Feldenkrais is a gentle form of body awareness. One key insight of Feldenkrais is that we learn best to use our bodies well by small (or even imagined), gradual movements. Here we'll briefly explore one of the implications of this insight for dance. If you wish to learn more about Feldenkrais, see the references at the end of this article.
In partner dancing classes, teachers often demonstrate and encourage large exaggerated movements, perhaps so it's easier for the student to see what movement the teacher is proposing and so it's easier for the teacher to see if the student is doing the movement "correctly".
Later the student needs to unlearn the exaggerated movements. In the meantime, the student is likely to be inhibited in his or her learning. Or worse, perhaps, the student concludes there's something wrong with him or her as a dancer.
Please note I haven't said that teachers should not teach large movements. Perhaps the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. My wish is simply that teachers and teachers of teachers take into account the value of small movements in learning to dance.
If you are a student, you might want to experiment by doing some of your practice with very small (or even imagined) movements. You might even consider doing some work with a Feldenkrais practitioner. Also, there are excellent tapes available to assist you in doing some of the Feldenkrais exercises.
Martha Graham said: "You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you". (See Graham quote for the context.) Large exaggerated movements make this unlikely.
© Copyright 2002 George Woolley
for more info about Feldenkrais, see The Feldenkrais Guild of North America or Feldenkrais Guild UK or do a search for Feldenkrais on your favorite search engine.
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