Introduction: Moving Self, Moving Earth

The way we live and move in our bodies influences the ways we understand our environment. The purpose of this section of Accelerated Motion is to supplement the study of our environment and ecology through dance and movement. In classroom and homework exercises, we will explore the natural world through movement explorations, readings, and creative dance activities. We will examine culturally imposed preconceptions and perceptions about the body in relation to the natural environment. We will study choreographers who incorporate the environment into their dances and who challenge the way we relate to nature. This module is designed to accompany an existing unit in environmental studies or environmental science, but can also be done as a unit on its own. Our aim is to utilize dance and movement experiences to generate a deeper awareness of and connection to the physical environment, and in doing so to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental changes affecting our world.

Some guiding questions for the teacher to consider as you adapt these lessons for your class:

How can the physical experience and dance serve as a medium for the investigation of environment, ecology and the natural world?
How can an investigation of the physical landscape of the body/self help deepen the understanding of environments in which we reside? 
In turn, how can a deeper understanding of ecology/environment inform our understanding of ourselves?

* For more extensive investigation of the intricate relationships between movement and ecology, you may refer to Andrea Olsen’s book, Body and Earth: An Experiential Guide.  This seminal text guides the reader through a series of investigations of self and earth that posit our bodies as part of our larger environmental landscape. Also refer to Jennifer Monson’s research on migration of birds available at: birdbraindance.org, and teacher resources available at: http://www.birdbraindance.org/projects.cfm?id=4

*This module was initiated through a grant from Feet to the Fire, and originally implemented in collaboration with Barry Chernoff. Feet to the Fire: Exploring Global Climate Change from Science to Art is funded in part by a grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program, a component of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

 

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