Feelers - Body & Voice Work
like an inner body weather

The purpose of this training is to activate a connection between breath, in the form of the „embryonal breathing technique“, and the atrophied perceptive faculties in modern mankind. The „feelers“ of man/woman can be strengthened. The goal is to deepen one's ability to sense an invisible inner energy body, the so-called breath-body. This revived sense presents us with truly original material to be utilized as a uniquely individual creative and expressive tool for movement and sound. It also brings us the regeneration of our inner strength and flexibility resulting in an encouraging revitalization and enthusiasm. This ability may be applied in many artistic fields as well as in common daily activities.
The „embryonal breathing technique“ is a deep abdominal breathing easy to learn: the body assumes a position similar to that of an embryo. A state of relaxation sets in. In the basic upright position – similar to that of an embryo – motions are coordinated with abdominal breathing. It motivates our voice to relieve us by sighing. Thus, our breathing eventually becomes deeper and more free.
The breath-body is a vaporous body, never stagnant, constantly changing and self-renewing. This invisible inner energy body is as big as the real body, but never perfectly united with one's physical body. The movement of the breath-body can be compared to the wind, like an inner body weather. In order to get a basic understanding of the breath-body within the body we begin with developing a feeling for the body's microcosm. We homogenize the breathing process with the macrocosm feeling hearing the sound of our own voice and the sound of our own breath.
We can observe how the breath-body lives in movement and how its activity causes the sound of our voice. We can observe how the two – body and voice – influence each other generating simultaneously impression and expression.
We will practice circling and spiraling movements. For humans, they are the most energy efficient. They generate energetic waves, called „ki“ in Eastern teaching. The excercises enable you to collect and feel the „ki“ present in the environment. We always emphasize the integration of body, movement and voice. We will further touch on standing and going from an „alert“ standing position, reaction and action of body and voice to sound and communication in the group.



Akemi Takeya
Akemi Takeya has lived and worked in Vienna since 1991. She has cooperated with artists in dance, theater, film/video, photoraphy and music: duo „Tsuru Tsuru“ (1993) and dance video „Holly Holly Hollyluia“ (1993) with „Oya Produktion“; visual performance „Modell 5“ (1994) for the project „Granularsynthesis“; performing in the film project „Caleidoscopia“ (1994) of Paul V. Weihs; voice performances in „Bridgework“ of Sam Auinger & Rupert Huber; „radiofractalcrashbeatmusic“ of Wolfgang Mitterer; dance und voice performance „Tryptychon“ of Werner Puntigam.
Her soloworks are „Imeka“ (1997), „Bodypoems – REFLECTION“ (1998; also a video project). For her third solo „Drowning Fish“ she received the Austrian dance production award 1999. „Yuragi“ (2000), „Terror by a blind stranger” (2001) as a work in progress for „Black Honey Drops” (ImPulsTanz 2001), „Shadow Pieces” (2002). voice & body performance series „multiple space“ (2001) & „double space“ (2002). Co-operation with electronic musicians such as Christian Fennesz and the noise musician Tetsuo Furudate in the frame of „Transart 2003“. Idea and planning of „AJ Project” (Austria X Japan Dance and Performance Exchange Program: Yokohama 2002/Wien, Budapest, Prag 2003), Solo production under the artistic supervision of Ong Keng Sen (Tanzquartier Wien, Carte Blanche) in dietheater Wien with the title „ZZ“ (2003), „ZZ“ revival at ImPulsTanz (2004), „weathering” together with Ulf Langheinrich (audiovisual environment) at Tanzquartier Wien (2005). „So What!” in co-operation with the band Rechenzentrum (Berlin) at ImPulsTanz (2006).

Akemi Takeya has developed her own voice and body performance method. Connecting strategies of inner formation with her own inner energy she has been developing her own language. As a productive writer she integrates the thoughts from her journals, dreams, diaries, and essays in her performance work in order to create an unexpected and deep fusion of meetings of the senses. She thinks rationally and lyrically, with brain and body, „eastern“ and „western“, in contra-dictions, combinations, sounds, spaces, movements, words and colours. She is a performer between the cultures, connected not anymore only with her Japanese origin, yet not enough with Europe, her new home. This field of tension between the cultures reflects in her ambivalence between the disciplined Japanese philosophy and an inner urban conflict. Akemi Takeya tries to bridge that with her art being formed by a fascinating intertwining of Eastern and Western influences, of her inner world and the integration of the outer world.

AKEMI TAKEYA will also perform at ImPulsTanz 2007 with “Feeler” on August 5 at the Semper Depot.