The universe unfolds in the body, which is its mirror and its creature. (Octavio Paz)
"A group of people sit in a circle, witnessing eight people moving. The movers have their eyes closed. One woman is curled up very tight and still. Another is exploring with her hands, feeling tentatively the grooves on the floor. A man standing very tall makes cutting movements with his arms, rigid as they slice the air. Another man beats a rhythm, with his fingers against different parts of his body. A third man rolls on the floor, rolls into the woman who is feeling her environment. He stops, frozen. She feels his face delicately, sensitively tracing its outline. He begins to cry. Another woman has been swaying, her arms straining upward. She softens her movement, and begins to stroke her own arm. The drumming fingers find the floor, become clawing, scratching movements. Someone crawls towards him, starts clawing with him, at him. They hiss. Another woman is standing very still. After a while she sighs deeply, and begins to rotate her hips, letting out a long, deep cry...."
Read the rest of this article here.
"A group of people sit in a circle, witnessing eight people moving. The movers have their eyes closed. One woman is curled up very tight and still. Another is exploring with her hands, feeling tentatively the grooves on the floor. A man standing very tall makes cutting movements with his arms, rigid as they slice the air. Another man beats a rhythm, with his fingers against different parts of his body. A third man rolls on the floor, rolls into the woman who is feeling her environment. He stops, frozen. She feels his face delicately, sensitively tracing its outline. He begins to cry. Another woman has been swaying, her arms straining upward. She softens her movement, and begins to stroke her own arm. The drumming fingers find the floor, become clawing, scratching movements. Someone crawls towards him, starts clawing with him, at him. They hiss. Another woman is standing very still. After a while she sighs deeply, and begins to rotate her hips, letting out a long, deep cry...."
Read the rest of this article here.
As we continue with Authentic Movement, each repetition will allow the experience to continue to unfold. Fortunately, we have a new president. Unfortunately, we have yet to really delve deeply into this practice because of our abrieviated class on inauguration day. If did have something that you would like to share from this class, please post a comment below.
14 comments:
The day was of special importance to me and all my peers. I remember entering class thinking we will have a new president by the time we ended class, and just that fact was inspiring. When we were told we would perform our witness and mover exercise for a few minutes and then we'd get to watch the inauguration, I was simply ecstatic. My body felt energetic, with tingles of excitement felt on the palms of my hand and soles of my feet. I remember as I moved, and as I let my thoughts dissipate through the space, my body felt free. My hands moved up above my head, to the sides of my hips, and so freely into the space. I had not a single care for anything as I let my body do the maneuvering and thinking. I noticed towards the end, that my body did not choose to follow a guideline, it did not follow an authority as the movements were made asymmetrically the majority of the time. I didn't have a care for what the witness thought, my body felt alone and excited. When we went into the next room to watch the inauguration, tears fell from my eyes but I felt my body doing most of the crying inside. It's cries of happiness and revelation was an awakening experience.
-Hanalore Alupay
This Tuesday, I actually missed class to watch the inauguration of Obama . Knowing that Tuesday was the day, I was so excited and anxious to see our new president that the thought of missing it made me feel as though it was okay if I missed just one class, for such a historical day. And after talking to my classmates, I discovered that we ended class early to watch it, after doing a witness and mover exercise. I wish that I would have gone to class on Tuesday, but instead I decided to close my eyes in my room after class, and act as a mover. Since I did not have a witness, I tried to gain more confidence in allowing my body to move without the constant consent of my mind. After doing the Authentic movement exercise for the first time, I realized that I was not listening to my body, I choose to listen to my mind and act frightened and timid while participating as a witness. I think that after doing this on my on time, It was able to better prepare me for Thursday's class and allow me to feel more comfortable.
-Kristen Shapton
January 23, 2009
The universe unfolds in the body, which is its mirror and its creature. (Octavio Paz)
I came into class on Tuesday morning, totally buzzed and anxious! I did want to come to class, but more importantly, I wanted to watch the inauguration and devote my time, attention, acceptance, and love toward a shift in leadership. I see the new president as coming into power at such an awesome time right now, in my thinking, and in the worlds thinking. As I have been transforming these last months, becoming less selfish and more devoted toward things larger than myself, I see the importance of having good leadership. GO LOVE! and thank you Obama, poet, and reverend for speaking to this!
The universe unfolds in the body; this body can be the social, personal, political, cultural, and universal realm. I see the shift in government at the same time as I see a shift in my self. I am coming into a relationship with my values and vision for life that I haven't seen so clearly before. Hearing the leader of the country speak to the importance of these is awesome. The repetition that I practice in my day of being less and less selfish, evil, ignorant and hating will indeed have profound affects on the world within which I trace concentric circles of compassion. This is the truth! The unfolding of the universe has manifest changing in me, one of its mirrors and creatures.
++aa roesch-knapp
Knowing that last Tuesday was Obama's Inauguration day, I was wanting to watch the Inaugural speech and ceremonies. I felt fortunate that we got to watch the historical speech. Before hand, we did little bit of Authentic Movement. I was bit nervous at first since I did not know how much other peers were moving and how much I really should move. I really wanted to peep but I just decided to let my self go. It was fun and after all I was very relaxed. In the future, I wish to let myself to go beyond my comfortable zone.
Tuesday’s class was special because we were allowed to watch the inauguration of President Obama. It was exciting to observe the reaction of all my classmates as the new President spoke. There was an energy in the room that can only have been felt. For me, it was a time to practice being a witness. I was thinking how cool it would be to perform our mover and witness exercise after having experienced the emotions seen on screen and felt in that room. When we did perform it before the inauguration, I did feel that my body was feeling freer as a mover and I was less aware of feeling concerned at being watched. Instead of feeling critiqued, I felt more relaxed at being witnessed. The difference is starting to sink in.
When I was first heading to class on Tuesday I was slightly disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to watch the inauguration. Not only was this a momentous occasion for our country as a whole, but for me individually, as it was the first election that I could vote in. However, sitting in class and participating in authentic movement really seemed to relax me. (To be honest, it also probably helped that we were actually going to watch the inauguration). When we went into the other room to watch it, it was great to feel the sense of community as well as the sense of excitement that everyone shared. Hearing Barrack Obama speak words with such conviction was inspiring as well as calming. When class ended I was definitely glad that I had come, and it was a great way to remember the first election that I had a chance to vote in.
-Emily Stromme
Last Tuesday was a very special day. One people will speak of for generations to come. Although it was a shame to miss out on a whole movement experience day, I feel like it was worth it. It was interesting watching all the people in the room, how they moved in their bodies, how they responded to the speeches. I noticed some people coming and going as they needed and then others not wanting to leave. I shared this feeling of not wanting it to be over. I wanted to hear Obama speak more. There is something so reassuring about his message, the way he delivers it, and the way he presents himself visually, that it moves me like no other leader I have known. I see the picture that is posted on the blog of Obama in front of the White House and I think; he looks GOOD there! It is exactly where he needs to be. Then as I move authentically either in class or through out my day, I think; I am exactly where I need to be.
"The universe unfolds in the body, which is its mirror and its creature. (Octavio Paz)"
Very true, quoting one of the greatest "person" I know, "except that this mirror is usually pretty *filthy*", specifically, in my case, such that when I peek at it, I do not even see myself let alone the whole universe...
I did say it was a great day today. Regarding the small session for authentic movement I was less restricted. Pretty much enjoyed the session throughout. Other than the minor twitching of my feet or hands, and the birth day of my partner (!!!), I was still (including whatever movements I did, sitting cross legged or laying down).
Regarding the speech, I actually had a vague idea that the president's inauguration was either on 19th or 20th (19th was the Martin Luther King day so I reasoned it was 20th). I did not even know the exact time when it was going to be! So the whole thing was a *big* surprise and *great* co-incidence for me. Oh and it was the first time I watched a (US) president being inaugurated. The speech was very interesting to hear, especially the magnitude of the words used. This whole election is a great example of people believing in equality (given that many religions have been saying the same since centuries!!!). Good Luck sir!
Although this was a shorter authentic movement session, this was the session that my body moved in at least one way that I know my mind did not influence. In every authentic movement class we've done I still felt that my mind was trying to hang on a bit too much. Yes, I felt much more free when it did give up most of its authority but I wasn't convinced that it had ever truly given up complete control. Until Tuesday. I sneezed. My mind wasn't even very aware that it was coming. I was caught off guard. And when I sneezed, my whole body seemed to convulse (I was lying on my back and my body contracted towards my center). Reflecting back on that moment, the way my body moved, whether in accordance with or as a reaction to my sneeze, was 100% 'authentic.' And I knew that this sneeze was different from any other sneeze I might make in class (and I sneeze frequently, often consecutively as well!). Any other sneeze, I usually can tell that it is coming so my mind will make my body tense up either in preparation for it or to try to prevent it. This time, my mind was so out of the picture, without control, that I didn't realize it was coming so my mind didn't get a chance to relate to my body what it wanted it to do. My body just did what it wanted to do itself. It may seem weird that I could write so much about one little sneeze, but I believe that that sneeze has been an important factor in my understanding, development, and practice of Authentic Movement.
-Lauren Cook
During this short session, I had a difficult time removing my mind from the overall picture. I kept thinking about different things that I have going on in my life and was unable to let my body lead. My mind just would not go away! At one point, I became very frustrated with myself because I kept thinking about what all of the other people in the room were thinking about. Are they really allowing their body to move without letting their mind control the movements? Are the watching me? What type of movement should I do next? Each time that I started to think, I did my best to clear my mind, but it just was not happening. I then kept thinking about the fact that I was thinking so much and not following the directions, which made me even more frustrated and think even more. This session was much more difficult for me than the last session. My mind would not let go. As a witness, I could focus on the mover, but as a mover I could not stop focusing on everything else.
~Melissa Eckstrom
I was really excited to do the somatic movement even for that short amount of time,since I missed the day somatic movement was first practiced! I was the first one to move around and have my body control my mind and not think about anything. At first I had my eyes open and I watched every move I made, which made me more confused and uncomfortable! It was a couple of minutes into it that I closed my eyes and tried to let go of everything and just have my body move to wherever it wants to! That was when I felt the tension that was in parts of my body. I felt like my body needed to move and be free and get rid of the tension, but it had a hard time doing it. So I tried my best to free my body from my mind and relax and enjoy the moment. It was a new and amazing experience!
~Afsoon Fazeli
In spite of our short session, I think this authentic movement session went a lot smoother then our first session. I tried my best to really let go and listen to my body. I had a great partner that was very attentive. She noticed things that I did that I didn’t know I was actually doing. I thank her for giving me the best experience possible.
I also thank all of the dance teachers for allowing us to watch the Inauguration. It was a historic day in all of our lives and I appreciate the fact the teachers recognized that.
-Jasmine Boado
Last Tuesday was one of the most important days in my life because of the historic moment of the inauguration of President Obama. For this reason I was grateful that we were able to shorten our class and have the opportunity to watch the inauguration swearing in ceremony and speech.
Because of my excitement and anticipation of this event, I wasn't certain that I would be able to focus on our authentic movement exercise. Surprisingly, I was able to do so --reasonably well. I began as the mover this time and found that my body contained a lot of energy and excitement. I stretched a lot and moved more quickly than the previous exercise. The 7 minutes went fast and I received good feedback from my partner. As I became the witness, I had to really concentrate on her movements to avoid having my mind wander to upcoming events. Again, I was reasonably successful in doing this, but I did realize I wasn't at 100% attention to my partner. She also was in a stretch mode so we had those movements in common.
Afterwards, she and I talked about what was going to happen and walked over to the other studio together. What a thrill to watch this even with my fellow students and our teachers. I loved every minute of it, got quite emotional (which doesn't happen to me in public hardly ever) and was immersed in the moment. Words can't describe how I was feeling except to say that I will never forget that day. I have hope about this country and our new president and know that it will be a challenging, scary and exciting time for all of us.
Being able to move and calm my anxiousness and excitement about the special day.It was a bit of a tough transition between excitement to movement and then back to excitement, but a good learning experience as well. I had been so reluctant to miss the event by going to class, but pulled myself to go anyhow. The thrill of knowing I would be able to witness the event as it happened was something I can not now describe. Watching history being made while in my class with teachers and peers, knowing that as we all look back on this day we will somehow be bound together through this single event. kimble
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