She was here for a lesson, a fairly new student, and commented:  “The thing that helps me the most, is having that feeling of space in my joints. My yoga teacher talks about space in the joints and I thought I felt it, but not like this.”

“This is a new language that I am learning; the language of the body.”

“What do you like about it?”

“I feel free

and light.

I can let go.

I feel taller.”

Today’s lesson was Meet the Body – like getting to know your body parts from the inside, through your inner awareness – in a new way. She agreed.

She stood there, almost floating on top of her feet, lightly poised and a smile on her face. I noticed, “You’re much more present in your body.”

“You can control your own movement through this awareness – you can control it through release rather than tension – and you can also control the letting go.”

She was here for an Alexander lesson, but what does this mean for a dancer?

Many of my dancer students have experienced…

Isolations are easier and faster; you’re able to more fully release in your joints, and do it on command.

Better coordination, with your head lightly poised so your body can move freely under it, and your line is maintained. “Conscious Control,” as Alexander said, in fact it’s the name of one of his books*.

Drive steps have more power, releasing into your legs in a way you may not have felt, yet your body is upright; two divergent directions in the body at once.

It’s a little bit like rubbing your head and patting your stomach; a coordination that happens through conscious control. Freedom and control in dance. Both are necessary.

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Here’s to that balance between freedom and control

And dance.

Dana

*Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, by F.M. Alexander