Creative Practice

Julie’s technique class incorporates three key elements:

1. Imagery-based Movement Exploration & Technique

We will be investigating layers of the body through imagery-based improvisation combined with floor work techniques, release + inversion techniques, contact partner work, rhythm + sound, body conditioning, and elements from Irmgard Bartenieff’s Fundamentals - Total Body Connectivity and Laban’s Movement Analysis. Her class aims to:

• Develop a wide range of movement qualities, versatile movement language and full body awareness

• Explore the full potential of the body’s physicality

• Understand how we can partner / contact with other bodies, the floor and space

• Develop a sense of moving dynamically and efficiently (preparation for performance

  stamina), injury prevention and safe dance practice

• Encourage individual movement language and a playful sense of exploration

• Prepare for creative processes with choreographers

• Explore Minaai’s practice of ‘Skin’, ‘Muscles’, ‘Bones’ and ‘Ki’.

  Minaai’s practice of ‘Skin’, ‘Muscles’, ‘Bones’ and ‘Ki’ is a guided improvisation through imagery-based offerings and rituals that connect mind, body, kokoro (spirit) and ki (energy). ‘Skin’ focuses on the kinaesthetic relationship of the body to space. We explore degrees and sense of touch (tracing / layering / draping), negative space and free flow dynamics. ‘Muscles’ focuses on ways of activating, engaging, releasing and isolating muscles, shifting through various qualities of bound flow and degrees of energy. We explore pressing, pushing, pulling, counterbalance and resistance. ‘Bones’ focuses on elements from release technique, playing with initiating movement from a clear departure point (leading and following) and following its sequentiality to a place of arrival. We will explore skeletal alignment, falling, use of momentum and gravity, a sense of weightedness, folding and rotation of the joints, shifting weight into the hands and inverting one’s centre of gravity. ‘Ki’ focuses on harnessing one’s own ki, gathering and sending ki to others in the space, responding to ki from sound/music.

2. Performance & Focus

We will explore four types of focus in performance: the (i) outward focus of performing for and connecting with the audience, (ii) internal focus on presence, form and execution, (iii) one’s connection with others in the space and the space itself, and (iv) creative flow and groove. The class aims to motivate students to play with, probe and interpret given movement ideas individually and as a group.

3. Listening & Teamwork

The class will focus on different types of listening - counts, rhythm & musicality, partner communication and physical intuition. We will practice awareness and interpretation of these inputs – the core skills to dance as a team, ensemble and company. We will focus on developing trust, communication and overall teamwork.