My INTENTION for each class is:
Meeting the world of ballet in its specific qualities and spatial forms through contemporary approaches. Let Ballet come to you...
The class is an invitation for classical dancers moving towards contemporary dance/improvisation as well as for beginners learning Ballet in a playful way.
The background tools I am using are the principles of the Alexander-Technique, Improvisation and Elements of LABAN Studies.
WARM UP:
as teacher I am guiding the participants through a process of arriving in their bodies and a clearer sense of themselves, support the recognition of habits and redirecting people from habitual, restraining behaviour.
During physical warm up I use words and touch, sometimes at the barre, on the floor or in locomotion.
NEXT STEP:
usually 2nd part of program contains an individual explorations of the given material, such as modifying Ballet vocabulary through
- the factors weight, flow, space and time in relation to others,
- shifting in and out between Ballet style and mundane dancing,
- moving a phrase with eyes closed, in unisono, mirroring etc.
The goal for this exploration is
extending their possibilities, exploring one´s "personal universe" and knowledge about "Gestalt-ung".e.g. Directions like "Dance your "dream-self" or "Do the worst you can" invite people´s imagination and stretch their experience/limitations in a playful way.
MOVING in/on Point Shoes is the technical edge of the class. We are aiming towards a freedom to play on this "small platform" . Finding just enough stability to be able to move through a vocabulary different from, but as rich as on the whole sole of the foot. Here are definetely technical aspects needed such as muscular strength, balancing on one leg, full bodily extensions through a supported core to avoid injury. Kinesthetic phantasies arrive immediately: The whole process of learning to DANCE on this restricted basis invites physical imagination. Becoming a different, elongated being with a delicate sense of balance...
"GRAND FINALE":
Theatre games enable the participants to embody the learnt material more deeply, open the doors of body memories and support a creative mind and connection within the group.
Specific Scores within a space/time structure are fun, people learn to make choices themselves and are a fertile ground for instant choreographies!