Emotions, Trauma, Movement, and Dance
Alternative Title
Abstract
The basis of my research is based on the works and beliefs of dancer and choreographer, Anna Halprin, who was a visionary and pioneer in postmodern dance. Halprin believed that,
“There is an essential connection between art and life that can facilitate healing and change… it is our real life experiences that feed our art, and our art that informs the real issues in our lives.” Based on the words of Halprin, I spent 14 days in May of 2023 at The Croft Residency in Horton Bay, Michigan, where I was able to deepen my creative awareness and draw inspiration from a purely natural environment. I deepened my connection, not only with nature, but also with myself. I studied the connections among my own physical being, nature, and emotional processes. During my experience at The Croft Residency, I also had the incredible opportunity to work closely with a level 2 graduate from Tamalpa [Institute], Body-Mind Centering SME (Somatic Movement Educator), Benjamin Cheney. His movement style “centers on moving meditation, with a focus on somatic, intentional, and metaphoric improvisational movement.” Through close collaboration with Ben, my eyes were opened to the deeply rooted connection between a person’s body, mind, and emotional state. I have since taken this personal discovery to the dance studio at Alma College and am working on creating movement based on a dancer’s relationship to themselves and based on their personal experiences. In other words, I am hoping that through the creative process of making movement works of dance, I will have the opportunity to both broaden and deepen my dancers’ relationship with themselves and the conflicts that arise within their lives. Similar to Pavlov’s classically conditioned dogs, who salivated at the sound of a bell after being unconsciously trained to do so, the body subconsciously trains itself and emotions can be trapped within the body itself. It is my belief that through movement and looking internally, emotions can be released from one’s body and processed properly, therefore allowing for a greater and healthier quality of life.