The POETRY OF MOVEMENT
- a School of Perceptiveness through Dance
The true healer is the artist
because he has direct access to the human soul
because he has direct access to the human soul
“All moving is from the mover. Every pull draws us to the Ocean. Let the beauty we love keep turning into action, transmuting to another another. Anything you grab hold of on the bank breaks with the river’s pressure. When you do things from your soul, the river itself moves through you.”
*Rumi
*Rumi
"I discovered Sofia and her dance in exactly the right time and space, what a blessing. I was needing that type of body moment and exactly how she was offering it (which I didn’t think existed). Teaching in small groups, she keeps an eye on our personal process and guides us in that, and at the same time offers and manages a group flow and process. She offers a frame, so freely it allows us unhibited personal expression and at the same time with some structure and containment that allows us to go deeper, in observing, in feeling and then in expressing. She is truly eye-catching as she walks her talk and shows with her own body what it is about."
Merel van den Broucke, Belgium
Merel van den Broucke, Belgium
About the Work
Having the consciousness that is our perception of things that shapes the world around us and also that movement is our first language - the most authentic-, I gathered tools for developing our physical possibilities, without loosing our spontaneity, and to become more aware: in dance as in life. Perception, according to Aristotle in De Anima, can be already a result of something that moves us, a form of affection. I like this hypothesis...
Having the consciousness that is our perception of things that shapes the world around us and also that movement is our first language - the most authentic-, I gathered tools for developing our physical possibilities, without loosing our spontaneity, and to become more aware: in dance as in life. Perception, according to Aristotle in De Anima, can be already a result of something that moves us, a form of affection. I like this hypothesis...
One of the intentions of this methodology is to be a creative-healing regular practice/training that can be very effective for dancers, actors or other professional movers or artists in general, enabling them to connect to a fountain of creativity inside the subtlety of the body that allows it to be more authentic, expressive and healthy.
Nevertheless, this same methodology can be adapted to all ages and conditions.
Some of the elements used in this Methodology come from:
. Amálgama's Dance Company language, inspired by Tai Chi and Qi Gong flow -that unleashes the body's energetic resources by openning the blocked channels-, and also, sometimes, it's ritualistic character
. Danis Bois Method of Fasciatherapy applied to performative arts through gentle fascia release touch, bodywork and Somatic proprioceptive knowledge
. Butoh meditative walking techniques (mainly "Body-Weather" inspired), and eye work
. Martial arts general approach with its focus on lower gravity center, groundness and centeredness
. Animal and evolutionary movement awareness and its organicity
. Contact Improvisation exercises and free partnering explorations balance and lighten the intensity of the constantly required listening to breathing, alignment and somatic information
Some basic paradigms of this work:
- We direct the “attention resource” to the body in movement gaining precious subtle information - otherwise lost-, unifying and integrating our fragmented parts,
- We learn how to answer to an external call to action without our body losing communication with inner truth…again feeling more integrated in and out of the studio,
- We (physically), understand that, to have a better “command” of the body, we need the minimum of muscular tension, thus our movement becomes extremely efficient and without injuries, It's never too much to underline how much a relaxed body becomes an empty vessel for creation to happen!
- We learn a universal language that structures our personal movement and supports its freedom: like a re-setting,
- We use conscious breathing to enhance physical performance,
- We challenge ourselves to use the same continuous flow transformed into actions with different qualities,
- We develop the capacity of imagery as a “focusing device”, avoiding the drifting of the mind,
- The enjoyment of experimentation, surprise and playfullness opens spaces where our energy can flow free and we can feel fulfilled by it,
- We Integrate our contradictions and paradoxes through the dialectic between order and chaos: a non-dualistic mode of awareness
What to expect?
Some of the most usual changes we can notest after some time of regular practice are: the feeling of physical freedom and fluidity, the body becoming more sensible, flexible and connected and the mind more focused, sharp and able to adapt in any conditions of life, besides a heightened sensitivity.
We become better and better in listening to our needs in present moment. In general it takes time to reach slow minimum movement "level": when time comes there is a kind of confrontation with habits but eventually we recognize how much effort we spend without actual need. Then we will be able to better respond when true impulse and reaction is necessary.
For performers, the intensity of presence and truth on stage will naturally take the audiences attention.
In some (special) moments we can achieve in-between states, liminal spaces where creative flux happens.
What Poetry of Movement IS NOT…
- It’s not an event- may it take some hours or days-, it is not a social meeting but rather a deep commitment to our own proccess. The motivation to move is to feel oneself first and only then the other,
- You won’t find here strict choreographies or steps, unless maybe if we get to the point of presenting the result of the work,
- For sure it’s not a psychological approach to movement, with very defined moments or emotions all participants have to go through,
- It's the proccess itself (and not the end), that counts: it's not what you do, but rather the way you do it that really matters!
For Whom?
For any performer (or not), who wishes to connect the inner with the outer landscape, of his/her primary tool which is the body, into a more authentic communication and presence on stage and/or in life.
Regularity?
I totally encourage a weekly practice of ideally 2hours but, when you have a very limited amount of time, it’s possible to create an intensive experience adapting to individual needs.
For any performer (or not), who wishes to connect the inner with the outer landscape, of his/her primary tool which is the body, into a more authentic communication and presence on stage and/or in life.
Regularity?
I totally encourage a weekly practice of ideally 2hours but, when you have a very limited amount of time, it’s possible to create an intensive experience adapting to individual needs.
Other Testimonials
"All her work complements in the most holistic way, which helped me to unite the many aspects of life. I made a period of dance classes and also work with the elixirs, and I could see immediate and profound effects at all levels of my being. Nowaday's, lots of exercises i've learned in her movement classes, come in the most natural way. And i also totally recommend Fasciatherapy sessions with her!"
Marisa, Sagres
"Sofia´s classes of dance have taught me a lot about myself, about the consciousness of body and its inner movement. I have learned about going inside and accepting whatever I find, through a union between a deep internal stillness and movement expression. I have learned to come home to myself, to listen to my body, and again, to accept. Actually this part of Sofia´s work is incredibly healing and empowering, bringing up lots of natural knowledge stored inside ourselves."
Anni Katajamaki, Finland
Drawing by Anni Katajamaki
"Since our first class we all loved the way she guided us: so enthusiastic, passioned and open-minded. Thank you!"
Irene Berger, Holland
Irene Berger, Holland
“It was beautiful the poetic warm up of our Sofia Ferreira! Wow!! We are very grateful♥ Sofia is a teacher of dance and poetry in motion! We were almost 200 people dancing in a journey that its still very present in our bodies and in our souls ♥”
Virgílio Beatriz, Ecstatic Dance (October 2019)
Virgílio Beatriz, Ecstatic Dance (October 2019)
