News update!

I am back from Vancouver, having completed the Space module of training for my CMA qualification. I go again in June 2010.

- I am planning to offer a series of Introduction to Barteneiff/Laban and body connectivity sessions in the new Gatehouse natural health center, in Hither Green SE London for March/April time.

- Also planning a one-off Laban/Bartenieff-based workshop late March for two afternoons over a weekend to explore the work. More details to follow.

In other news

- Performances happening in January for Ben Gwalchmai, March with Fernando Machado, and for LCF. See Projects section for more details!

- As part of my Laban Movement Analysis training, my longer research project is focusing on how BF/LMA can support preparation and performance of singing. I am working one to one with singer, sound artist and teacher Sarah Owen over the next few months.

A little bit about my training

I have completed three modules in Laban Movement Analysis/Bartenieff and Somatic studies – ‘Shape’, ‘Effort’ and ‘Space’, under Janet Kaylo, Anna Kemble, Nadine Saxton and Donna Redlick, with other fantastic visiting faculty, including Leslie Bishko who integrates LMA in teaching Animation.

Modes of Shape change in June saw many discoveries of carving space three-dimensionally. It also saw the return of my grappling with notating movement, not precise particulars of traditional notation, more the essence of the movement in Motif. In learning to observe, we must know it physically first not just conceptually.

The Effort module in August was a process of Being. Being inside all the possible dynamics and shades of movement all day everyday for the duration. It was incredible being very effort-full and expressive, exploring crystallizing combinations of Effort qualities.

Space harmony in December saw explorations of how we create and are space, rather than ’space’ being an external and separate to us. Warren Lamb visited our training for six sessions and spoke about how how in the future he would like ‘movement literacy’ to be taught in schools as standard practice.

Also during the training we explored some Body-Mind Centering work, development patterns, sounding to support moving and much observation of live action and film.

http://www.labaninternational.org

Very exciting times.

What is Bartenieff Fundamentals?

Bartenieff Fundamentals is an approach to movement training that deals with patterning connections in the body, according to principles of efficient functioning, within a context which encourages personal expression and full psychophysical involvement.

The goal of BF is to facilitate the lively interplay of inner connectivity for efficient body functioning with outer expressivity. We work with the concepts of inner-outer, stability-mobility, function-expression and exertion-recuperation.

Exploring BF utilizes the entire framework of Laban Movement Analysis: Body, Effort, Shape, Space.

BF is incredibly supportive to anyone regardless of level of experience or profession/leisure activities. This work is particularly applicable and useful to dancers, actors and musicians as it bridges working functionally to moving expressively. However, I like to work with anyone interested in understanding and expanding their own movement potential.

BF practice leads into other explorations based on the nature of who I am working with and their interests and needs. Participants are encouraged to bring questions and areas of their own practice they wish to explore which we can workshop in a safe, laboratory environment.

For example, improvisation, partner work, handling objects/instruments, character development.

What are we exploring?

-Breath and core support
-Body connectivity (navel radiation, spinal, upper-lower, body-half, cross-lateral) – and personal patterns which are resources, patterns of tension, where new pathways can be made
-Weight sensing
-Effort  or the dynamics of movement, (attitudes towards Time, Weight, Flow and Space) and Effort Phrasing (amount of Effort load)
-Modes of Shape Change, particularly Shape Flow, as well as Shaping and Directional Shape change
-Space – pathways, planes, dimensions, diagonals, tension, intention
-Some Body-Mind concepts (Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen) to access qualities and shifts in sensing, the organs and the fluids

Who

Those curious about Laban/Bartenieff’s work are encouraged to get in touch. This language is a fantastic tool to deepen performance skills, communication, self-knowledge, increased awareness and involvement in daily life, leisure activities and sports.