In the Very Moment of Dancing: An experiential investigation to establish a heightened understanding of bodily awareness for preparation and maintenance practice. / Lewis Sharp (2022)

In this document, I focus on contextualising and informing the reader about the development of a practice that aims to prepare and maintain a dancer’s sense of bodily awareness within the context of dance. This is to be used as a supplementary approach to preparation and maintenance practice for the dancing experience. To do this, I conducted this study using the methodological frameworks of A/r/tography and Heuristic Inquiry as a means of continuous exploration and questioning regarding my identity as an artist, researcher, and teacher, as well as reasoning the ‘collective truth’ when developing the practice with participants.
Alongside collating existing literature around the research topic, I led workshops that aimed to integrate phenomenological perspectives on somatic work, mindfulness, and unpicking Barbara Dilley’s Contemplative Dance Practice (Dilley, 2015). Additionally, the workshops included methods that contribute to a mindful approach to movement. This includes the works of: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thomas Hanna, and Moshé Feldenkrais. Upholding this heightened sense of bodily awareness may aid the dancer’s sense of presence within thevery moment of dancing.