often cannot rely on my body to move the
Unity and explore relationships between
same way consistently. Therefore, I need
the internal organs and the 5 Taoist Elements
to make constant choices adaptations to
of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and
be able to perform dance safely. Vangelis’
the sensorial and emotional connections
methods suit my needs very well, not only
with each. An example of a task could
in organising and mapping my body and
be to visualise the meridian lines (energy
movement pathways, but layering intent
channels) in the body. Where they are
and performative aspects on the material.
located and how do they flow? Where they connect and to what? These lines in
Vangelis’ practice incorporates healing
the body can act as a pathway to move in
modalities from Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Kundlini
space or to initiate contact with a partner,
Yoga, Craniosacral therapy and Meditation
object or surface; for instance, by conn-
with improvised movement and instant
ecting your liver to the liver of your dance
composition methodologies. Traditional
partner or tracing the meridian line of
Chinese Medicine and Universal Healing
the liver on a wall. Another level to this
Taoism are also a huge influence in
would be to explore ways The Elements
my choreographic and dramaturgical
relate to each other. A task could be to
compositions. As a foundation to explore
explore how the Liver (Wood) relates to
movement, I am inspired by Embodied
the Kidney (Water) and the emotional,
Matt Shilcock wearing a white plague doctor mask at the Underbelly Festival 2015. Photograph by Gabriel Clark
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