MOVING FROM WITHIN - Four week dance movement series

Reconnect with your body's natural intelligence through guided movement explorations, contemporary dance sequences, somatic groundwork and creative improvisation. ​Drawing inspiration from the Feldenkrais Method and developmental movement patterns, we will explore new ways of moving, deepen body awareness, and cultivate greater ease, fluidity and presence in motion. You will be invited to move beyond habitual patterns, discover your own movement vocabulary and reconnect with the pleasure of dancing. MAIN TAKEAWAYS: • A deeper connection with your body • The joy and pleasure of dancing • Greater ease, fluidity and freedom of movement • Confidence to improvise, explore and play • A deeper understanding of embodied anatomy • An exploration of developmental movement patterns • The ability to soften unnecessary effort and move with greater awareness • More presence, spontaneity and authentic expression • Greater awareness of touch, support and connection through partner-based movement explorations • A sense of belonging and community • Videos of the dance phrases to continue exploring at home DANCE AS MEDICINE Dance is a return to aliveness, presence and spontaneity. It invites us to soften the layers of tension and protection we accumulate through life, creating space for greater freedom and expression. Dancing opens a space for what words cannot always reach. A dialogue between sensation, imagination, movement and creativity. Through dance, we can reconnect with parts of ourselves that have become quiet or forgotten, awaken new possibilities and rediscover the simple pleasure of being alive in our bodies. LEARNING THROUGH DEVELOPMENTAL MOVEMENT PATTERNS Since we were a single cell organism, our movement develops through a series of foundational patterns that support coordination, fluidity, spatial awareness and our relationship with the environment. ​Inspired by somatic movement education and the Feldenkrais Method, we will explore: BREATH - Exploring the relationship between breathing, movement and self-regulation. CORE - DISTAL - Discovering how movement travels from the centre of the body towards the limbs and back again. HEAD - TAIL - Exploring the relationship between the head and pelvis through spinal articulation, undulation and fluid movement. UPPER - LOWER - Differentiating and coordinating the upper and lower halves of the body. HOMOLATERAL - Exploring movement and support through one side of the body. CROSSLATERAL - Developing coordination between opposite sides of the body through reaching, spiralling and movement across the midline. LOCOMOTION - Integrating these patterns through rolling, crawling, transitions between the floor and standing, and movement through space. ​ These explorations will become the foundation for contemporary dance sequences and creative improvisation, allowing you to experience how greater awareness can open new possibilities for movement. PARTNER WORK & MINDFUL TOUCH Through guided partner explorations, we will investigate how touch, shared weight, support and interaction can deepen our sensory awareness and enrich our movement experience. Rather than using touch to correct or impose a particular shape, we will explore it as a way of listening, communicating and discovering new possibilities for movement. These practices invite us to develop sensitivity, trust, responsiveness and a deeper awareness of ourselves in relationship with others. *All touch-based activities will be guided by mutual consent and personal choice. BONUS You will receive videos of the choreographic phrases explored during the course, so you can continue learning, practising and discovering at home. EVERYONE IS WELCOME No previous experience in dance, movement or somatic practices is required. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to explore. Whether you are completely new to dance or already have a movement practice, this course offers an opportunity to discover how movement with awareness can become a pathway to learning, creativity, self-discovery and a deeper connection with yourself. WHEN IS THE COURSE STARTING? It runs for four Wednesdays from 6 pm till 8 pm. Starts November the 11th and finishes Wednesday December 2nd. Dancing is not only about performance or technique. It is about rediscovering our bodies as living, sensing and expressive beings.