Mindful Expression with Yael Schwietzer

Unit: Body Integration

Theme: Mindful Expression

 

I

 Introduction 

Yael Schwietzer is a dance therapist and crative movement teacher. She does a form of mindful movement called Pure Dance. Yael has a grant from the Barbara Mettler Foundation to do workshop/classes. She has chosen our Dance Program to share her knowledge with our students.

 

II

Learning Objectives

• Understand the role of the dance/movement therapist in facilitating body expression
  
• Explain  the therapist approach when using mindfulness to generate expression via Schwietzer's Pure Dance
  
• Gain an awareness of how joining other students can inform the process
  
• Experience the therapeutic process through sensing, feeling and expressing movement forms
  

 III

 Mindful Walking practice will be played the weeks of Feb 26 and March 25

Check file on email.

Mindful Walking

You will engage in a mindful walking practice. Like focused attention practices, you will be instructed to notice when your mind wanders to internal distractions, like your thoughts, or to external distractions, like a tree, and when this happens, you will be instructed to redirect your attention right back to your feet as they make contact with the earth. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or agitated, know that you can always choose to stop the practice. 

 

 Post-practice

Now that the practice has finished, I'd like to hear from two students. Please share in 1-2 words what you observed as you engaged in the practice. When students respond, please say, “thank you for your response.” Only respond further if you feel it is necessary (e.g., a student expresses distress).

 

 IV

 Main Lesson

Schwietzer's Pure Dance

 

 

I. First Students walk to feel their whole body.

Feedback

Then, walking as one feels one's body moving through people

Pause, feedback.

What happens when we are close to someone. Thus, when you are close to someone, you stop to sense in your body where your feel the nearness to that person.

*No talking, just walking, notice the difference between one person and the other, or when you make eye contact. sometimes you are walking together with someone and that is OK. You sense where that is felt in the body. Take a moment to pause and sense your body. Feel the difference between sensing someone that your know and someone that you do not know.

What did you noticed?

Was there someone who could not feel anything?

 

Question 1

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

II. Students are asked to make two lines. Making sure each student has someone across from them to work with. Lines are facing each other.

Students from one line walk towards the other line. They are supposed to listen with their bodies how close they can get to their partners.

They do this 3 times and take turns on who initiates the walk.

Now, they take one step into the personal space of the other person.

4th time, the other line initiates the walk, to then take a step into their personal space.

They release.

What did you notice?

 * This is just an exercise. There is no right or wrong. It is all about your authentic feeling. People can identify when they are stressed about this.

Question 2

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

 

III. Walking around again.

They begin stretching and move their bodies randomly, with no specific movement in mind.

* See what your body wants to do right know. The movements tend to be familiar but feel what movement your body wants to do. See how your movement relates to other people.  Moving the joints. Shake your hands. I see you like the floor. Let us stay on the floor. Find a way to move your legs. You can alternate their movement. Think, what can I do with my legs? Dance with your legs. See in which many ways you can move your elbows. What kinds of movement you can do with your head? Now, moving shoulders. Moving the whole upper body. Now moving the hip area. 

 

Question 3

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

IV. How to relax the body in creative ways.

Begin to tense one body part, to then move to another tensing body part. This happens on a continuum. Begin tensing the body and then release. So, tense quickly and release. Now, tense very slowly gradually and then release.

Question 4

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

 

V. Find a partner to work with.

Face your partner.  Begin to relate to each other when your body is tense. See what kind of relationship emerges when you are moving in tension. Just the movement is needed, no verbal explanation is necessary. 

Now lets explore the connection with each other when the movement is relaxed. 

Now get up, and notice how you feel when you get up. Notice what happens now that you are standing: more tense or more relaxed?

Who want to say something?

 

Question 5

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

 

VI. Same exercise as before, but standing.

They begin relating to each other in tension as they move.

They begin relating to each other using relaxed moves.

 

Question 7

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

VII. Moving into small groups

One person in the group leads and the others follow. They will choose who leads spontaneously as the bell rings. They use relaxing movements. Do not talk. Let the movement guide the group. When the next person leads, try to continue the movement as you transition into your own.

Question 8

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

VIII. Take a moment to listen to yourself. Are you more relaxed? Check with yourself which part of the class was the most relaxing, boring, interesting, meaningful?

Share with your group what you experienced.

Question 9

What do you think was the purpose of this exercise?

 

IX. Circle up. Just say a few words about who you felt connected.

 

X. Cool down. 

Shake the body, release, legs, arms, give yourself a hug. Congratulate each other.

 Question 10

After experiencing the full process, reflect your general ideas about Schwietzer's Pure Dance process in writing.

V 

 

A Note to Remember

 Dance is a basic human need and the primary central art of the body.

 

VI

Case Study 

Barbara Mettler and Tucson Creative Dance Center

 

 

Barbara Mettler (1907 - 2002) continuously searched for the basic elements of dance which can make it immediately available to all people as a creative art activity.

Believing that dance is a basic human need and that dance-- the art of body movement-- is the primary, central art, she explored new approaches to both the body as instrument and movement as the material of dance.

For sixty years Mettler directed Mettler Studios, which in 1963 found a permanent home at the Tucson Creative Dance Center. Through her studio, Mettler offered on-going classes and intensive courses each year. She taught thousands of people of all ages from kindergarten to elderly, including people with special needs. Her intensive summer- long course attracted large groups of students, many of whom went on to teach creative dance in their own communities or integrate her principles into their professional lives. Her way of work emphasized individual and group improvisation as a means of liberating and cultivating the natural creative movement resources which are in everyone. Mettler’s pioneering research, exploration and practice of large group dance improvisation is recognized as a ground-breaking, unique contribution to contemporary dance. 

Question 11

After watching the video above, describe the main points discussed by Mettler.

VII

Activity

For students making up, after reading the different steps of the process developed by Schwietzer in her Pure Dance and Mettler in her Creative Dance Center, put together an exercise in which you tackle one important aspect of the creative dance process the resonates with you. Record it and post it on Discussion Board.

 Students in class reflect on the master class with Yael Schwietzer.

VIII

Glossary

IX

Journaling

X

Sources

About Barbara Mettler. Mettler Studios. https://www.barbaramettler.org/About-Barbara-Mettler

XI

Students' Work