how different people take that technique,
thinking about the reasons why it can be something really challenging or
unfamiliar for the others; how this somatic practice can be used having
injuries, if it affects healing, etc.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Feet
Feet
I have started to think and work with my feet during the Movement Studies class with Katye Coe in November. The very first notice of it was thinking about softness, finding soft surfaces of the foot by massaging it, also thinking about wrinkles; noticing how do they move, moving toes, spreading it, pointing the foot, putting it on the floor and noticing how it feels like; coming up to standing, moving around by walking, running forwards, backwards, from one site to another, including jumping. Exploring all possible ways to move it finding softness was the most important thing I was looking for. After that particular class I started to work with my feet softness and articulation in order to find better movement quality, the best ways to find a support in movements and to avoid injuries. The other, but probably the most important reason why I pay so much attention to it was my parallel position, which I found not as correct as I'd like to, I found it slightly opened, especially trying to find it without looking. It made me concentrate on it and find ways to sort it out.
This is a picture from my Artist journal where I made some notes after that particular class:
During Anatomy classes I explored my feet more and more, worked with articulation of it and softness, and mostly with my parallel position. These photos are taken from my artist journal after anatomy class with Katye Coe, when we worked with our feet. We mostly were thinking about 3 places of printing foot, softness, keeping it warm and articulation. Then I noticed some results coming in my body - I found my standing slightly changing by getting used to clear parallel position. I also thought about how high heels can give bad influence for our feet and lower legs, that's why I draw it.
Later on, I researched some information about anatomy of the foot. The human foot and ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing more than 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments - that was the very basic information that I found about the foot, but I didn't stop exploring it. I also researched about the important structures of the foot, which include bones and joints, ligaments and tendons, muscles, nerves. That gave me a better understanding of the image, structure and functions of it. I also found some really clear images to get a better understanding:
Helped by some people from my course, I took some videos of some exercises I was working on with my feet and "stamps" of my parallel position. I also asked them for a feedback, which I really respect and pay attention to.
1. This is how I imagine that I am in parallel position without looking, only sensing.
2.This is how my parallel position actually should look like.
Having all this information and experience I already can see my own development and knowledge. I find that I can change some habitats into a better way, talking about my paralele position, softness and articulation in my feet. However, I still have to improve it. Although, I can not forget the thing, that my paralele position will be correct only as long as I keep my hips, knees and toes in the straight line, and that anatomically feet are very slightly opened even standing in paralele, so I have to avoid overdoing and be very attentive in order to find that straight line and that very little opening at the same moment.
I found working in a group very useful, because people around help you to do things you couldn't do alone in order to explore more and see yourself development. Getting feedback is another good thing to keep going directly. A glance from side usually is useful to actual evaluation.
In addition, there are some pictures of feet and foot prints, that shows my thoughts about feet articulation and quality of movement and what is the relationship with a ground, the adaption of the foot to the floor; the support of the ground that feet take, the parts of the foot. I find it quite interesting, because reading about the foot structure in the Dance Kinesiology book (by Sally Sevey Fitt, Schirmer book's second edition) I found that the inside part of the foot actually takes more weight because of the big toe is the strongest one and takes about 25% of weight, other 50% goes towards heel and the other 25% split thru other toes and the rest part of the foot; standing on toes and giving more weight for the inside side of foot and giving more weight on the big toe helps to keep good alignment as good posture considering that in that way we get the straight line between hip,knee, ankle and toes; in other way we could get injured because weight goes on the ankle.
I have started to think and work with my feet during the Movement Studies class with Katye Coe in November. The very first notice of it was thinking about softness, finding soft surfaces of the foot by massaging it, also thinking about wrinkles; noticing how do they move, moving toes, spreading it, pointing the foot, putting it on the floor and noticing how it feels like; coming up to standing, moving around by walking, running forwards, backwards, from one site to another, including jumping. Exploring all possible ways to move it finding softness was the most important thing I was looking for. After that particular class I started to work with my feet softness and articulation in order to find better movement quality, the best ways to find a support in movements and to avoid injuries. The other, but probably the most important reason why I pay so much attention to it was my parallel position, which I found not as correct as I'd like to, I found it slightly opened, especially trying to find it without looking. It made me concentrate on it and find ways to sort it out.
This is a picture from my Artist journal where I made some notes after that particular class:
During Anatomy classes I explored my feet more and more, worked with articulation of it and softness, and mostly with my parallel position. These photos are taken from my artist journal after anatomy class with Katye Coe, when we worked with our feet. We mostly were thinking about 3 places of printing foot, softness, keeping it warm and articulation. Then I noticed some results coming in my body - I found my standing slightly changing by getting used to clear parallel position. I also thought about how high heels can give bad influence for our feet and lower legs, that's why I draw it.
Later on, I researched some information about anatomy of the foot. The human foot and ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing more than 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments - that was the very basic information that I found about the foot, but I didn't stop exploring it. I also researched about the important structures of the foot, which include bones and joints, ligaments and tendons, muscles, nerves. That gave me a better understanding of the image, structure and functions of it. I also found some really clear images to get a better understanding:
Helped by some people from my course, I took some videos of some exercises I was working on with my feet and "stamps" of my parallel position. I also asked them for a feedback, which I really respect and pay attention to.
1. This is how I imagine that I am in parallel position without looking, only sensing.
2.This is how my parallel position actually should look like.
Having all this information and experience I already can see my own development and knowledge. I find that I can change some habitats into a better way, talking about my paralele position, softness and articulation in my feet. However, I still have to improve it. Although, I can not forget the thing, that my paralele position will be correct only as long as I keep my hips, knees and toes in the straight line, and that anatomically feet are very slightly opened even standing in paralele, so I have to avoid overdoing and be very attentive in order to find that straight line and that very little opening at the same moment.
I found working in a group very useful, because people around help you to do things you couldn't do alone in order to explore more and see yourself development. Getting feedback is another good thing to keep going directly. A glance from side usually is useful to actual evaluation.
In addition, there are some pictures of feet and foot prints, that shows my thoughts about feet articulation and quality of movement and what is the relationship with a ground, the adaption of the foot to the floor; the support of the ground that feet take, the parts of the foot. I find it quite interesting, because reading about the foot structure in the Dance Kinesiology book (by Sally Sevey Fitt, Schirmer book's second edition) I found that the inside part of the foot actually takes more weight because of the big toe is the strongest one and takes about 25% of weight, other 50% goes towards heel and the other 25% split thru other toes and the rest part of the foot; standing on toes and giving more weight for the inside side of foot and giving more weight on the big toe helps to keep good alignment as good posture considering that in that way we get the straight line between hip,knee, ankle and toes; in other way we could get injured because weight goes on the ankle.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Bubble of Yourself
Bubble of Yourself
It was the IPP1 workshop with Glen Noble when I actually started to think about that idea of bubble of yourself. We explored different shapes trying to find as much edges we can reach as possible, being rooted. By curving, spiraling,reaching, twisting, squeezing, etc. I found so many different shapes taking only my own space, the space I can fulfill standing rooted. I think this Vitruvian Man image of Leonardo da Vinci shows the best of how I imagine my own space bubble :
I've noted some related things to think about exploring these kind of things in my journal - Shapes; Fluidity; Ergonomics BETWEEN movements; Instant creating, instal choreographing; possible support I could use.
Another thing to mention, that was new and really interesting for me in that particular class, was noticing the spaces between you and your partners, spaces between your own hands and the floor, between ears and shoulders, all other spaces between your own body parts and things around. I found it really useful to confider and identify the image of my body, particular parts image and ways to move it and also getting the feeling of where I am and how I am doing or could do and how my body deals or works with it. And particular questions, such as if i like the shapes of myself, if I like what I feel, if I express myself and my feelings like this, if I like the view in the mirror and how do I breath helped me a lot.
I think this experience is useful and will be useful in the future, because in my opinion every artist needs to listen in his/her own body to find something new, to create or even to be able to do the best of what they are asked or expected to do, to fulfill every movement.
It was the IPP1 workshop with Glen Noble when I actually started to think about that idea of bubble of yourself. We explored different shapes trying to find as much edges we can reach as possible, being rooted. By curving, spiraling,reaching, twisting, squeezing, etc. I found so many different shapes taking only my own space, the space I can fulfill standing rooted. I think this Vitruvian Man image of Leonardo da Vinci shows the best of how I imagine my own space bubble :
I've noted some related things to think about exploring these kind of things in my journal - Shapes; Fluidity; Ergonomics BETWEEN movements; Instant creating, instal choreographing; possible support I could use.
Another thing to mention, that was new and really interesting for me in that particular class, was noticing the spaces between you and your partners, spaces between your own hands and the floor, between ears and shoulders, all other spaces between your own body parts and things around. I found it really useful to confider and identify the image of my body, particular parts image and ways to move it and also getting the feeling of where I am and how I am doing or could do and how my body deals or works with it. And particular questions, such as if i like the shapes of myself, if I like what I feel, if I express myself and my feelings like this, if I like the view in the mirror and how do I breath helped me a lot.
I think this experience is useful and will be useful in the future, because in my opinion every artist needs to listen in his/her own body to find something new, to create or even to be able to do the best of what they are asked or expected to do, to fulfill every movement.
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