David Poertner

ProfitrainingEri Funahashi Geen

Class description
The practice is built on a holistic understanding of the ‘body’ with its
interconnectedness to space. It values feeling and seeks to tap into the sensorial experience to train one’s sensitivity to the inner and outer energies, to explore the relation and discover the endless possibilities of movement and expression. Guided improvisation/exploration and movement exercises will be offered to this end. The material and tools are informed by Eri’s training and experience in contemporary dance, movement research, ballet, somatic movement practices, as well as research in the theory of Noguchi Taiso. Inspired by the words of Michizo Noguchi (1914-1998), we will work towards an open, flowing and free way of being.

Biography
Eri Funahashi Geen was born in Japan, raised in Japan and Canada. She studied ballet and contemporary dance at the Rambert School (UK) and went on to work at Teatrul de Balet Sibiu. Since completing her MA in Contemporary Dance Education (HfMDK Frankfurt) in 2018, she has been working as a freelance dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. Her interest in her artistic research and choreographic work lies in the intersection of dance/performance/somatics and other fields such as philosophy and issues of our present time. Her latest research was inspired by the Eastern philosophical notion of “空” (read “kuu”,
translated as “emptiness”) and sought to investigate form in its nature of constant change, in other words, interconnected fluid states rather than individual fixed objects. As a dance facilitator, she engages in an effort to bring dance and movement into childhood education. Her long-held interest and research on periodization (sports science) and dance training has led her to
acquire a qualification in fitness training and this aspect is also considered in her teachings in terms of conditioning and injury prevention. As a dancer, she has performed in independent performances, opera productions, and enjoys collaborating on multi-disciplinary work.