Dance and Movement

Improvisation becomes most truthful, spontaneous and enjoyable when the mover acts from the deepest part of himself. These courses focus on building confidence, strength, flexibility, range of movement and the experience and understanding of the mechanics of the creative impulse, so that dancers or actors can explore movement in the context of themselves, music, other students, and the environment of the theater. Students examine fundamental principles of movement, performance, masque-building, the physiology of exercise, and anatomy; with the goal of developing perfection in the body-mind continuum.

“Improvisation is not a kind of dance but a way of dancing. The improvisational dancer becomes aware of that fine, knife-sharp edge in herself where her deepest and most profound level of experience begins the almost imperceptible movement towards the creative impulse. She must respond intuitively to the impulse without fear or inhibition, and begin to move even before that impulse becomes thought.”

Courses

ESS 332 Improvisation Dance/Movement 1: Dancers and Actors Exploring Improvisational Movement as an Expression of Deepest Creative Impulses

Improvisation becomes the most truthful when the mover acts from the deepest part of himself. The course focuses on building strength, flexibility, range of movement and the experience and understanding of  the mechanics of the creative impulse, so that dancers or actors can begin the exploration of movement in the context of themselves, music, other students, and the environment of the theatre. (4 units — may be repeated)

ESS 333 Improvisation Dance/Movement 2: Expanding the Experience of Movement Truthful to the Inner Life of Each Student

As an extension of Movement and Improvisation I, this course extends the understanding of creative truthful movement as spontaneous, natural, arising from pure consciousness, and the source for a further exploration of the principles of space weight, time, flow, and other fundamental principles of movement. Prerequisites: ESS 332 and permission of the instructor. (4 units)

ESS 334 Performance Laboratory: Cycles of Performance and Critique to Stabilize the Ability to Use Improvisation as a Performance Method, Drawing from the Creative Source of All Performing Arts

The most truthful and most satisfying movement and performance comes out of a deep connection to the Self, pure Being. Cycles of performance and critique develop the ability to discriminate between stronger and weaker performances, establish confidence in the many layers of the personality, and strengthen all performance skills. Prerequisites: ESS 333 and permission of the instructor. (4 units)

ESS 335 Introduction to Movement Science: Life Moves in Waves of Rest and Activity

This overview course presents the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology of exercise, skill acquisition, skill analysis, and care and treatment of common athletic injuries in light of the intimate dialogue of body to mind. The goal of the course is to understand that as the physiology is nurtured, the mind is stimulated to greater possibilities. Through cycles of rest and activity students comprehend the possibility of perfection in the body-mind continuum. Open to all students. (4 units)

ESS 337 Introduction to Physical Theater: Breathing Life into the Lifeless —Working with Masque and Movement, Tools in Creating Fully Developed Characters for Stage

Experiencing the silent, unmoving source of movement leads to an understanding of not only the student’s deepest nature, but allows the student to apply that understanding to the creation of characters. In this course masque building, masque work, and movement exercises help to create fully developed stage personalities. Open to all students. Suggested prerequisite: ESS 332. (4 units)

“One of the great things about dance here is that students are comfortable with silence and themselves. Silence becomes the foundation of the danc and from there we can move mountains.” — Dagob ten Wolde, Student