Tom Weksler, a dancer, choreographer, and director, discusses a range of fascinating topics in this episode. They include the relationship between money, creativity, and teaching, the intersection of dancing, gardening, and art in Renaissance, the concept of wildness in teaching and container building, the various forms of play, the role of urgency in movement and performance, and the transformative power of truth in movement and relationships.
Foundations in movement lead to a deeper understanding and more profound movement practice.
Reconnecting with one's own wildness enriches artistic expression and movement practice.
Urgency and sensitivity amplify sensory experiences and enhance the overall movement experience.
Deep dives
Foundations of Sensitivity and Full Body Listening
The podcast episode explores the idea of foundations in movement and being human. The speaker discusses their own personal foundations, including improvisation, acrobatics, meditation, and partnering. They explain how these foundations have led them to a deeper understanding of movement and connect to a larger, more universal truth. They also discuss the importance of sensitivity and full body listening in movement, highlighting the role of all the senses in creating a multi-sensorial experience. The speaker emphasizes the importance of exploring and developing these foundations in order to have a more profound and holistic movement practice.
Reconnecting with Wildness
The podcast episode delves into the concept of wildness and its place in artistic and creative expression. The speaker explores how reconnecting with one's own wildness can lead to a richer and more authentic movement practice. They discuss how this wildness can be expressed through different mediums, such as dance, acrobatics, and martial arts. The speaker also reflects on the delicate balance between wildness and structure, highlighting the need to cultivate wildness in a way that is respectful and responsible. They encourage listeners to embrace their own wildness and find their own unique expression.
Grasping the Ungraspable
The podcast episode delves into the challenge of trying to grasp and understand the ungraspable aspects of movement and creativity. The speaker acknowledges the limitations of human interpretation and the inherent mystery of universal truths. They discuss how foundations such as improvisation, acrobatics, meditation, and partnering can provide glimpses of these universal truths. The speaker encourages listeners to dive into their own interpretations and explore the deeper layers of movement and creativity.
The Urgency and Sensitivity of Movement
The podcast episode explores the concepts of urgency and sensitivity in movement. The speaker discusses how urgency can amplify sensory experiences and bring a heightened level of presence and focus to movement. They share examples of how urgency can enhance performance and highlight the importance of bringing all the senses into the movement practice. The speaker also emphasizes the role of sensitivity in deepening the connection to oneself, others, and the environment, and how this can enhance the overall movement experience.
The Power of Urgency and Presence
The podcast episode explores the concept of urgency and its connection to presence and creativity. The speaker shares an experience of observing a person with Parkinson's disease who exemplified incredible skill and grace while dancing and improvising. This experience revealed that even in the face of a supposed limitation like Parkinson's, creating a sense of urgency and deep interest in the present moment can unlock extraordinary potentials. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being fully present and engaged in conversations and interactions, where both parties strive for each other's success, creating a dynamic tension that fosters growth, learning, and creativity.
Balancing Coherence and Chaos
The podcast delves into the balance between coherence and chaos in various aspects of life, such as relationships, artistic expression, and even spaces. The speaker discusses how modern artistic films and certain museum exhibitions tend to lean heavily towards coherence, which can make them predictable and uninteresting. Instead, the speaker advocates for embracing elements of chaos and incoherence to create engaging and thought-provoking experiences. By finding a middle ground between coherence and chaos, where strong polarities coexist, new opportunities for learning, creativity, and authenticity can emerge. The speaker highlights that practicing full body listening, sensitivity, and being invested in something outside of oneself can help navigate and thrive in the tension between coherence and chaos.
Tom Weksler is a dancer, choreographer and director of the company Wonderground Movement Arts with his partner Roser Tutusaus. Tom is also the founder of ‘Movement Archery’, a workshop concept that presents a unique approach to Movement, philosophy and dance. Since 2014 he has been teaching this approach internationally in dance schools, circus schools, universities, professional companies, martial arts gyms and more. Tom’s teaching is globally acclaimed and he is considered one of the pioneers of the modern ‘Movement Culture’.
Movement Archery:
movementarchery.com
Wonderground Company:
wondergroundcompany.com
GoFundMe for Matthew Stillman:
https://gofund.me/69b59d67
Primal Derma:
primalderma.com/btm
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