Alexander Technique is a somatic movement practice, concentrating solely on the body. Somatic movement practices place attention on the body to observe patterns that may be preventing movement and the body's best functions. When dancers are struggling with perfectionism, it is likely their body is not performing to the best of its ability as it is exhausted. Many dancers think their bodies have their own type of intelligence, as often 'muscle memory' remembers the next step before the mind does.
Alexander rightly believed that dancers could not rid their bodies of tension if they continued to add tension, so his practices often involve dancers reverting back to very basic movements. This means that the dancer can then notice small things about their body in order to correct them, paying attention to the nuances in the patterns of movement. As a result, it is difficult to benefit from the technique if the dancer in question is resistant to change or looking for a quick, easy solution.
Some dancers use the Alexander Technique when they are recovering from injury, or if they are continuing to train and rehearse without noticing any improvement, so the technique enables the dancers to step back metaphorically to learn more about their bodies. It enables dancers to refine their technique and understand how the body works, in particular with injuries and discovering the causes of these and strategies for recovery.
The aids of Alexander technique
Alexander Technique was developed by the performer Frederick Alexander to address the problems that tension was creating in his own performance. Today the technique is still used to help with the moments performers feel the body stiffen up, and when they lose the connection of flowing breath when they are dancing. Alexander Technique is generally taught one-to-one, as it works with movements and postures that are built up over time through movement and physical challenges. The technique works best with where muscular tensions are restricting function.
Alexander Technique is a somatic movement practice, concentrating solely on the body. Somatic movement practices place attention on the body to observe patterns that may be preventing movement and the body's best functions. When dancers are struggling with perfectionism, it is likely their body is not performing to the best of its ability as it is exhausted. Many dancers think their bodies have their own type of intelligence, as often 'muscle memory' remembers the next step before the mind does.
Alexander rightly believed that dancers could not rid their bodies of tension if they continued to add tension, so his practices often involve dancers reverting back to very basic movements. This means that the dancer can then notice small things about their body in order to correct them, paying attention to the nuances in the patterns of movement. As a result, it is difficult to benefit from the technique if the dancer in question is resistant to change or looking for a quick, easy solution.
Some dancers use the Alexander Technique when they are recovering from injury, or if they are continuing to train and rehearse without noticing any improvement, so the technique enables the dancers to step back metaphorically to learn more about their bodies. It enables dancers to refine their technique and understand how the body works, in particular with injuries and discovering the causes of these and strategies for recovery.
Alexander Technique is a somatic movement practice, concentrating solely on the body. Somatic movement practices place attention on the body to observe patterns that may be preventing movement and the body's best functions. When dancers are struggling with perfectionism, it is likely their body is not performing to the best of its ability as it is exhausted. Many dancers think their bodies have their own type of intelligence, as often 'muscle memory' remembers the next step before the mind does.
Alexander rightly believed that dancers could not rid their bodies of tension if they continued to add tension, so his practices often involve dancers reverting back to very basic movements. This means that the dancer can then notice small things about their body in order to correct them, paying attention to the nuances in the patterns of movement. As a result, it is difficult to benefit from the technique if the dancer in question is resistant to change or looking for a quick, easy solution.
Some dancers use the Alexander Technique when they are recovering from injury, or if they are continuing to train and rehearse without noticing any improvement, so the technique enables the dancers to step back metaphorically to learn more about their bodies. It enables dancers to refine their technique and understand how the body works, in particular with injuries and discovering the causes of these and strategies for recovery.