Skip to content
1981
Volume 11, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 2040-5669
  • E-ISSN: 2040-5677

Abstract

I write from the perspective of a dance artist interested in reflecting on and sharing my experiences of applying the Alexander Technique (AT) to a choreographic process. The inquiry was framed by dance ethnography, and I choreographed, danced, interviewed and performed with emerging to established dance artists specializing in Contact Improvisation, and interviewed and participated in lessons and workshops with AT teachers. During each phase of the research, I asked: why and how does AT guide me to embody my practice as a choreographer and dancer? This self-ethnographic research outlines an AT-inspired dance methodology using a systematic somatic process to enhance physical, mental and emotional coordination for choreographers and dancers. I propose that AT expanded my attention moment-to-moment to develop my choreographic intentions and desires.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • The York University Dance Department, OGS Ontario Graduate scholarship, and the Canadian Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master’s Scholarship award
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/chor_00013_1
2020-07-01
2025-06-18
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Alexander, F. Matthias. ( 2004), Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, , 2nd ed.., London:: Mouritz;.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Andrews, Meade. ( 2016), author’s workshop notes, Toronto , 2 April.
  3. Andrews, Meade. ( 2020), e-mail to author , 20 April.
  4. Bales, Melanie, and Nettl-Fiol, Rebecca. ( 2008), The Body Eclectic: Evolving Practices in Dance Training, Urbana, IL:: University of Illinois Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Barbier, Louis. ( 2017), journal notes, Toronto , 3 March.
  6. Barbour, Karen Nicole. ( 2011), Dancing Across the Page: Narrative and Embodied Ways of Knowing, Chicago, IL:: Intellect Books;.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Barlow, Wilfred. ( 1985;), ‘ Introduction to the 1985 Edition. ’, in F. M. Alexander. (ed.), Use of the Self, , 2nd ed.., London:: Orion Books Ltd;, pp. 35.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Bryant, Rebecca. ( 2015), author’s rehearsal notes, Toronto , 17 December.
  9. Conable, Barbara, and Conable, William. ( 1991), How to Learn the Alexander Technique: A Manual for Students, Portland, OR:: Andover Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Eddy, Martha. ( 2002;), ‘ Dance and somatic inquiry in studios and community dance programs. ’, Journal of Dance Education, 2:4, pp. 11927.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Eddy, Martha. ( 2009;), ‘ A brief history of somatic practices and dance: Historical development of the field of somatic education and its relationship to dance. ’, Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices, 1:1, pp. 527.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Fortin, Sylvie, and Girard, Fernande. ( 2005;), ‘ Dancers’ application of the Alexander Technique. ’, Journal of Dance Education, 5:4, pp. 12531.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Gelb, Michael. ( 1995), Body Learning: An Introduction to Alexander Technique, New York:: Henry Holt and Co;.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Hunter, Lynette. ( 2009;), ‘ Valuing performance/practice as academic knowledge. ’, in S. R. Riley, and L. Hunter. (eds), Mapping Landscapes for Performance as Research, Basingstoke:: Palgrave Macmillan;, pp. 199205.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Johnson, Pam. ( 2015), author’s workshop notes, Toronto , 20 March.
  16. Johnson, Pam. ( 2016a), e-mail to author , 16 March.
  17. Johnson, Pam. ( 2016b), in-person interview with author, Toronto , 28 June.
  18. Johnson, Pam. ( 2016c), informal discussion, Toronto , 16 June.
  19. Jones, Frank Pierce. ( 1979), Body Awareness in Action: A Study of Alexander Technique, New York:: Schocken Books;.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Lee, Susan. ( 2016a), journal notes, Toronto , 17 June.
  21. Lee, Susan. ( 2016b), in-person interview with author, Toronto , 30 June.
  22. Lee, Susan. ( 2017), informal discussion, Toronto , 3 March.
  23. Lior, Mika. ( 2016a), informal discussion, Toronto , 15 June.
  24. Lior, Mika. ( 2016b), informal discussion, Toronto , 16 June.
  25. Liska, Suzanne. ( 2016a), journal notes, Toronto , 15–23 June.
  26. Liska, Suzanne. ( 2016b), Woven (first creative process), Mika Lior, Madison Burgess, Susan Lee and Zita Nyarady, IGAC Artscape Youngplace , Toronto:, 23 June.
  27. Liska, Suzanne. ( 2017), Woven (final showing), Louis Barbier, Susan Lee, Suzanne Liska and Mateo Galindo Torres, York University’s McLean Studio , Toronto:, 3 March.
  28. Liska, Suzanne. ( 2019), journal notes, Toronto , 6 October.
  29. Madden, Cathy. ( 2014), Integrative AT Practice for Performing Artists: Onstage Synergy, Bristol:: Intellect Ltd;.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Ness, Sally Ann. ( 1996;), ‘ Dancing in the field: Notes from memory. ’, in S. A. Ness, and S. L. Foster. (eds), Corporealities: Dancing Knowledge, Culture and Power, New York:: Routledge;, pp. 12954.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Nettl-Fiol, Rebecca, and Vanier, Luke. ( 2011), Dance and the Alexander Technique: Exploring the Missing Link, Urbana, IL:: University of Illinois Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Novack, Cynthia. ( 1990), Sharing the Dance: CI Improvisation and American Culture, Madison, WI:: University of Wisconsin Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Nyarady, Zita. ( 2016a), in-person interview with author, Toronto , 24 June.
  34. Nyarady, Zita. ( 2016b), journal notes, Toronto , 23 June.
  35. Paxton, Steve. ( 1993;), ‘ Drafting interior techniques. ’, Contact Quarterly, 18:1, pp. 6166.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Paxton, Steve. ( 2001;), ‘ Improvisation is a word for something that can’t keep a name. ’, in A. Cooper Albright, and A. Dils. (eds), Moving History/Dancing Cultures, Middleton, CT:: Wesleyan University Press;, pp. 42126.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Paxton, Steve. ( 2016), e-mail to author , 10 March.
  38. Sinclair, Susan. ( 2016), in-person interview with author, Toronto , 18 February.
  39. Spatz, Ben. ( 2015), What a Body Can Do, New York:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Torres, Mateo Galindo. ( 2017), journal notes, Toronto , 8 February.
  41. Watson, Ian. ( 2009;), ‘ An actor prepares: Performance as research (PAR) in the theatre. ’, in S. R. Riley, and L. Hunter. (eds), Mapping Landscapes for Performance as Research, Basingstoke:: Palgrave Macmillan;, pp. 8490.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Liska, Suzanne. ( 2020;), ‘ Somatic ethnographic research: A choreographic process informed by Alexander Technique. ’, Choreographic Practices, 11:1, pp. 7599, doi: https://doi.org/10.1386/chor_00013_1
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/chor_00013_1
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/chor_00013_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test