a tangible approach to Otherness
an occasion to listen with your skin, what exists beyond it
a partnering, moving and sensing practice, for those that want to explore a shifting togetherness through listening and being listened
big story short..
The research of, what we now call Losing Ground, originally started right after the beginning of the first Covid 19 quarantine in Athens, Greece, driven by the common need of Giorgos Sioras Deligiannis and Emmanouela Pechynaki for kinetic research and practice.
The absence of physical contact and specifically the sense of touch combined with an urgent need to inhabit public space with our bodies and practice, were decisive factors that shaped and fueled the whole research. Through an almost daily partnering practice, we explored the possibilities of movement in public space through an alternating, transmitter and receiver relationship, that activates and sharpens kinesthetic functions. With the closed eyes of the receiving body as our basic working condition, we explored kinesthesia and attempted to record a series of functions-modes that unlocked, little by little a unique way of co-movement.
In search of an approach, that access our bodily memory, without being trapped in it, unchaining us from unnecessarily movement patterns, we explored movement possibilities, through simple scores that focused on the physiology of the human body and especially on the movement potentials and restrictions of the two bodies system.
This new system of our two bodies, combined with the condition of closed eyes, introduced us to an area of increased care, alertness and co-decision making. Through a number of open research labs, we shared and tested the way of the Losing Ground with different people and happily found, that the uniqueness of each individual, only brings richness to this practice.
Following this rich research cycle, Emmanuela completed her master’s degree at the Antwerpen Conservatory in the MA Dance Embodied Artistic Research department where she presented her thesis ‘Losing Ground – A Leap In The Void’ as well as a duet with Natalia Baka. Giorgos continues his research and practice, together with Kyveli Kouvatsi, who is one of the first introduced in the practice. Currently Giorgos and Kyveli, continue together the research on the Losing Ground in an attempt to deepen in their practice, to document and contextualize it, to expand their teaching methodology and to further share Losing Ground with the world.
– By sharpening our kinesthetic functions, a dance of kinetic co-decision, increased care and alertness can occur –
a few more words about Losing Ground . . .
Losing Ground is the result of long movement research into improvisation, co-movement, touch, empathy and consent. An original practice in couples with the basic working condition of the closed eyes of one body and the feeling of touch as a moving stimulus.
Our practice’s research has been driven by a deep curiosity to what consensual movement is and how that reflects on partnering practices, co-decisioning and togetherness. In this practice the roles have joint responsibility but also freedom of choice and the goal is not to manipulate, puppeteer or imitate, but to co-move while co-decisioning.
As a result we access a movement exploration that contains all the dynamics of our bodily memory without us being trapped in it, while enriching our moving experience through the encounter with our partner and the new system of two.
Being part of this togetherness, and while practicing trust and receptivity, the two bodies have the opportunity to explore different movement qualities and speeds, to experience space differently, to move their main axis off balance and in positions that without each other would not be possible to reach.
Our approach is based on questions in the form of scores, active observation and deep listening through which we want to inspire a unique communication code for each pare that will allow it to gradually co-move more and more complexly, freely and joyfully.
The more one delves into the practice the more can trust their self and others, transmute and transcend unnecessary movement patterns and mind habits into useful ones, and enjoy a mindful dance that is not overanalyzing things. Well, at least that was the case for us 😉
– Losing Ground is not a therapeutic technique, although it can work as such –
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Currently Losing Ground is being shared throw-out the year in small or larger groups, in the form of workshops and through private Sessions for couples.
If you are interested in joining our next workshop or having a private session with your friend, partner, or relative, let us know!
Send us an email at siorasdg@gmail.com and well be right back on you
What to expect . . .
- exercises in pairs with eyes closed
- verbal, non-intrusive instructions adapted to each case
- physical contact only between participants with discreet guidance and supervision
- movement improvisation and exploration
- games that activate proprioception and kinesthesia
- sharing cycles in a safe, non-judgmental environment
Ideal for anyone who wants to . . .
- share a unique dance practice and experience
- explore and develop their communication on a non-verbal level
- explore a different way of dance communication
- to be fed back from an internal information system while working alongside a partner
- try a safe framework of self-expression and exploration through contact with another person
Upcoming Workshops