Enveloping and the Developmental Score

Lab recap:

We began by revisiting our idea of “hook, pull, follow-through” and by placing it into Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen’s movement development framework: Yield, Push, Reach, Pull. We warmed up with a score the moved along that developmental framework by exploring each stage and progressively giving us more choices out of which we might “build a duet”: Yield, Yield + Push, Yield + Push + Reach, Yield + Push + Reach + Pull.

After reaching the “pulling” stage, we introduced “enveloping,” a new variable, into our movement mix. The image of enveloping is that of swallowing. In partners we explored the tandem sensations of envelopment: enveloping and being enveloped. A dancer placed a hand somewhere on the body of her partner, who would then move her body to swallow the body part. Getting a little more figurative, we used the image of swallowing to expand the scope of what we were enveloping to include limbs, body halves, and the entire body.

Results:

Out of our work came a discussion about habitual movement choices and a curiosity how a variable like enveloping can create an opportunity to engage in several activities: to further explore images that we enjoy (for example, a top being wound up and released); to ask questions about the limits of movement (for example, what physically happens around the limit of enveloping); to provide a point of focus that clarifies other variables like habitual choices.

Next steps:

Next week’s lab may continue to explore enveloping. On my mind are some of Melissa’s comments about tension—especially as it related to energy/focus pulling inward or exploding outward. Also on my mind is Margaret’s idea about transformation at the limit. I welcome any suggestions for scores that might get at some of these ideas.