The body is our human and visual expression, not only for others to see, but also for ourselves. Often it shows us things we are afraid to confront. Our life experience is written and stored in this lively oevre and is combined with laws of nature. The body as a biological being becomes the primary space in which we live, dance and experience life.
What does the body tries to tell us when it doesn’t react the way we would expect from it? And how does the body feel once it is allow to express through its full life energy without obstacles? What are the connections between body, thoughts and emotions? And what role does attention play in it? Which language does our fascinating body-world speak?
DANCE FOR HEALTH takes the basic organisational structure of Touch for Health, a branch of Kinesiology, and asks our system, level by level (physical, energetic and emotional), what it needs or could need, to feel better, stronger and more harmonic and to be able to develop.
The most important tool in Dance for Health is the teaching of the five elements of TCM, a structure, which enhances a clear understanding of the human system. Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t make a difference between body and emotion. For this sole reason this system is a valuable source for dance. One of the five transformation periods or elements in TCM is metal. It is the foundation of all disciplines dealing with BREATHING. The central theme of this year’s Workshop is BODY BREATHING, which is based on this element and will make the classes a holistic experience.
DANCE FOR HEALTH fuses dance with the knowledge of various disciplines (such as Kinesiology and respiratory therapy a.o.) and combines it with breathing and stretching exercises, self-massage, elements from Afro-Brazilian dance and improvisation. The goal is to get in touch, in a gentle way, with our inner forces and potential.
Content:
The course of meridians (the channels inhabited by the flow of life energy – Qi), as well as various methods, which help to activate the flow of energy, will be taught, through acupressure, knocking techniques and self-massage. Meridians are related to respective groups of muscles, organs, body functions and emotions, which will be observed, activated and trained.
Practical and theoretical content:
• Perception of our physical, emotional and energetic body
• Exercises for the different levels (physical, emotional and energetic)
• The teaching of the five elements and their influence on respective body areas
• The main emotions of the five elements in motion and dance
• Basic knowledge about meridians
• Kinesiological exercises for balancing the energies and for soothing pain
• BODY BREATHING – breath as the master tool: breathing exercises and technique
