Fruit & Yogurt Season Haiku

Tangy breezes float

past creamy blossoms sprung from

juicy buds dip in

Peer Led Movement

Life’s gotten in the way a bit of me keeping up to date about my peer led movement class. However, as I am procrastinating delving into the inevitable unpacking process, it seems reasonable to document the past term now.

There were a few other lovely classes in my first term, including various massage tutorials and a candle lighting vigil for those who had passed during the year and hopes for the New Year.

Our first class of last term was a Scaravelli inspired yoga class. The teachers trained in this technique are few and far between, and for the most part, European. I’m just lucky that one of them is on my course. We worked with gravity and on freeing our breath, to gain a sense of lightness.

Next, we had a Jacques Lecoq physical theatre class. We embodied seasons, water, fire and the journey of Giovanni Fusetti’s Neutral Mask. I found it exhausting, but enlightening, finding my way through new and different movement states.

There was also a Greek dancing class, co-taught by girls from Greece and Cyprus. They chose to teach us a dance from “Zorba the Greek”, aptly portrayed by this flash mob. I loved it.

A common theme in many of the classes was playing children’s games. We use these games with our clients and in our practice, so it’s useful and fun to share movement games from different cultures. I must say that my favorite has been musical chairs. I’ve prided myself on my ability to dominate at this sport, since I was a four year-old (Yes, I have deemed it a sport – Olympics 2016, here we come!). The victory over my course mates was made much sweeter, by candy, party poppers, and other glorious prizes.

We spent the first half of that session learning sign language. It’s unfortunate that sign language is different in the UK than America, because I walked away from that class capable of singing children songs with my hands, as well as signing an array of offensive terms.

In case it seems like I could not be less mature, I assure you, I can. One of my favorite classes was taught by a course mate who performs as a character at children parties on the weekends. She taught us how to make balloon sculptures.

This is Melvin. I made him.

Don't mess with Melvin, because I can make swords too, and I will not hesitate to defend him.

I'm not the only proud balloon sculptor.

On a slightly more serious note, the highlight of the term, for me, was the final class: an improvisation session based on everyday actions of our choosing, and partner contact improv. After an hour of experimentation, we came together for a twenty minute group improvisation, mixing elements from earlier in the class with unique interactions, organically forming between dancers. The special and uplifting afterglow clung to me for the next few days.