ABOUT

What moves the body?

Sankai Juku company member Semimaru will lead a workshop, in advance of Sankai Juku’s performances at NYU Skirball (learn more about the show here).

What makes the body move? For the time being, why not move our bodies in a conditioned way and observe them.

The main objective of the workshop is to observe the connection between spirit and body. The workshop will focus on relaxation, tension, wave transmission, breathing, gravity, and rhythm. You can imagine that you can move your body consciously when you dance, but can you be conscious of your own body?

It is difficult to be aware of your own body. It appears that improvisational dancers do not build their dances with their thoughts. However, I don’t think it is true that they are not conscious of their bodies. Let’s think about the above by moving your own body.

Is a dancer who is standing still on stage not dancing? It may look like they are standing still, but in fact they are moving. There is a phrase, “not even a step up” which means that the dancer has already begun to move before he/she moves his/her feet. Is it the body that has begun to move? Is it the mind? Or is it you, the observer?

Sometimes we recognize a body in motion even though we are not consciously trying to move it. The situation of “recognizing and observing” a moving body away from one’s awareness is the body prompting awareness.  Awakening awareness by moving the body is common in everyday life, so it is natural that it also occurs in dance.

SUPPORT

Co-sponsored by NYU Skirball Center

Registration

Please note this workshop is geared towards pre-professional/professional dancers and performing artists.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Space is limited, so please let us know if you are no longer able to attend.

This is a closed workshop, with no outside observers – please be prepared to participate if you plan to attend.