Somatic ways of approaching a kinesthetic2 mode of attention in dance

Abstract

In this article, I address ways of nurturing a ‘heightened sense of kinesthesia’ (expression used by Caroline Potter) within the context of contemporary dance. To do that, I articulate existing literature with data collected in a field research, at which time I taught classes that aimed to integrate the study of experiential anatomy, from a Body-Mind Centering® perspective, with dance practices. The nuanced attention to the sense of movement is here regarded as a central aspect for contemporary dancers that is yet to be widely considered pedagogically. Thus, by nurturing the awareness of kinesthesia and giving voice to this multilayered sense, I sought to broaden its understanding within the context of dance.