AXIS SYLLABUS©
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I became a certified AS teacher in 2024. “The body in its construction and function claims priority as a starting point
for any true understanding of how to move safely and well.” Frey Faust, The Axis Syllabus© MAJOR TOPICS
Some of the major topics that are addressed in AXIS SYLLABUS©classes include:
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BII - THE BODY'S INTRINSIC INTELLIGENCE
Effortlessness, Alignment, Experiential Anatomy, and Dynamic Posture EFFORTLESSNESS BII classes look at anatomy, bio-mechanics, and physiology of movement. The approach is creative, experiential and prioritizes individuation. There is some overlap with somatic practices and mindfulness training. My movement research and teaching is strongly influenced by the Axis Syllabus© and the amazing individuals, teachers, and artists that explore diligently with passion and creativity the fascinating and life changing world of the body in motion. It is my overarching goal to achieve a sense of EFFORTLESSNESS in movement that elicits a feeling of 'swimming through space', full bodied, gentle, fluid, spontaneous, adaptable and articulate expression and cooperation. BII aims at facilitating dancers to become articulate in word and body, responsive, versatile, confident, well informed, adaptive, and expressive. BII forms the foundation for my movement technique classes with college students, professional dancers, and non-dancers. The topics explain the focus of the class and the activities are tailored to the level and goals of the participants. While exploring the shared paradigm of the human body in motion, I always begin from the underlying premise of individuation. Each person's level of experience, their abilities or disabilities, injuries, and emotional capacities and changing needs will be taken into consideration. |
SAMPLE CLASSES
"WIGGLES & WAVES: SPINAL FUNCTION" WIGGLES & WAVES focuses on Spinal function and the oscillations and undulatory waves that radiate from the spine into the periphery due to the tensegritous nature of tissue connections and joint expression. This class introduces and explores the concept and physicality of the BIOTENSEGRITY of our bodies. We are not compression structures like houses. And we don't have roots. We are multi-directionally functional tension structures, within which semi-rigid compression elements are spatially delineated with a tensile web of soft tissues, such as fascia, muscle, tendon, skin, nerves, etc. in other words: our bones float in a web of soft tissues. Wiggles and bounces are particularly helpful for conditioning this soft-tissue system, training it for elasticity, resilience, and response-ability. Location and times will be announced on the event calendar. "THE POLYRHYTHMIC BODY" The polyrhythmic body is a fun cardio class for musicality, rhythmicality, and high energy expression. I propose steps and movement sequences to the group and we do call and response and other movement games. We sense the affect that music has on our bodies and we allow the beats and melodies to propose movements and play. With live percussion. SWIMMING THROUGH SPACE: BODY RESET & EFFORTLESSNESS IN MULTI-PLANAR MOVEMENT Investigating our pelagic evolutionary roots, we explore similarities and differences to movement in water as well as exploring movement with imagery and concepts of fluidity and watery-ness. This class systematically goes through all of the joints in the body, slowly re-restablishing "middle-path" range of motion to gently address the areas we forgot about during the day, or overused and abused y sitting at a computer or lifting or gardening, etc. The goal is to find fluidity and balance, a sense of effortlessness. Movements take place standing, sitting laying down and while rolling across the floor and they flow from one to the other. We might go swim, too... FLUIDITY FOR LIFE: ARTICULATION, ELASTICITY, AND RESILIENCE IN AGE What is it that helps us stay young in our movement? We will discover some of the major principles and actions that are important for maintaining flexibility and response-ability, dexterity, reaction speed, and fluidity of movement through old age. We look at how to cultivate and maintain as sense of effortlessness, bounce, resilience, rhythm, and complex coordination. We train the elasticity of our tissues to keep that spring in our step. We have fun exploring, dancing, and exchanging experiences. This class looks at the challenges of aging and gives opportunity for discovering the vitality of our bodies in spiraling and undulating movements that feel good and reaffirm trust in our bodies. People of all ages can benefit from this class. Aging doesn't happen over night, even though it sometimes seems that way. |
"I LOVE WALKING: THE COMPLEXITY AND MAGIC BEAUTY OF THE GAIT CYCLE" Walking is the most common of movements we do every day. But is it fun, rejuvenating, and nourishing, or do we focus on 'getting from A to B'? Let's explore how to elevate a simple activity to an enriching and creatively fulfilling one. This workshop addresses intellect and spirit at once: while using walking as a tool for mindfulness we analyze human movement, both in theory and practice. We will examine walking mechanics, the gait cycle, and the three dimensional, multi directional interplay of the body's structures. We will look at anatomical models, imagery and explore walking physically. We will be slowing movements down to analyze individual components and the forces acting on our bodies. Through walking we revitalize the spiral movement patterns that are genetically embedded into our structure: A well coordinated walk allows for mobility in all joints, which reinstates the constant ebb and flow of tension and relaxation that helps us maintain a healthy and vivid dexterity into old age. Discovering the beautiful complexity in something so seemingly simple, we can then play with the transition from walking to creative walking and dancing! The first class meets at a movement studio and subsequent classes will meet at interesting outdoor or indoor locations to walk on flat and irregular surfaces. Day one: theory and basic principle exploration Day two: grassy surfaces Day three: steps and slopes Day four: beach Day five: concrete surfaces Day six: Creative walking and dancing "TOUCH: MOVEMENT, PROPRIOCEPTION, AND CONNECTION" This class explores the definitions and phenomena of touch for movement training. We touch the air, our clothes, the floor. The skin gives us important feedback about where we are and how well or poorly aligned, and how efficiently the various parts of our bodies are tensioned or stressed. We pay attention to what our skin tells us. We move on to touching another person. We explore their musculo-skeletal system, and by observing and touching them as they move, we learn about what bodies can do, how they move, and how they solve movement challenges. We tune in and attune to our movement partner. Touch gives helpful feedback where sensation is hard to obtain. For example, movement at the joints in our thoracic region is hard to perceive, and through touching the spinous processes one by one helps us become more present in our awareness of these structures, of small, tiny movements. We talk about different kinds of touch, their intent and how they can assist our movement studies/experiences. Accompanying and supportive touch are significantly different from manipulative touch. "Listening touch" offers to give proprioceptive feedback, "accompanying touch" accompanies a mover, witnesses their journey, "supportive touch" offers and is ready to share some of the weight of the masses of the body, "communicative touch" can encourage us to re-evaluate the amount of muscular effort we are putting into certain areas. "Manipulative touch" gives direction and impulses for the mover to respond to, "oppositional touch" offers more resistance and increases the muscular and emotional effort of the mover. "Overload touch" increases the movers sensations and confuses their tendency to focus on specific parts of the body, offering opportunities to let go of habitual patterns. "Isometric compressive touch" massages body parts without provoking movement, relaxing tense muscles and lowering resting tone. Very light "tingling touch" heightens the movers awareness of all the receptors in the skin. There are many more. Location and times will be announced on the event calendar. |
"ROLLING, CRAWLING, FALLING & RISING: EFFORTLESSNESS IN NEGOTIATING LEVEL CHANGES" This class focuses on horizontal locomotion as well as how to get down to the floor and back up. As babies and children we use our bodies more three-dimensionally, we tumble, slide, crawl, roll. It is rejuvenating and healthy to re-discover these movement patterns, physically and psychologically. Crawling and rolling gives us trust in our abilities to manage our bodies in creative and reliable ways. It challenges our arms, hands, and shoulder girdles to support our bodies and locomote. Crawling and rolling is wonderful for the spine and the entire fascial system, re-balancing our tensional system. The falling and rising portions investigate effortless ways to get into and out of these crawling and rolling positions. If we have fallen how do we get back up. If we are afraid of falling, how can we practice it and develop strategies for negotiating sudden and slower intentional level changes. Be prepared to gain new confidence in yourself and in your physical strength. Location and times will be announced on the event calendar. "CONTACT IMPROVISATION: RESPONSE-ABILITY" I teach a beginner/foundations of contact improvisation class for people who are totally new to this practice. We engage with concepts of touch and connection before actually touching. We discuss consent and try things out slowly and gradually. Some of the best Contact Improv sessions I have ever had were slow motion practices, so I believe in the teaching power of slowing things down which helps us feel more in control and also makes visible the moments where we tend to skip steps between our ideas of what we want to do and the actual execution of a movement. We have to remain in the present moment in this practice. Of course we also look at the biomechanical physiological reality of our bodies: How do I engage with my partner in ways that do not hurt them or myself, how much range of motion is too much, what sorts of movements can the shoulder joint execute and where do we increase our injury potential? Timing is crucial, and this leads us back to being in the moment and ensuring that support structures can be in place to keep us safe. See the calendar for upcoming classes/workshops. CONTEMPORARY PARTNERING My partnering classes explore the mechanics and response-abilities of how to lift and be lifted off the ground. Classes are designed to inspire confidence and trust. The goal is an intuitive understanding of the physics of dynamic cooperation. Touch, the connection to another human being, teaches us tremendously much about how we move as individuals. Both share the same principles. We look at the importance of timing, breath, musicality, proper alignment, listening to one self and the other for coordinated take off and landing. Everything is done in duet format, starting with the warm-up to across the floor phrases and combinations. We will build our repertoire of lifts from non-physical connections and unison work via simple weight-sharing, to complex and athletic lifts. Students gain inventiveness, originality and spontaneity with a sophisticated and intelligent approach to lifting that practices technical strength and anatomical understanding. This class includes some improvisational and creative exercises as well as the learning of repertoire. We address the psychology of touch. This class is not gender specific, everybody will be the 'lifter' and the 'lifted', as long as the weight/strength ratio is appropriate for each individual. |