This is the second round of Somatic Poetry workshops that I have given together with Rumiko Otsuka – a run of six meetups at Danscentrum Syd in Malmö, where we explore writing and movement. Her question: What happens when poetry gets a body?
Rumiko is really good at translating words, feelings and ideas from the page into expressive choreographed sequences . At least that’s how it feels to me when I am moving, and how it looks from the outside just doesn’t matter much. The curtains are drawn over the mirror.
A lot of my writing comes from looking and thinking on walks, but I have learned that different kinds of movement yield different kinds of expression through the feelings I experience and things I envision in the movement. An example that made me smile: I went from being a potato peeler to being potato peels that had the willful freedom of expression and attitude of James Joyce. It all became connected in my head, but through the feeling of the movement. What a joy to feel how cheeky the peel feels as it flies!
This time we’re working with ideas of peace and conflict: tension, mediation and release. We’ve two more workshops ahead and an open mic evening, but I have already had some really precious glimpses of sharing moments: seeing participants move their words and feelings, or hearing them read, or tell a bit about their journey. These are a memories to treasure, but also a guide – after each week I think about what could have been more open or available in the writing process, and run ideas past Rumiko to find a way forward. How can I shape the writing introduction or exercise so it’s not too complicated (for that time of the evening) but still offer possibilities?
Last time we did these workshops we were in a library space, which afforded another set of possibilities. Folk were dancing in nooks and crannies, behind shelves. In the studio, we’re writing on the floor. The dance process is more evident and even connected between participants. One isn’t necessarily better than the other – just different in interesting ways.
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