In this video, Cohen teaches how to move the body as one continuous unit by initiating from the feet. Cohen demonstrates this by lying down on her back with her knees up. She shifts her pelvis, moving from side to side. She states, “starting with the feet helps to initiate the movement, one continuous pathway.” One can move from one end of the body in a single action. One needs to make a choice, does not need to hold tension in hamstrings. One can have a clear mind instead of holding on to the body.
She brings both arms over the head and moves both heels from side to side at the same time. She maintains the pelvis in position and prevent the knees from collapsing. After that, she lowers the knees to the side and rotates her pelvis, move through your feet. This is one continuous movement; moving the body from one side to another. The body is connected, and the movement is fluid and smooth.
Exploration:
Shifting pelvis from side to side in lying position: Knee initiate and collapse from side to side, followed by the feet. Feel the tucking of the pelvis while the movement is happening.
Move heels from side to side: massage for the pelvis
Rotate the pelvis and move through the feet: Movement becomes connected, integrated and smoother. There was no sign of jerky movement during collapsing of the knees.
Application of my dance technique
This is an important concept that dancers need to develop which is to move as a continuous unit. During contemporary floor work, I notice that I choose to use my core or torso to initiate a movement to another movement. When I initiate with my feet, the rolling movement from side to side with the knees becomes more fluid. When the movement starts from the feet, the movement continues and follows through the pathway in the body. I learn to move from one part of the body to another during transitions in dance. I can also make choices as a dancer during improvisation as to how I want to take the movement through by sensing the pathway in my body.
Reference:
Cohen, B (2013) Moving the Body as One continuous unit, Initiating from the feet with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qIdci6q2v4 [Accessed 21 April 2015].
She brings both arms over the head and moves both heels from side to side at the same time. She maintains the pelvis in position and prevent the knees from collapsing. After that, she lowers the knees to the side and rotates her pelvis, move through your feet. This is one continuous movement; moving the body from one side to another. The body is connected, and the movement is fluid and smooth.
Exploration:
Shifting pelvis from side to side in lying position: Knee initiate and collapse from side to side, followed by the feet. Feel the tucking of the pelvis while the movement is happening.
Move heels from side to side: massage for the pelvis
Rotate the pelvis and move through the feet: Movement becomes connected, integrated and smoother. There was no sign of jerky movement during collapsing of the knees.
Application of my dance technique
This is an important concept that dancers need to develop which is to move as a continuous unit. During contemporary floor work, I notice that I choose to use my core or torso to initiate a movement to another movement. When I initiate with my feet, the rolling movement from side to side with the knees becomes more fluid. When the movement starts from the feet, the movement continues and follows through the pathway in the body. I learn to move from one part of the body to another during transitions in dance. I can also make choices as a dancer during improvisation as to how I want to take the movement through by sensing the pathway in my body.
Reference:
Cohen, B (2013) Moving the Body as One continuous unit, Initiating from the feet with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qIdci6q2v4 [Accessed 21 April 2015].