Philosophy in Motion 

Dance of the Archetypes

 

This workshop is designed for dancers, somatic practitioners, philosophers, social activists and psychotherapists. It is based on research done at the intersection of embodied cognition, dance, performance, and social radical embodied philosophy. It presents a training in an entirely unique approach to "thinking"" with movement and the body. 

 

​In other practices, movement is used as a medium of cathartic release (as in ecstatic rave release), coming back to centre or into the alignment with ones self (as in authentic movement, mind body centring, hanna somatics) for its representation or expression of a situation (as in contemporary dance, Butoh, physical theatre) or to provide a means of exploring phenomena like space, time, relationality and so on, that occur in an interesting manner in dance (such as in contact improvisation, gaga technique, or embodied phenomenology).
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Philosophy in Motion is designed to use dance to perform the same functions we would normally achieve with conceptual thinking - creating new philosophical concepts, decoupling ideas, synthesising ideas, unearthing premises, deconstruction, forming new perspectives, speculating. Thinking with movement is shown to be not just a possible alternative mode of thinking, but provides vital contributions to thinking and living.

The aim of philosophy in motion is to provide a practice in which individuals and groups can radically, collectively and euphorically rave through and embody core personal and collective issues we all face, and thus situate itself at the edge of developing human culture. 

​The focus in Dance of the Archetypes is to use Philosophy in Motion to explore the 12 Jungian character Archetypes of the heroes journey. These are the 12 core aspects of personality theorised by Jung that demonstrate the core existential issues we each face in life. In Dance of the Archetypes dance is used to explore these archetypes personally and dramatically with a view to generating authentic personal and collective paths forward to living the core forces of our lives in a harmonious way. This is a visceral, existential odyssey for those seriously interested in personal and social change and a deep relationship with the intelligence of the body. 

​Learning Outcomes 

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• Learn how to think with movement 

• Learn the unique benefits of movement as a mode of thinking

• Be able to generate radical philosophy as an individual and a group via dance

• By the end of the workshop course participants will:

• Understand the 12 Jungian archetypes of the hero’s journey

• Find an authentic way of living out all 12 archetypes and their correlates across ones life

• Accept the existence of, reasons for, and learn to work with the excessive shadow sides of archetypes

• Understand and overcome cultural challenges to these archetypes partaking in life Be able to let go of the need to live by any of the archetypes, as well as archetypes as such in their fixated form

• Live the archetypes dynamically in cosmic aesthetic freeflow enjoying the power and vibrancy they give to life.

 

Schedule 

Sessions 1-2: The Innocence and the journey of joy and wonder 

​Sessions 3-4: The Orphan and the journey of isolation, suffering and freedom

Sessions 5-6: The Caregiver and the journey of interconnectedness and care

Sessions 7-8: The Warrior and the journey of strength and justice 

Sessions 9-10: The Seeker and the journey of truth and meaning

Sessions 11-12: The Lover and the journey of love and eros 

Sessions 13-14: The Destroyer and the journey of meta-morphisis and death

Sessions 15-16: The Creator and the journey of vision and new life

Sessions 17-18: The Ruler and the journey of order and leadership

Sessions 19-20:  The Fool and the journey of cosmic mischief and play 

Sessions 21-22: The Sage and the journey of wisdom and peace

Sessions 23-24: The Magician and the journey of knowledge and power
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Format

Philosophy in Motion sessions can occur as one off intensives and weekly sessions. The format for the session remains similar. There is a section of grounding and a tea ceremony to introduce the session. This is followed by a warm up and movement explorations to expand ones range of movement possibility in topics like space, time, body tension and so on. The theme of the event is explored via movement and its facets brought out. Finally there are rounds of philosophising through the themes of the evening transitioning between dance and cognitive conceptualising. Everything is wrapped up with another tea ceremony and a grounding meditation. 

Resources 

Philosophy in Motion: Dance of the Archetypes introduction 

The uniqueness of thinking with movement