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Abstract

Choreographic practices in contemporary dance often highlight individual movement expression and involve collaboration between dancers and choreographers. The choreographic process plays a crucial role in the originality of choreographic work, and its quality can considerably influence the lived experience of those involved. This thesis examines how to integrate the Feldenkrais Method into choreographic processes and the impacts this approach leads to. Despite the limited research on Feldenkrais-informed choreographic practices, our understanding of this interdisciplinary choreographic approach is insufficient. Using the Practice-as-Research (PaR) approach, I, the choreographer-researcher, integrated the Feldenkrais Method into solo and group choreographic processes respectively, resulting in the artistic outcome of three live dance performances. Data was collected through observations, journaling, video recording, and interviews with the dancer-participants. The analysis utilised a mixed approach of phenomenological description and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

This PaR revealed that the Feldenkrais Method effectively enhances our awareness, cultivating a focus on the presence of the bodily experience. This allows the recognition of habitual movement patterns, and contributes to creativity as it stimulates discoveries in previously unlived movement possibilities. Simultaneously, it results in shifts in the dancer-participants’ body images and has a sustainable impact on their well-being. The emphasis within the Feldenkrais Method that a process ought to be influenced by diverse approaches gave rise to the valuing of the dancer-participants’ unique movement experience and expression, reducing the probability of an authoritarian choreographic approach. The findings indicate that incorporating the Feldenkrais Method into choreographic practice enhances creativity, collaboration, and well-being within choreographic processes and suggests more attention be directed to the lived experience of the process through consideration of the design of choreographic strategies in dance-making.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	Doctoral Theses

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