Somatics Series at Temescal Arts Center link to TAC
It is our mission to expose dancers and the larger community to various somatic forms. We present these mind/body practices to help people toward a wide range of goals, including discovering ease in everyday movement, developing athletic virtuosity, preventing injury, and reconnecting with the self. The Somatics Series provides an easy forum for individuals to experiment with a variety of somatic practices. Each month we explore a different form, allowing students to sample and become acquainted with the wealth of teachers and practitioners in the Bay Area.

Workshops vary in length from 3 to 5 weeks. Attendance at all meetings of each workshop is highly recommended so that students and teachers may build from week to week and deepen their connection to the material.

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Workshops...

Life Spiraled – Shannon Preto, June 3-24, 2006
Working with movement based upon the principles of Body-Mind Centering® (BMC), we will cultivate a "spiraled" way of life. We will experience and practice developmental movement patterns, in order to make our dancing and moving more voluminous. This workshop welcomes all movers – from from new movers to experienced dancers and improvisors seeking to expand their vocabulary. Join us as we spiral around obstacles!

Shannon Preto has an MFA in dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has been teaching dance and elements of Capoeira for six years in universities and festivals across the US, including Durham NC, Kent OH, Boulder CO, and in San Francisco at CounterPULSE (Feb '06). Body-Mind Centering® has heavily influenced his somatic and creative research for the past 11 years.

Embodying Space: Rudolf Laban’s Geometry of Movement – Hilary Bryan, May 6-27, 2006
Description below.

Experiential Anatomy – Susan Bauer, April 1-22, 2006
Description below.

Authentic Movement – Riki Bloom, March 4-25, 2006
Authentic Movement is a practice of tuning in to the inner impulses that move us. It is based on Carl Jung's psychology that wholeness is bringing unconscious material to consciousness. Authentic Movement was developed and passed on by people dedicated to art and consciousness through the body. In this form we move with our eyes closed and learn to witness our bodies being the bridge to integration. We will practice receiving our individual and collective dance as the moving metaphor and living symbols that lead us into more connected and authentic creative movement.

Riki Bloom, MA, MFT, has studied and practiced Authentic Movement for 11 years and Contact Improvisation for 13 years. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works using somatic practices and the expressive arts in her Oakland-based psychotherapy pracitce, in the San Francisco public schools, and a community-based family center.

Alexander Technique – Elyse Shafarman, February 4-25, 2006
Alexander Technique is a method of mind-body awareness that educates us about our mental and physical habits, giving us practical means to improve our automatic ways of moving, breathing, sensing and seeing. The technique is especially useful for reducing suffering from physical imbalances and for thinking "outside the box". We will address applications to yoga, movement, voice, systems of sensory perception, and problem solving in everyday activities.

Elyse Shafarman, MA, is an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique Teacher. With a background in Modern Dance and a Masters in Physiological Psychology, Elyse's teaching is influenced by experiential and objective research into mind-body connectivity. She teaches privately in SF and Berkeley and at American Conservatory Theater Studio. http://www.bodyproject.us

Creative Body Alignment / Ideokinesis – Ruth Botchan, January 7-28, 2006
Description below.

Feldenkrais® Movement with Pilates Support – Ernie Adams, December 3-17, 2005
Discover a "user friendly" way to do Pilates Exercise. Pilates develops core stability that requires integrated control and support of your abdominal, lower back, hips, and buttock muscles. This stability gives you greater power and precision in movement. Get a good start (or re-start) in Pilates by applying Feldenkrais® movement principles to bring more awareness and integration into your practice. We'll learn to move more carefully and consciously to make this exercise safe and effective for you.

Ernie Adams has a special approach to teaching Pilates, combining his background as a professional dancer with over 12 years experience as a Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner working in the field of injury prevention and rehabilitation. http://www.bodyinaction.com/

Introduction to Somatics – Susan Bauer, October 29-November 19, 2005
What is Somatics? Somatics is a growing field that encompasses many different disciplines focused on the integration of body, mind, and the many aspects of the self. This 5-week overview series will introduce a variety of these disciplines including Body-Mind Centering®, Ideokinesis, Bartenieff Fundamentals™, Feldenkrais®, and Experiential Anatomy. Each class will cover core principles and related experiential exercises specific to each approach. Essential for dancers, dance teachers, yoga teachers/ practitioners, bodyworkers, movement artists, and those interested in deepening their connection to their body/mind.

Susan M. Bauer MFA, MA is a dancer and dance/somatics educator who has taught in community and college settings for 20 years, including offering Experiential Anatomy at San Jose State University, UCLA, Denison University, and the Moon Ban Dek School in Thailand. She currently serves as faculty at Moving On Center School for Participatory Arts in Oakland. Her articles on somatics/dance have been published in Somatics Journal, Contact Quarterly, and the International Seeds of Peace Journal.

Roots of the Tree: Bartenieff Fundamentals – Hilary Bryan, September 17- October 22, 2005
Bartenieff Fundamentals™ are the set of concepts, principles and exercises developed by Irmgard Bartenieff in applying Rudolf Laban’s movement theory to the physical/kinesiological functioning of the human body. Some the concepts studied are: Dynamic Alignment, Breath Support, Core Support, Rotary Factor, Initiation and Sequencing, Spatial Intent, Center of Weight/Weight Transference, Effort Intent, and Developmental Patterning and its Support for Level Change.

Hilary Bryan CMA, RMT is certified in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals™ with teaching credits at SF Dance Center (since 1997), UC Berkeley, Cal. State Hayward, SFSU, and dance festivals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Taiwan and New Zealand. She codirects Frank and Bryan Dance Company and practices movement therapy, coaching dancers, singers, and athletes. She is also a founder of The Body at Work, ergonomics training and consulting for computer users.

Alexander Technique – Carol Swann, August 6-27, 2005
The Alexander Technique is an educational method of body-mind reorganization that aims to promote ease in everything we do. By freeing ourselves from unconscious physical habits, we can create effortlessness in the way we live and move. Applications to voice, movement, walking, sitting, and talking will be addressed.

Carol Swann is a teacher, performer, facilitator, and visionary. Co-founder, teacher, and Executive Director of Moving On Center, School of Participatory Arts and Somatic Research, she has also taught at Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, Stanford University, Tufts University, Theater School of Modern Dance (Holland), European Dance Development Center or EDDC (Holland), Bevegungs-Art (Germany), Tanzfabrik (Germany), Chisenhale (England), Alexander Technique Schools in: Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France and Movement Research. She is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and a graduate of the Professional Hakomi Therapy Institute.

Feldenkrais® – Marjorie Moore, July 9-26, 2005
The interaction between Functional Integration® and Awareness Through Movement® in the Feldenkrais Method®. This class will provide both an introduction for students new to this method of somatic education and additional insights for students already acquainted with the work. Students will have the opportunity to explore both the hands-on and group approaches to the work. Every student will have the opportunity to experience both ways of working , together and separately to build a greater awareness of how you move and how minor changes can make major differences in how you feel and perceive yourself. This internal movement analysis will benefit you whether you are a dishwasher or a professional dancer. * Students should wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a mat or blanket if you have them.

Marjorie Moore, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, started her practice in Minneapolis, MN in 1993. While in Minneapolis she taught classes at Children's Theatre, the University of Minnesota, message schools, health clubs and in several physical therapy settings. She maintained a private practice coaching dancers, actors, singers and individuals with medical problems that interfered with their movement needs. Since moving to the bay area she has completed three years of advance training in the Feldenkrais work. She has a private practice in the East Bay.

Vocal Motion: Voice through the Body – Carol Swann, June 4-25, 2005
In this class, the voice is explored as a "muscle of the soul." We contact energy sources in the body that informs us of the many qualities, characters, pitches, and tones that are authentic expressions of each unique individual. Whether sounding, speaking, or singing, the body is revealed through the voice. Embracing improvisation structures, somatic therapies, Balkan and African songs, this class provides a rich and challenging laboratory for the person interested in deepening the resonance of his/her physical and vocal expression.

Carol Swann is a teacher, performer, facilitator, and visionary. Co-founder, teacher, and Executive Director of Moving On Center, School of Participatory Arts and Somatic Research, she has also taught at Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, Stanford University, Tufts University, Theater School of Modern Dance (Holland), European Dance Development Center or EDDC (Holland), Bevegungs-Art (Germany), Tanzfabrik (Germany), Chisenhale (England), Alexander Technique Schools in: Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France and Movement Research. She is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and a graduate of the Professional Hakomi Therapy Institute.

The icosahedron (left) is one of the 5 Platonic solids. Its 12 points are the corners of 3 intersecting Golden Rectangles. Thanks to Rüdiger Appel for the animation.)
Embodying Space: Rudolf Laban’s Geometry of Movement – Hilary Bryan, May 7-28, 2005
Space, it's where we live yet so hard to describe... Define and clarify your spatial matrix for core support, stability and balance. Practice accessing your deep core support to increase your strength, range, and freedom of movement. Explore the richness of your internal landscape while using the space around you for ease and grace. Based on dynamic body alignment, harmonic internal connections, and sacred geometry. Challenging, intuitively gentle guidance for all levels of movement proficiency from professional to beginning.

Hilary Bryan CMA, RMT is certified in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals™ with teaching credits at SF Dance Center (since 1997), UC Berkeley, Cal. State Hayward, SFSU, and dance festivals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Taiwan and New Zealand. She codirects Frank and Bryan Dance Company and practices movement therapy, coaching dancers, singers, and athletes. She is also a founder of The Body at Work, ergonomics training and consulting for computer users.

Body-Mind Centering® and Creative Sourcework Movement Lab – Cathie Caraker, April 2-23, 2005
Body-Mind Centering® is an innovative approach to exploring the experiential anatomy of the body and its innate states of movement and mind. Investigations of our body systems (fluids, organs, bones, nerves, muscles, endocrine glands) and of early developmental movement states form the ground for personal movement research through bodywork, movement facilitation, Authentic Movement and improvisation. Classes encourage the mind of research and the ability to creatively develop whatever material arises in the moment by showing up and paying attention.

Cathie Caraker is a dance performer and teacher who has been developing her unique approach to movement research, improvisation and choreography for 25 years. She has been on the faculty of the School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam since 1992 and is a certified practitioner of Body-Mind Centering® (BMC). She has also taught world-wide at institutes including Omega Institute, Movement Research in NYC, Instituut del Teatre in Barcelona, Chisenhale Dance Space in London, Freiburg Contact Festival, Contredanse in Brussels, de Beweging in Antwerp and Zona in Brasilia. She is currently based in San Francisco. www.caraker.com.

Experiential Anatomy – Susan Bauer, March 5-26, 2005
Description below.

Feldenkrais®: Balance, Vision & Fear of Falling – Ernie Adams, February 5-26, 2005
Discover how you can improve balance and reduce fear of falling through expanding peripheral vision and increasing body awareness.

Ernie Adams is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner with many years experience working with orthopedic and neurological conditions that affect balance. He also has extensive background as a professional dancer and offers special workshops for dancers to improve performance ability and prevent injuries.

Creative Body Alignment / Ideokinesis – Ruth Botchan, January 8-29, 2005
This class in body alignment fundamentals continues the teaching approach of Andre Bernard to balanced alignment and ease of motion as developed by Mabel Elsworth Todd ("The Thinking Body") in the 1920's. Today, this approach remains unique in its reliance on the creative mind to re-educate neuro-muscular patterns of body balance in motion. The work can be put to use immediately in daily living, dance, athletics, performance, teaching, and healing.

Ruth Botchan is a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher and certified Pilates instructor. She is artistic director of the Ruth Botchan Dance Company, and director of Berkeley Moving Arts, where she teaches modern dance classes with an emphasis on mind-body awareness, private Pilates sessions and Creative Body Alignment. She brought this valuable work to the Bay Area in 1970 when she invited her teacher Andre Bernard to come from New York University and teach a workshop in Berkeley, and these workshops continued for the next thirty years. She has taught Creative Body Alignment at California State University at Hayward and Berkeley Moving Arts. www.berkeleymovingarts.com

Rudolf Laban’s Space Harmony – Hilary Bryan, November 13-December 11, 2004 (not 11/27)
We will build human-scale icosahedrons to explore the geometry of movement and spatial harmonics. Enliven your spatial matrix. Discover your kinesphere and increase its range. Learn to go off balance with clarity and freedom. Get out of your head and into the space. Ideal for choreographers, improvisers, and anyone interested in sacred geometry. All are welcome!

Space Harmony describes the complete geometry of human movement. This work is integral to Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis™ and at the heart of William Forsythe’s choreography. How will you use it? Space Harmony work provides essential information for choreographers and improvisers seeking to expand their vocabulary and for dancer/movers of both classical and contemporary forms.

Alexander Technique™ – Shelley Senter, October 16-November 6, 2004
The Alexander Technique™ is a means of identifying mental and physical habits that interfere with one’s ability to attend to the moment and make choices. From early on, our bodies and minds are trained to adhere to images imposed upon us of how we, as performers, are supposed to look, think, and move. In this workshop the principles of the Alexander Technique™ will be explained and explored, blowing wide open these images, awakening awareness, and inviting new possibility.

Shelley Senter has been involved with experimental and post-modern dance for more than 20 years, touring throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Russia as a performer, choreographer, and teacher. She has been critically recognized and awarded for her distinct approach to movement, both as an independent artist and as a collaborator with many distinguished artists in the New York, West Coast and International dance communities, and was a principal dancer with the Trisha Brown Company, whose work she has staged worldwide. An internationally renowned teacher of the Alexander Technique, she has been written about in various arts and A.T. publications, and is known for her influence in the arts.

Experiential Anatomy – Susan Bauer, March 5-26, 2005
Experiential Anatomy is a creative / humanistic approach to exploring one’s body/mind. Using movement, touch, drawing, partner work, and creative writing, we explore the bones and underlying systems of support and expression. Based on Body-Mind Centering™, Ideokinesis, and Bartenieff Fundamentals™, this class provides essential information for dancers, dance teachers, yoga teachers/ practitioners, bodyworkers, movement artists, and those interested in deepening their connection to their body/mind.

Susan M. Bauer MFA, MA is a dancer and dance/somatics educator who has taught in community and college settings for the past 20 years, including offering Experiential Anatomy at San Jose State University, UCLA, Denison University, and the Moon Ban Dek School in Thailand. She currently serves as faculty at Moving-On-Center School for Participatory Arts in Oakland, CA. Her articles on somatics / dance have been published in Somatics Journal, Contact Quarterly, and the International Seeds of Peace Journal.

Susan is a generous and well-informed teacher…We are very fortunate for her arrival in the Bay area! (Terry Sendgraff)

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