ProfitrainingEri Funahashi Geen

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contemporary ballet
The class takes a somatic approach to ballet, meaning the technique is not the goal but a means to discover freedom and pleasure in the sensorial experience of movement and expression. Starting with a warm up the class utilizes the structure of ballet with barre and center floor exercises, focusing on breath, sensations, musicality and dynamics. Intermediate to advanced level ballet technique will be offered as material to dance with varying music. We will work toward reaching a sense of clarity and readiness for the day to come.

Q&A

1. Could you tell us a bit more about how somatics informs the movement material in your class? In other words, how does your class differ from a typical ballet class in structure, movements used or translation of phrase material?

The mirror will not be used to steer away from the pursuit of appearance and rather pursue sensation and feeling. The structure follows a typical ballet class for the most part. Movements can be characterized by the term "contemporary ballet"- for instance, incorporating spirals and fluidity in the upper body (together with the foot work) as opposed to always being square. Use of breath and relation to space are also aspects of focus.

2. What is your interest in training ballet technique as a contemporary dancer?

I see all dance techniques as a means to discover ways of moving and expressing, which shall be used to enrich your movement language. Each technique has their own uniqueness in the "what" and "how" of executing movement, all of which I am interested in as a dancer.
That being said, one of my interests in practicing ballet technique is the sense of expansion and balance it offers through its way of using the body. The thorough method in which the body, especially the legs and feet are worked is also unique to ballet technique, and what I find valuable to practice as one of the methods in training and maintaining the dancer's body.

Biography

Born in Osaka, Japan. Dance artist currently living in Frankfurt am Main. Since 2018, Eri has been working as a freelance dancer, choreographer and educator. 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. She has taught classes and workshops at Stadttheater Gießen, Staatstheater Darmstadt, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, and HfMDK Frankfurt, among others. She holds a BA in ballet and contemporary dance from the Rambert School (UK), and an MA in contemporary dance education from the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts.