imaginary bodies by Yara Lucia Afram Boustany

In an endeavor to transform the disembodying effect of this constantly and rapidly evolving post-modern world, this research explores the potential of imagination and dance/theatre improvisation to rewire our minds and bodies through the untangling of knots we have wrapped ourselves in in the pursuit of a disciplined and controlled society. As a first phase, the study involved the designing and recording experiences in which people intuitively improvise with their imagination to create “imaginary beings”, hybrid creatures, gods, myths or spirits that flow from conscious and unconscious images and thoughts. Consequently, these new contemporary “beings” and myths were embodied by performers and used as instruments to induce alternate ways of perceiving, improvising, moving and sounding. The results of these experiences were gathered to create concrete directions for methodologies that stimulate paths to re-meet one’s body through the medium of an imaginary body. To my interest was to observe how this context stimulates people to undo familiar patterns, to reshuffle the possibilities of the body and connect with a wild freedom of inner movements and impulses. Stemming from this practice, I was able to observe the emergence of diverse threads of action that are both relevant to the choreographic practice and to the pedagogical exploration of the self from a somatic and psychologic perspective.

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