What To Expect
New to Open Floor Movement Practice?
Welcome! If you’ve never taken part in an Open Floor session and you’re new to embodied movement and dance practice, this page will give you an idea of what to expect and some tips to take your first steps.
If you have any questions or need more information, please get in touch. I’m always happy to connect and do what i can to make your experience enjoyable and satisfying.
Every Open Floor class or session follows the same Movement Cycle
OPEN ATTENTION
Time to arrive, warm up and prepare the body for movement. This is time for you. Stretch, noodle about, meditate, have a pancake moment on the floor. There’s no right or wrong way to bring yourself to the dance floor.
ENTER
Some guided movement exercises to establish an Embodied Anchor and focus on a Core Movement Resource. These movement inquiries can be solo or I might invite you to take a partner or join a small group. Pairs and group exercises are optional and might involve touch only if you consent to it.
EXPLORE
Free time to explore the material in your own way. We move and include whatever comes up: thoughts, feelings, physical sensations... our own, unique dance. You don’t have to make pretty shapes or put on a performance… and you absolutely can if you want to. It’s all welcome. However you want to move is the right way to move.
SETTLE
Time to settle and integrate. This might involve some sharing in pairs or small groups, a closing circle, meditation, or just being with calm music
What to wear
Many people like to dance barefoot. Soft shoes are also good. Avoid socks unless you know they work for you. Socks make it easier to slip, holding you back from moving freely, or even causing injury. Wear comfortable clothes for moving around in. Layers work well. Nudity is not part of this practice. Please keep at least one layer on.
How to take part
Open Floor uses music as a catalyst for movement - and that can look like anything from a wild boogie to a gently tapping finger. There are no steps or routines to learn. It is not a performance. Our aim isn’t to make pretty or interesting shapes. We are not learning to dance but rather dancing to learn. Movement is in every breath, in every step and is ever changing. You are invited to move as much as your body can and wants to, to be your own guru and do as much or as little as feels nourishing and satisfying.
There is no right way so you can’t get it wrong. Open Floor is about awareness through the moving body. We all have moments when we feel stuck, distracted, annoyed by the music… a million miles away. Like in all mindfulness practices, we naturally get distracted. When you notice you’re somewhere else, bring yourself back to your body and include a flavour of whatever is coming up for you in your dance. Don't give up. Even if you can only wiggle a finger or nod your head to the beat, stay with it until something shifts. The practice is to keep being with, and aware of, yourself and to keep inviting comfort and ease.
About the music
I play all sorts of music in my classes. Everything from ambient to pop to tribal to classical to experimental to techno. There are no steps to learn or routines to follow. You move as much as you can and want to. If you’re not sure what to do, look at what the others are doing and copy a move that catches your attention. If you don’t like a particular piece of music, have a go at doing an I-don’t-like-this-music-dance and see what happens!
We let the body and the music do the talking on the dance floor, shifting from words to movement.
What if I get tired?
We always put some chairs right on the dance floor in Open Floor movement practice. This is so everyBODY can take part.
We can keep on moving when we’re tired, when we’re injured, when we can’t move much at all, when there are no moves left.
We can have fun moving on 6 legs.
The chairs make it possible to keep on moving and including without checking out, stepping out, or giving up.
(Please don’t lift or stand on the chairs.)
