Liz King
COACHING PROJECT: Body Cognition
Coaching Project
Week 4, 7.8.–11.8.2006
10:00–16:00
B
Body Cognition
„Starting with a warm up which elasticises the muscles whilst focusing on inner awareness of the body, the lesson progresses to orientation of space,distance and the “other”. In my workshop I concentrate on the knowledge that the body is its own intelligence.We listen to what the body has to say and allow ourselves to be dictated by the responses of our limbs,torso and inner energy flow. The “head” is a part of the whole.
During the first 3 days we concentrate on learning and practicing this information. As we progress in this knowledge I introduce concrete standpoints, such as rhythm, dynamics of movement and inner picturing to induce a sub-strata and deeper structure of experience. Sometimes we allow this information to rest as it is in order to manifest its own definition.The story can be read as one experiences it. At other times I introduce a theme, either musical or dramatic and the group develops a piece together with my structural guidance.
I have worked with many types of groups from non-professional teenagers,asylum seekers, favela kids, young people in a professional dance education, non-professional adults to highly articulated professional dancers. The remarkable experience for me each time is the atmosphere we create through trusting our bodies and therefore each other. Some beautiful results have been achieved but never with the goal to win or prove.
Particularly rewarding are the mixed groups of professionals and non-professionals, as “dancers” can gain a new insight to the origins of natural movement.
The group of this project will include 4-5 people from a socially disadvantaged environment.“
Liz King
Liz King was classically trained at the Royal Ballet School London. She has been dancing with the Stuttgart Ballet and Ballet Royal de Wallonie. In 1982, she co-founded Tanztheater Wien. From 1989-96 directed the Heidelberg Ballet, from 1999-2003 the Ballet of Volksoper Wien. Currently she is setting up a contemporary dance company at Oberwart, Austria, and enjoys working with socially disadvanteged people.
Liz King