In the "Thinking physically with ..." series the teachers of the TTP project were asked to reflect upon the projects topic and their experience with the group.
In todays episode you can read what Bettina has to say. She taught improvisation and dance history to the TTP participants.
Bettina Helmrich teaches composition and improvisation at SOZO visions in motion. She completed a 4 year training for contemporary dance, video and performing arts at the European Dance Development Center of the Art Academy of Arnhem in Netherlands. Since several years she is working as a freelance dancer, choreographer and dance teacher.
So Bettina ...
This project is called “TTP – Thinking Together Physically“
What do you understand by “thinking physically“ ?
Under "thinking physically" I understand to be in the NOW, to perceive with all the senses. Body and mind are connected. I don't separate between head and body, between body and mind.
How did you plan to approach this idea in your classes?
I teach improvisation. The perception of time, space and body-movement are the base for improvisation. In the beginning of my class i wanted to sharpen the perception of the students for space and time. I did this through exercises in which they could physically experience space and time. In the same time through the exercises they started to relate their own body to the environment and to time aspects.
The professional dance world can be a competitive and hierarchical place.
What do you think an improvisation class has to offer to create a feeling of “togetherness”? Which aspects of this genre/field could challenge this feeling of “togetherness”?
In Improvisation it's a matter of communication between bodies. The improvising group is creating something together. If one in the group doesn't have a perception for the group and for the space, the improvisation only works suitable. For me the interesting thing in improvisation is that togetherness primarily arises through social contact but through connection in time and space. That can open the view for unknown possibilities and solutions to connect with other bodies. Each person in the space and in the improvisation is connected with others through spacial and temporal aspects like lines in space, space levels, rhythm, timing etc. For me improvisation is to an extremely high degree integrative.
You gave 3 improvisation classes to the participants of the project.
What was your main focus? What did you want to share with them? What should they experience?
My focus in improvisation was on the readability of bodies and the connection of individual and group. How do we communicate? How do I move through space? How do I perceive the environment? Improvisation is an art form but it contents all structures of our daily life. It was important for me to covey to the group that we are always connected to someone and something and that with everything we do we change something in the whole arrangement of the world (microcosmos is the space; macrocosmos is the world).
You worked together with a dance student from SOZO who assisted you in the classes.
Do you think this contributed to the idea of the project? If so, how?
The reflection and the exchange with the assistant were very fruitful. Also the exchange between the generations is helpful and it supports the idea of the project.
During the 4 times you worked with the participants:
Which changes regarding physicality and group dynamic did you witness?
Do you see a connection between the physical changes and the changes in the group dynamic?
The more the group enlarges their physical perceptional abilities the more each one could open up to the group. Being settled in the body opens up the possibilities how one can communicate and connect with others. Being secure with oneself one can see the others and can accept different ways of being.
