Kinetic Awareness
Encyclopedia
Kinetic Awareness is a system of bodywork originated by the American choreographer Elaine Summers
in the second half of the 20th century, starting in the 1950s.
The practice is developed through close individual observation of proprioceptive and kinesthetic processes. This practice of heightening self-awareness
is also compared to more objective information about anatomy
. The resulting awareness is used towards the goal of Kinetic Awareness: to develop one's full individual potential for healthy movement.
Because of its use of hollow rubber balls to achieve deep muscle-relaxation, Kinetic Awareness is also referred to as "The Ball Work".
and discomfort are treated as important warning signals of the body, that harm is done to the self, and avoided consequently. Instead, the accent lies on discovering and emphasizing resting positions and movements that are accompanied by a sensation of pleasure
and well-being.
Hollow rubber balls are optionally placed under parts of the body to aid the sensation and ease of the moving body becoming a conscious experience, as well as to perform a self-directed massage
of deeper muscle-layers. For this reason, Kinetic Awareness is also often referred to as "The Ball Work".
Kinetic Awareness is structured into five phases.
Each phase builds upon the previous one:
1 - becoming aware / articulation:
The focus is on extremely slow and gentle movement of one body part at a time, to increase the proprioceptive and kinesthetic sensitivity of the practitioner. A commonly used instruction is to "let the body part move on its own, in all the ways that it will go without pain."
This phase is completed when the practitioner can move any part of the body at will, slowly and with little tension.
2 - total body systems, coordination:
Articulating more than one body part simultaneously. This awareness is applied to total body systems such as breathing and fluid circulation (blood, lymphatic, spinal etc.) Movements are still very slow, small, and gentle.
3 - speed levels:
From very slow to very fast, but still on the lowest possible level of tension.
By working with speed at first, injuries are avoided that would otherwise be risked by using an inappropriate amount of tension.
4 - tension levels:
From completely relaxed to highly tense, with any part of the body at will.
Tension
is seen as a gift and an ally of the individual mover, who is guided along her or his exploration of the choices s/he wants to make about how to use it.
In this process, held or 'frozen' tensions (i.e. muscles and groups that are, often subconscious
ly, kept in continuous contraction
) can be uncovered and release
d. This view derives from the theories of muscle armor as developed by Wilhelm Reich
.
5 - performance / interaction:
Becoming aware of and combining all the previous phases in interaction with others. This can include the relationship to the space in which the movement happens, the environment, etc.
The pace and course of study is decided by the practitioner, with additional guidance from their teacher. Most sessions are happening one-to-one, but group classes are also offered. Interaction of the practice of awareness with movement in daily life and other movement disciplines is encouraged as an integral part of the individual development.
which both have been developed from the work of Elsa Gindler
. Summers studied Sensory Awareness by Charlotte Selver
and Physical Reeducation with Carola Speads, both former students of Gindler.
Under this motto The Kinetic Awareness Center works as an organization for individuals and professionals of a diverse background, who use Kinetic Awareness in their professional careers and/or daily life.
The Center coordinates the certification and training for Certified Teachers and Master Teachers of Kinetic Awareness worldwide. A newsletter is sent out at irregular intervals. The president of the Center is originator Elaine Summers
.
Elaine Summers
Elaine Summers American choreographer, experimental filmmaker, and intermedia pioneer.Summers was a founding member of the workshop-group that would form the Judson Dance Theater and significantly contributed to the interaction of film and dance, as well as the expansion of dance into other related...
in the second half of the 20th century, starting in the 1950s.
The practice is developed through close individual observation of proprioceptive and kinesthetic processes. This practice of heightening self-awareness
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to reconcile oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals...
is also compared to more objective information about anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
. The resulting awareness is used towards the goal of Kinetic Awareness: to develop one's full individual potential for healthy movement.
Because of its use of hollow rubber balls to achieve deep muscle-relaxation, Kinetic Awareness is also referred to as "The Ball Work".
Characteristics
Kinetic Awareness relies on the individual's proprioceptive signals as the guiding principle, complemented by anatomical understanding of the body and guidance through a certified teacher. Physical painPain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
and discomfort are treated as important warning signals of the body, that harm is done to the self, and avoided consequently. Instead, the accent lies on discovering and emphasizing resting positions and movements that are accompanied by a sensation of pleasure
Pleasure
Pleasure describes the broad class of mental states that humans and other animals experience as positive, enjoyable, or worth seeking. It includes more specific mental states such as happiness, entertainment, enjoyment, ecstasy, and euphoria...
and well-being.
Hollow rubber balls are optionally placed under parts of the body to aid the sensation and ease of the moving body becoming a conscious experience, as well as to perform a self-directed massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
of deeper muscle-layers. For this reason, Kinetic Awareness is also often referred to as "The Ball Work".
Kinetic Awareness is structured into five phases.
Each phase builds upon the previous one:
1 - becoming aware / articulation:
The focus is on extremely slow and gentle movement of one body part at a time, to increase the proprioceptive and kinesthetic sensitivity of the practitioner. A commonly used instruction is to "let the body part move on its own, in all the ways that it will go without pain."
This phase is completed when the practitioner can move any part of the body at will, slowly and with little tension.
2 - total body systems, coordination:
Articulating more than one body part simultaneously. This awareness is applied to total body systems such as breathing and fluid circulation (blood, lymphatic, spinal etc.) Movements are still very slow, small, and gentle.
3 - speed levels:
From very slow to very fast, but still on the lowest possible level of tension.
By working with speed at first, injuries are avoided that would otherwise be risked by using an inappropriate amount of tension.
4 - tension levels:
From completely relaxed to highly tense, with any part of the body at will.
Tension
Muscle tone
In physiology, medicine, and anatomy, muscle tone is the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles, or the muscle’s resistance to passive stretch during resting state. It helps maintain posture, and it declines during REM sleep.-Purpose:Unconscious nerve impulses maintain the...
is seen as a gift and an ally of the individual mover, who is guided along her or his exploration of the choices s/he wants to make about how to use it.
In this process, held or 'frozen' tensions (i.e. muscles and groups that are, often subconscious
Subconscious
The term subconscious is used in many different contexts and has no single or precise definition. This greatly limits its significance as a definition-bearing concept, and in consequence the word tends to be avoided in academic and scientific settings....
ly, kept in continuous contraction
Muscle contraction
Muscle fiber generates tension through the action of actin and myosin cross-bridge cycling. While under tension, the muscle may lengthen, shorten, or remain the same...
) can be uncovered and release
Release
- Media :* Film release, the public distribution of a film* Legal release, a legal instrument* News release, a communication directed at the news media* Software release life cycle, the public distribution of software code and support materials...
d. This view derives from the theories of muscle armor as developed by Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, known as one of the most radical figures in the history of psychiatry...
.
5 - performance / interaction:
Becoming aware of and combining all the previous phases in interaction with others. This can include the relationship to the space in which the movement happens, the environment, etc.
The pace and course of study is decided by the practitioner, with additional guidance from their teacher. Most sessions are happening one-to-one, but group classes are also offered. Interaction of the practice of awareness with movement in daily life and other movement disciplines is encouraged as an integral part of the individual development.
Relation with other bodywork practices
Kinetic Awareness is closely related to Sensory Awareness and FeldenkraisFeldenkrais
Feldenkrais can refer to either:* the Feldenkrais method in movement education* Moshé Feldenkrais, physicist, judoka and inventor of this method....
which both have been developed from the work of Elsa Gindler
Elsa Gindler
Elsa Gindler was a somatic bodywork pioneer in Germany.Born in Berlin, gymnastics teacher, student of Hedwig Kallmeyer ....
. Summers studied Sensory Awareness by Charlotte Selver
Charlotte Selver
Charlotte Selver was a German music educationalist.The central point of Charlotte Selver's work was "experience through the senses"...
and Physical Reeducation with Carola Speads, both former students of Gindler.
Kinetic Awareness Center
"The Kinetic Awareness Center is a not for profit corporation dedicated to research, education, and development in the kinetic arts and sciences."Under this motto The Kinetic Awareness Center works as an organization for individuals and professionals of a diverse background, who use Kinetic Awareness in their professional careers and/or daily life.
The Center coordinates the certification and training for Certified Teachers and Master Teachers of Kinetic Awareness worldwide. A newsletter is sent out at irregular intervals. The president of the Center is originator Elaine Summers
Elaine Summers
Elaine Summers American choreographer, experimental filmmaker, and intermedia pioneer.Summers was a founding member of the workshop-group that would form the Judson Dance Theater and significantly contributed to the interaction of film and dance, as well as the expansion of dance into other related...
.
Sources
- Banes, Sally, Democracy's Body. Judson Dance Theater 1960-63, 1983 MIT Press
- Green, Jill, The Use of Balls in Kinetic Awareness 1982, JOPERD, Vol. 63 No. 8
- Saltonstall, Ellen, Kinetic Awareness- Discovering the language of your bodymind. Publishing Center for Cultural Resources, New York City, 1988 ISBN 0-89062-232-9 temporarily out of print
- Wooster, Anne-Sargent, Elaine Summers: moving to dance, The Drama Review T88, Dance/Movement Issue, Vol. 24 #4, New York University, 1980
- Körtvélyessy, Thomas, Completely coming into movement - Kinetic Awareness for the contemporary dance teacher, paper Dance Pedagogy, Rotterdamse Dansacademie, Netherlands, 1996