Contemporary Technique
Freedom in Movement

“I see my teaching as being about freedom in the practice of movement achieved by means of a certain technical rigor.”
The class is divided into three parts; a warm-up on the floor, a barré in the centre and a dance sequence that moves through the space.
During the preparative warm-up we aim to heighten awareness of the internal space in relation to external space by paying special attention to breath, to the deep bone structure and to the body’s centre of gravity. Through breathing exercises, we strive to sharpen perceptions in order to enhance consciousness of the skin, of weight, of the internal organs, of the whole corporal mass and of the voice.
The body stands erect from its base to its summit; pushing vertically from the floor from the back of the heels to the top of the head, articulated by, alternately, suppleness and solidity.
We begin to dance keeping hold of these same notions of lines of force and the use of weight. We extend the first impulse of movement in the space so that the gesture becomes the inscription of desire and intent, paying attention to direction and musicality, seeking movement that is both communal and personnel. Little by little the movement gains in sensitivity and grows more powerful, allowing for more expression and legibility.
(Influenced by the Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques, by Iyengar yoga and the Susan Klein technique approach, I want to bring to bare a physical practice built on perception and imagination and to share the personnel venture that lived during my various experiences as performer, teacher and choreographer.)


Marion Ballester
Marion Ballester is a dancer and choreographer and received her education at the Conservatoire Régionale de la Rochelle, at the Centre Nationale de Danse Contemporaine and at Trisha Brown Studio in New York. In 1992 she became a member of Anne Terese de Keersmaker's Rosas and was assistant with "Once" and "I due Foscari".
In 2003 she created the Duo “Desh” together with Anne Terese de Keersmaker, which premiered at the Opéra de Rouen. She worked with the Company DCA, Phillipe Decoufle and collaborated with Paolo Henrique in Lisbon and with the Companie Philippe Saire in Lausanne a.o.
With her company Aoxoa, founded in 1998, she tours internationally and her work is shown in places such as St. Mark's Church and Judson Church in NYC, the Reprise au Centre National de la Danse, the Festival Les Jaloux de la Danse and l'Étoile du Nord in Paris, the Théatre Paul Eluard, in Bezons and the Asia Dance Forum in Singapore.
She teaches internationally a.o. at P.A.R.T.S, Brussels, Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique et de Danse, Lyon; White Street Center, Studio Janet PANETTA, New York and is guest lecturer at Rosas, Philippe SAIRE, Groupe Emile Dubois/Jean Claude Galotta etc.
Since 8 years now she is developing her own training classes for dance technique, which she offers for advanced and professional dancers, as well as for amateurs.