Gravity Happens: Principles of Movement

No previous dance experience is required for this workshop: This workshop is designed for movement beginners who would like to feel more at home in their bodies before starting a dance workshop. It is also a tool for promoting well-being in everyday movement and for preventing injury in dance and sports, as it analyzes movement patterns and enables movers to develop efficient pathways.
We will focus on sensory development, flexibility and strength. There will be time to ask and discuss questions, and the class will be adapted according to what is important for the group.
Movement principles are based on the mechanics of the human body moving in a field of gravity. Our nervous system deals with a vertically aligned structure of bones, muscles, joints, organs, liquids, tissue, and more. When moving, all these body systems are involved in a dynamic conversation.
Some essential aspects of this conversation we will break down into exercises and explorations:
- how to develop efficient center strength and stability
- how to let go of unnecessary tension by using deep muscles while releasing surface muscles,
- how to articulate spinal movement,
- how to move the body as a unit and how to isolate movement,
- how to integrate the ground into moving by folding/unfolding the body.
Our newly acquired knowledge will be incorporated in small choreographies and improvisations.
In this practice your body will become more connected developing physical intelligence. Be prepared to work as much with your mind as with your body.

Quotation:
"For me it was training movement unconsciously." (Ursula Scarimbolo)

"Since this workshop I give particularly great care and attention to my feet, which I neglected before it." (Erika Huber)

"It was amazing to wake up on Wednesday and not to be rusty anymore. I was totally impressed and I feel more comfortable in my body." (Katrin Stockhammer)

"[...] to feel, to explore and to fathom my body in total." (Ulrike Marinoff)




Kerstin Kussmaul
Kerstin Kussmaul is a choreographer, bodyworker and musician. She received her M.A. in music and dance education and studied Somatic Movement & Participatory Arts as well as Acupressure in San Francisco. She has been practicing Contact Improvisation since 1995 teaching in the U.S. and Vienna. Her teaching philosophy is driven by the desire to develop smart, versatile and mindful bodies. From 2002 to 2005 she was artistic co-coordinator for ImPulsTanz workshops & research.