DANC 304 - Mind-Body Unity in a Fractured World: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique

Credits: (3)
College Curriculum: COLL 200, COLL 350
Domain (Anchored): ALV
Domain (Reaching Out): CSI

The goal of this course is to provide students with knowledge, tools, and perspective to be somatically resilient in daily life, while pursuing artistic expression, and when facing traumatic experiences. We will use the principles of the Alexander Technique (AT) to somatically understand personal idiosyncrasies. AT practices promote heightened awareness of the way over-gripping interferes with well-being and the value of pausing to slow down the breath and settle the nervous system. With these tools, it is possible to reconnect our whole selves with positive action to heal physically and emotionally. Students will practice applying AT principles to daily life and artistic activities. As skill with these tools develops, we will inquire into the disruptive effects of trauma and how it might be healed. This will include delving into the impacts of developmental trauma and traumatic experiences related to race and gender. Every student’s experience will be present in each class. Students will co-create the class experience as they reflect on concepts explored in class to bring insights and suggestions back to the group each week.