Workshop: FULL DROP - Margrét Sara Guðjónsdóttir

A practice grounded in bringing the physiological, emotional and psychological states of the body together.

The workshops are an introduction to the sensation and state-oriented practice Full Drop, a practice which Icelandic choreographer Margrét Sara Guðjónsdóttir has been developing since 2010 in relation to and alongside her performance work. It focuses on deep myofascial release through visualization meditation and verbal dialog aimed at guiding participants towards a so-called Full Drop into the body. One develops heightened inner listening and awareness of the multiple autonomous systems and rhythms of the body and learns how to be guided and moved by them, and to experience the various altered physical states that accommodate this type of listening. By fully dropping into the body and entering a meditative space where time ceases to exist, conditions have been created to release self-manipulation and control and allow active intentions to be released from the body. Through the unraveling of new subjective sensorial experiences, what was formerly unconscious becomes conscious, increasing awareness of the current as well as immanent inner states of each person. While the practice itself is gentle, the decision to let go of control and enter into the unknown, not yet discovered and subconscious parts of yourself is profound.

In the greater context, the workshop offers an alternative way of approaching the body for those who work with it on a professional level, and creates a space for de-conditioning formerly imprinted body memory through releasing the tissue on all levels. A part of this work is thus as well releasing the professional performer’s 'outside eye' that observes, judges and separates the performer from the inner experience, and to practice connecting to and becoming conscious of that which goes on within, beyond the conditioned body memory.

Working with and sharing a practice of de-conditioning which is in itself directly healing and holistic is a conscious political gesture. It was developed whilst creating a body of artistic works that address the mental, emotional and physical states of the citizens living within the current social political environment, and how that reality expresses itself in our matter. Combining ten years of research within the artistic field of dance and choreography and the studying of the Perceptive Pedagogy method of french osteopath Danis Bois. A unique practice and approach to body work within the field of dance has been developed and is there to be shared.

Biography

For the last 10 years Icelandic choreographer Margrét Sara Guðjónsdóttir has focused her professional research on physical doorways into physiological, psychological and emotional sub worlds association with deep tissue release and beyond. Developing the sensation and state-oriented practice Full Drop. Through the research put into the practice she began the process of mapping out a new category of performative body language, ways of developing it further, and transferring this knowledge to others. The working methods directly inform the theme of the artistic works, and extend beyond the limits of professionalism and performance making. The first artistic work created from this on going research was in 2013. Followed by an on going research into the method. Launched with the aim of creating working conditions which would make it possible for the group to dedicate a longer period of time to work in-depth on a specific artistic topic and develop the ambitious and detailed physiological language and performance practice necessary to convey it. Here long term collaborators on this journey are dancer Laura Siegmund, Suet-Wan Tsang and Johanna Chemnitz and musician Peter Rehberg (PITA) director and owner of the record label MEGO in Vienna. 

Guðjónsdóttir has shown her works at the Sophiensaele in Berlin since 2014 and toured internationally all of her performances, since 2010. During 2015 she became the first artist in residence at the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm. Creating her second commissioned work for the Cullberg Ballet in 2017, she additionally commenced an on going collaboration with philosophy Professor Susan Kozel at Malmö University in Sweden. Which is where phenomenology and artistic works and practice meet. She is one of 10 selected artists sharing the space to work and to create collaboratively the "Flutgraben Performance Series" event in Berlin, during the period march 2019- february 2020. In 2019 Guðjónsdóttir embarked on a long term collaboration with visual artist and film maker Hulda Rós Guðnadóttir. 

She has taught her practice FULL DROP at the; MA program in choreography at the Theater Academy of the Uniarts in Helsinki, MA program in choreography and BA dance program at DOCH in Stockholm, BA choreography program of the Academy National di Danza in Rome, The Icelandic Dance company, Cullberg Ballet dance company in Stockholm, Professional dancers training and workshop program at both Dansalliansen and Dance Centrum in Stockholm, Dansehallerne Copenhagen, Zodiak dance centre and theater in Helsinki, BA dance program of the University of Arts in Iceland, Praxis Festival in Oslo, Aaden Dans in Roskilde Denmark,  SKUDA Alliance for Actors and Dancers and PRODA classes for professional dancers, teachers and choreographers in Olso, Kiezkieken- workshops for refugee women and children in Berlin. As well as at various academic conferences around Europe, within the field of dance, artistic research, performance studies and philosophy and in relation to her performance work. 

visit Margrét Sara's website for more information : http://msgudjonsdottir.com/ 

Date: October 9th - 10th, 2021

Details: TBD