January Blog: Questioning movement patterning

Reading the Bales article twice, it has confirmed and contextualized my understanding of how I am progressing internally and externally in my dance training. I have always known and thought that what we do in lessons, and in ‘postmodern’ practice, that it acts as a learning and a base for improving skill, technique and awareness in, not just Contemporary dance, but in other art forms, for example yoga and ballet. There was particular reference in the article to how artists differentiate their training patterns, contrasting maybe having skinner releasing classes alongside ballet classes. The article expresses that artists choose to have this contrast as a complimentary combination, for reasons such as a release and a rest from a highly aesthetic style (ballet); having the combination of a skinner class would enable the dancer to maybe have a sense of themselves during ballet class, and pay subconscious attentions to other aspects, for example trying out barre work without ‘holding’ in the body. It made me reflect on my own practice and after having considerable practice at each discipline (skinner, pilates, yoga) I am starting to integrate one set of awareness’ into another. For example, pilates offers a lot of opportunity for increasing core stability so I try and work on that when doing particular movements, or at least have it in my awareness in ballet/yoga to see what different outcomes can come of it, and how it then affects my body. With awareness of centre in experiential anatomy/improvisatory classes, it allows me to find my core easily in Pilates classes. In ballet, I pay attention to my arms and shoulders and holding in the shoulders, especially when lifting the arms, which tension in the shoulders has always been something to contend with for me. When focusing on particular barre work, that requires the hips to stay strong and still, I have a mental awareness and engage my core to enhance the quality of the movement.

Working with the homolateral, homologous, and contra-lateral patterns was a tongue twister for my brain to contend with at first, as to say the name of the pattern and then to explore straight away with it isn't integrated enough for me at the moment to be able to access the pattern quickly and efficiently, i always take a momentary pause and think, 'which one's that again?'. 
But when reminded, each pattern provides me with an instant curiosity of my own habitual patterning and what I might have experienced as a child. Which patterns did I use and explore more as a toddler without even realising? Why? Having these curiosities and making these connections, has opened my thinking to maybe give answers as to why my habitual moving, which I do notice, initiates a lot with the pushing and yielding forward of the legs and pelvis to initiate first, is patterned to desire to move that way.

I must have loved the yield/push and homolateral pattern as a child, although contra - lateral (opposition) is pretty easy for me as well. Although homo-lateral requires a lot of strength in the legs to carry out the 'lizard' exercise, which I did find physically hard, after a while a certain ease was present and access was available in my legs and hips to be able to shift and travel in space efficiently.
Looking around, this was an exercise that others found quite hard to be able to shift themselves in space and it got me thinking and reflecting on my habitual moving , questioning this connection. 


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