Peer teaching

As part of our movement studies module we were asked to get into groups of four and each devise a 15 minute session we could teach to each other which would explore one of the movement patterns within our experiences within body mind centering.  I decided to use the Star Fish pattern which also explored navel radiation.

I began with a hand out, which showed a picture of a star fish and then showed some notes from my journal and hand outs we had received when originally exploring the pattern. I allowed them to read through it and ask any questions.

Then, I lead a hands on graphic. this involved tracing the star fish pattern from the centre out through the limbs to the ends of the body to enhance the attention in these areas.

Then a taught a short phrase which included condensing and expanding, rolling and pausing using the star fish pattern. I then put on music and watched them perform the phrase a couple of times. 

I then asked them to come back to their journals and write or draw anything they needed to and then reflect and feedback anything they wanted to.


After we had a feedback session with each other and our tutor- here are some of the notes I took during this..

• Clear structure throughout
• Using the graphic first allowed them to incorporate it within the phrase easier
• Asking them for feedback such as if they needed to go over anything again was reassuring for them, as was doing the phrase with them originally
• Pace of it was not too rushed
• Use of language could be explored more- such as the intentions of the movement
• transitioning from one activity into the next could have flowed a little more

Over all I was pleased with how the class had gone, and I had managed to explore everything I wanted to confidently,adn my peers seemed to enjoy it and gain something useful from it. However if I was to do it again for a longer period of time I would take on board the feedback about the use of language and the transitioning of activities as this could allow more flow and clarity for the students taking part.

'2 Minute dances'

We were asked to improvise around our personal interests within our developing practise this year. We did 4 lots of 2 minute dances in between writing about our experiences in our journals. I found that each time I improvised I found new interests and further developments- here are some of the rough notes I recorded in my journal during the class:


1. Loose jaw. Free neck. Head- gravity, air, focus. Roll, stretch. Internal- External. Utilising the whole body. Full exploration. freedom.


2. Hips, pelvis, jaw- Free. Rolling- taking to extreme- where else can this happen in the body? How can gravity support this? taking the limbs to extremes.


3. Folding every possible area that can be. Balance. Gliding. How long can the fold go before having to give into it and give into gravity. ripples. Being seen. Being heard. How can this be possible at all times, even when focusing internally?


4. Loose limbs. Light touch- leaving the floor. Soft. Sponge. Transition into shapes. Soft air over limbs.

Technical phrase clases with Andrea Barzey during Term 2

Throughout the technical phrase classes this term with Andrea I have been aiming to focus on these aspects within my moving:

• Leading with the head/neck
• Flatness in the back
• Fluid movements that melt one into the next
• Not over preparing the hands- particularly for jumping phrases
• Articulating though the feet- again mainly when jumping and travelling
• Energy and power within travelling sequences

I found that moving through a phrase with all of these focuses and aspects to think about fairly difficult, so focusing on the most prominent ones for the different types of phrase helped me to gain the most out of the exercise.

I noticed that after practising the phrases over the few weeks then allowed these things to come more naturally to my movement. I think this is due to not having to over think what I am actually doing movement wise when I don't know the phrase fully, which I often find distracts me from finding other important intentions within the body while dancing.