Authentic Movement
Authentic Movement je kontemplativna praksa pokreta usmjerena na utjelovljenu svjesnost, unutarnje slušanje i relacijsko svjedočenje. Karakterizira je spontano kretanje koje proizlazi iz unutarnjeg impulsa, a prakticira se unutar jasno definiranog okvira koji uključuje uloge pokretača i svjedoka.
Authentic Movement se međunarodno prakticira u terapijskom, obrazovnom, umjetničkom i kontemplativnom kontekstu. Često se opisuje kao disciplina, a ne kao plesna forma, naglašavajući svijest, prisutnost i stvaranje značenja više od izvedbe ili estetskog ishoda.
Podrijetlo
Authentic Movement pojavio se sredinom 20. stoljeća kroz rad Mary Starks Whitehouse, plesačice i jungovske analitičarke. Whitehouse se oslanjala na utjecaje modernog plesa, dubinske psihologije i aktivne mašte, razvijajući praksu koja je povezivala nesvjesni materijal, pokret i svjesnu svijest.
Njezin rad dalje su razvili i prenijeli kasniji praktičari, uključujući Janet Adler, koja je artikulirala Authentic Movement kao formalnu disciplinu s etičkim temeljima, jasnim jezikom i dugoročnim putovima usavršavanja.
Osnovni principi
Authentic Movement temelji se na nekoliko temeljnih principa:
- Unutarnji impuls — kretanje proizlazi iz osjeta, slike, emocije ili impulsa percipiranog iznutra.
- Prisutnost — trajna pažnja usmjerena na proživljeno iskustvo u trenutku.
- Svjedočenje — neosuđujuća, receptivna prisutnost koja promatra kretanje bez interpretacije.
- Diferencijacija — njegovanje svijesti o granicama između sebe i drugoga, pokretača i svjedoka.
- Integracija — promišljanje o iskustvu kroz jezik i značenje nakon kretanja.
The practice prioritises direct experience and reflection over instruction or technique.
Practice
A typical Authentic Movement session involves:
- one or more movers who close their eyes and follow internal impulses into movement,
- one or more witnesses who maintain a grounded, attentive presence,
- a period of verbal reflection following the movement phase.
Movers do not plan or choreograph movement. Instead, they attend to bodily sensations, emotions, memories, and imagery as they arise. Witnesses observe with restraint, cultivating awareness of their own responses while refraining from interpretation or intervention.
Sessions may be practiced one-to-one, in small groups, or within long-term practice groups.
The role of the witness
The role of the witness is central to Authentic Movement. Witnessing involves:
- tracking the mover without judgement,
- maintaining awareness of one’s own sensations and projections,
- supporting safety, containment, and clarity of the practice space.
Over time, practitioners may develop the capacity to witness both others and themselves simultaneously, sometimes described as the inner witness.
Language and reflection
Following movement, participants often engage in spoken reflection. Language is used carefully and intentionally, typically emphasising:
- first-person statements,
- descriptions of direct experience,
- differentiation between observation, feeling, and interpretation.
This reflective phase supports integration of embodied experience into conscious awareness.
Training and transmission
Authentic Movement is transmitted through long-term study rather than standardised certification. Training pathways may include:
- sustained personal practice,
- supervised practice groups,
- mentorship and apprenticeship,
- study of ethics, boundaries, and psychological awareness.
Some organisations and teachers describe Authentic Movement explicitly as a discipline, emphasising responsibility, containment, and ethical clarity.
Applications
Authentic Movement is used in a range of contexts, including:
- psychotherapy and counselling,
- dance and movement education,
- somatic and expressive arts practice,
- contemplative and spiritual inquiry,
- creative and performance research.
Relationship to conscious dance
Authentic Movement is closely related to the conscious dance field through its emphasis on awareness, embodiment, and non-judgement. It differs from many conscious dance practices in its minimal use of music, absence of group dance structures, and strong focus on witnessing and reflection.
It has significantly influenced later movement meditation practices, somatic psychology, and embodied contemplative disciplines.
External links
- Discipline of Authentic Movement: https://disciplineofauthenticmovement.com/
