the force of gravity is more palpable on some days than on others: MFA Practice as Research investigating self-sensing and nervous system regulation in improvised movement practice
This performance/installation functions as a window into my MFA Creative Practice research inquiry which hinges at the intersection of improvised movement, affect, the nervous system and self-regulation. The window represents one moment within an ongoing practice and reflects a process-oriented approach to dance-making. Grounded in physical practice, the topic of my MFA thesis broadly considers the complexities of how we sense ourselves.
While centered around my practice as a dance artist, this research project draws from the fields of affective neuroscience and somatic therapies such as Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, a light-touch form of bodywork in which I have experience as both practitioner and client. These fields contribute towards my understanding of affect, attention and the nervous system and how I engage with these concepts in my artistic Practice-as-Research.
This presentation encompasses all multi-modal aspects of my research, including poetic writings, photographs, images, a descriptive booklet and dance practice through use of improvisational scores. It considers how these aspects sit alongside each other within the performance, creating an immersive environment where audience members may engage with the visual and textual elements according to their own appetites, in their own time.
