EMBODIMENT OF ARCHETYPES AS A TOOL FOR DANCE IMPROVISATION

 

Workshop consists of one hour warming up, where I integrate various exercises from kundalini meditation, yoga, contemporary dance and authentic movement. In second part I provide participants with tools for dance improvisation and contact improvisation, such as: different qualities of movement (connected, disconnected movement patterns, stable and off balance movement...), awareness of anatomic limitations of body and how to work with that in creative way, how to initiate organic movement according to anatomic limitations, how to stimulate movement through touch, awareness of movement habits, opening of senses, following the body centers in space and in partnering, following inner impulses, reading - following - adjusting to “ one body experience” in contact, building up the awareness of “in between space in dance improvisation and how to work with that, exercising active and clear entering and exit in dance improvisation ...and overall different types of non - verbal communication. In last part we analyze selected archetypes through watching videos, where this archetypes are embodied in different ways (through dance, sport, art, movement- basically body). Workshop leads to collective improvised dance, where every individual can express archetypes through different creative mediums individually, in pairs or in a group.

 

Workshop is for all people, for all ages, from 18 up to 100. Dance background is not needed. The only thing you need is openness, curiosity, willingness to move in space and time and courage to dig a little bit into your inner landscapes.

 

 

What are archetypes?

Archetypes are universal behavior pattern. And once we recognize them, they can be a perfect tool for self research. To bring them into awareness can transform your life patterns. The word archetype was constructed by swiss psychologist and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. He was researching human unconsciousness by dividing it to personal and collective unconsciousness. He compared collective unconscious with a big reservoir of deep wisdom of all humanity that is inherited by each individual. It is made of archetypes, which are more or less the same in all people, no matter from what cultural background they come, that is why they are universal. Archetypes are general symbols, that cant be seen in direct forms, but we can get access to them through art, mythology, religion, dreams and creative activity. Jung had an opinion that the most authentic part of human personality, its core and content can be understood only intuitively and through symbols. Archetypes are very much alive and present also in a contemporary society. If we dive deeper into stories, fairy tales and films, we can find out that they are full of archetypes and if we compare myths from different nations and cultures, we can find similar elements that are repeating. Jung already described many basic archetypes, such as : archetype of mother, father, wise man, god, child, magic power,birth, rebirth, death, hero...We all have access to archetypes, which are hidden in our subconscious. The doors are dreams, imagination or creative activity.

 

 

Through workshops I can guide people to experience the embodiment of following archetypes: magic childseeker ( nomad, vagabond...) rebel narcis gambler victim saboteur...

 

MAGIC CHILD

Magic Child represents the part of us that has access to power of imagination conviction that everything is possible and that is charming to others. Magic Child sees the potential for beauty in everything around him, even if reality is in fact cruel and dangerous. magic Child still has faith that humanity in general is positive. Shadow part of child is excessive fantasy and not being able to practically manifest dreaming visions.

 

SEEKER

Seeker is someone who everywhere and all the time seeks for wisdom and truth. Shadow part is a “lost souls”, person who wanders around without a cause or goal, without direction, ungrounded, divided from community.

 

REBEL

Our image of rebel is too much connected to cliches of youth culture, so we cant see deeper meaning of this important archetype. Rebel can actually be one of key elements for growth and development of humanity. Rebel can highlight old and outdated tribal patterns, he can bring insights into unfair prejudices in creative and professional pursuits. Shadow part of rebel is manifested when we become rebellious just because of peer pressures or because of fashion.

 

NARCIS

In all of us are hidden elements of narcissism. When we are narcissistic, we dont stand on solid grounds (earth), we dont think soberly (air) and we are not prisoners of passion (fire). If we follow the myth, we are somehow dreamy, fluid, unclearly formed, more immersed in flow of fantasy than being safe in clear identity.

 

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BENEFITS OF THIS WORKSHOP
- it improves creative process of character building and analysis (for actors and performers)
- it builds greater responsiveness and skillfulness in unpredictable situations on stage, when improvisation is needed (for actors and performers)
- it improves diversity of organic movement styles, subtlety and articulation on stage (for actors and performers)
- it improves theatricality and the way of balancing inner emotional states on stage (for actors and performers)
- it improves use and recognition of non - verbal communication on stage (for actors and performers)
- it builds greater awareness of universal archetypes we all live and how to use this knowledge in every day life
- it improves your power of expression
- it widens your perception
- it builds greater understanding of psychological processes through direct embodied experience

- it improves diversity of organic movement styles

 

Why is it important to work with embodiment of archetypes?

We can understand and interpret archetypes with our mind (left brain). But working through body - movement - can bring us to more holistic experience, deeper understanding. When you recognize archetypes within yourself, bring them to awareness and embody them, they get special place within your soul. In this way you can release them, so they can start living or you let them die, when their shadow part is threatening your further development and fulfillment of purpose. This is how illusions about ourselves die, how expectations, greed to posses only “bright sides of life” die. This is one of the ways that help us experience rebirth and to let ourselves, to become something new every day - something that we always already were deep inside. This is how we can avoid getting trapped in identifications. When we work with embodiment of archetypes, we somehow unravel complex and difficult features of our natures. When we dance our archetypes, we recognize our weaknesses, habits and automated movements. In this way we better understand them and we can also change them if we want.

 

 

VIDEOS

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ARCHETYPES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ESSENCE OF THE UNKNOWN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE REBEL 

this video was selected to be presented at Danca en Foco - international video&dance festival in Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PAST

Workshop from Tenerife - in frame of NO BORDERS project

VIDEO 1

VIDEO 2

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A focused and creative group research, which leads to an internal journey at the same time.  The body practice

will pay attention to strength, flexibility and breathing exercises as the integration of somatic practice

(experiential anatomy and self-massage), pilates, yoga and contemporary dance techniques.

The aim is to achieve greater control of attention, body alignment, sense of the body and concentration on further work with archetypes. We will use archetypes in combination with basic

astrological elements as improvisation tools. Each  training session will be structured in a way to give time for the exploration of the tools individually, in pairs and in a group. In the last week, participants will focus on their personal chart to dance their own natal predispositions in group improvisation.

 

 

BASIC ELEMENTS OF WORKSHOP

Focus on astrological houses that represent the fields of life in

which planets are active

 

The basic characteristics of 12 archetypes which we will use as tool

for qualities&emotions in dance improvisation such as

 Athlete, Artist, Child, Victim, Clown, Destroyer, Gambler, Mediator,

Rebel, Prostitute, Saboteur and Trickster

by method of

Carolyn Myss

 

The use of planet energies as tool to approach TIME in dance

 

The use of sign energies as a tool to approach SPACE in dance

 

Embodiment of archetypes as a tool to play with QUALITY&EMOTIONS of movement

Participants should send their natal information ( year, exact time and place of birth) or at least sign and planet positions of their 5th, 9th and 11th house. Participants will also get the full description of archetypes on which we will work during the sessions.

 

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