Dancing in Natural Wonders

Bending, stretching and holding the pose builds strength. (Sussan Russo/The Movement Centre)

Dance can give an incredible sense of well-being and releases built up tension and stress in the body. It links the mind to the body and allows one to physically connect to the rhythm and beat of the music. There is something primal about dance that spans time and place, as it has its sacred role in every culture of mankind.

Introducing children to dance and movement at a young age gives huge benefits for a growing child. It helps them to develop and mature both physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively, although the relationship of physical movement to human development has only just begun to be explored and appreciated.

Creative Dance

Creative Dance is a unique style of dance for children, which aims at allowing each child to explore free expression rather than follow specific technique-based dance moves. Unlike many other styles popular now, such as Ballet, Jazz or tap dancing, it is less structured, so can be enjoyed by children as young as two.

Creative dance teacher and mother Bria Price-Robertson says that this style of dance is a contemporary approach, which uses drama and many different props in its play-style approach. Each lesson has a different theme, which is echoed in the music played and the curious objects provided. Guided by the teacher, the children explore the room and props and use them to inspire movement, dance, and also moments of stillness. The various themes explored inspire creativity through the interaction of attractive and colourful props. Some themes explore a connection with nature, such as the different seasons or environments. In a previous class, a winter wonderland of ice and snow was re-created in the room; in another it was exploring colour and light.

“Creative dance brings out the natural wonder in children, which they already have inside. But it gives them a space and time to explore that by using everyday objects, which are transformed into precious things of wonder and fascination.” Says Bria.

Bria recounts one session where fresh herbs were laid out on a long piece of cotton, spanning the room. The children danced over the herbs crushing them, sending a fresh and fragrant perfume into the air.

In the two year old class, the children are accompanied by a guardian, who also partakes in the session. Bria has seen that this allows adults to enjoy quality time with their child and rediscover the world through their eyes.

“It reminds parents to stop and take in the small things such as a leaf or flower, things we would normally dismiss in our busy lives.” She says.

Creative dance first came about in Melbourne, Australia with the establishment of Mangala studios in 1970. Dance and Yoga trained, Dorotea Mangiamele had a vision of creating a fusion of dance and yoga. The result was a dynamic approach, which focuses on inner well-being, joyful expression and the connectedness to the natural world around us. By incorporating the philosophy of yoga into dance, there is the emphasis of the individual’s experience; therefore there is no right or wrong in terms of how one moves and dances.

As the children progress in the classes and join the 3-5 year old groups, yoga poses are slowly introduced to develop strength, balance and concentration. There is also techniques used to practice relaxation, a valuable life-long tool.

Bria has witnessed some children behaviour improving greatly from creative dance after a few months of participating.

“They started out appearing fragmented, they were loud and found it hard to follow instructions. After a while, they were a lot more still and centred. They became aware that there is a time to be crazy and a time to be still” she said.

Creative dance has expanded beyond the Mangala Studio and is now being taught by trained teachers throughout regional Victoria and interstate, as well as being introduced to day care centres, kindergartens and schools.

Here are some places of contact:

Mangala Studio, Carlton, Melbourne
Ph: [phone]
www.mangalastudios.com.au

The movement centre at the Augustine Centre, Hawthorn, Melbourne.
Sussan Russo Ph: 0433 259 135

Over the Moon studio, Castlemaine, Victoria.
Ph: [phone]
www.overthemoonstudio.com

Kumbada Studio, Kalorama, Victoria
Ph: [phone]
www.kumbada.com.au

Unearth creative dance, Macedon Ranges, Victoria.
Ph: 0422 652 688
www.unearthcreative.com.au