This section generally explains The Spherical System as a choreographic method and clarifies the five elements named in the Introduction section of this exegesis. The five elements of The Spherical System substracted in this research will be developed further in the coming sections.
2. THE VISUALIZATION EXPERIENCE.
Through a verbally guided experience, the participants should inhale and exhale three times before entering the first visualization. It is recommended that the practitioners close their eyes not to connect – or distract by the outside environment.
While the instructor describes verbally from top to bottom how The Spherical Body is built, the instructor experience specifies:
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- Body part = Sphere.
- Type of the sphere. ( empty, solid, magnetic, glowing)
- Condition of the sphere. (floating or pending)
- Size of the sphere. (large, medium, small, tiny).
3. THE ACTIVATION OF THE SPHERICAL BODY DIAGRAM.
Once the entire Spherical Body diagram is visualized, the instructor asks them to move each sphere in circular motions, one by one, from top to bottom. The participants are encouraged to start realizing the following:
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- Initiation. (Where the movement starts)
- Direction. (Which direction the movement goes)
- Intensity. (How fast or slow is the movement executed)
- Amplitude. (How big or small the movement goes)
- Effect. (What happens with the elements inside)
- Possibilities. (How to combine the previous realizations)
4. THE THREE TASKS USED FOR THIS CREATION.
After following the steps above, the instructor clearly describes the tasks. The tasks are actions to perform with The Spherical Body Diagram, and the practitioners try them in improvisation sessions.
For creating this choreography, only three tasks were selected:
1. Floating. The action is indirect and slow. e.g., A balloon is floating, containing helium.
2. Slashing. The action is direct and rapid. e.g., A sword is cutting, or a stick is hitting.
3. Supporting. The action is direct and still. e.g., Sitting or leaning towards a surface or body.
5. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SPHERICAL BODY DIAGRAM INTO A CODE OF FIVE SPHERES.
After experiencing the tasks, the participants decide on a "Code of Spheres," meaning that they select a number of spheres, generally between four and eight, and name them in ascendant order.
For this research, the performers were asked to organize their Spherical Bodies into a code of five spheres. The performers create movement material by implementing The Code + order + selected tasks.
As each practitioner undertakes a task within a sphere, they initiate a distinct action. These actions accumulate over time and culminate in dance sequences.
Once each practitioner creates their dance sequence, the practitioner teaches their sequence to the others in the group; this step is called "DNA exchange," meaning that the individual code information becomes a community. This dance material variates by accumulating all practitioner sequences, altering them with new tasks, and creating different scores.
Ultimately, participants can engage in partnering and groups.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SPHERICAL SYSTEM.
The Spherical System is a method for choreographic creation and a sensorial technique that promotes body-mind connectivity. It is used for creating dance and awareness of the body in motion.
The system visualizes the body as a diagram of three-dimensional shapes such as spheres, strings, and a cube known as The Spherical Body. Following a guided process and visualizing this body diagram, practitioners re-imagine their bodies in the proposed architecture. In addition, The Spherical System provides a clear understanding of how to use and activate the diagram to create movement material. It offers a vast extension of tasks, scores, and dynamics to develop movement individually, in partners, or in groups.
The Spherical System is suitable for anyone passionate about movement creation, including dancers, dance students, choreographers, and teachers, as it unlocks creativity and self-body awareness. The Spherical System provides an experience for people to view their bodies as equal to others and actively promotes eradicating gender and age stereotypes in dance.
THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE SPHERICAL SYSTEM SUBSTRACTED FOR THIS RESEARCH.
The Spherical System on its own is very complex. For this research, I analyzed how to compact it into five elements.
The following five elements are resulting representative enough to understand the method briefly.
1. The diagram "The Spherical Body."
2. The visualization experience.
3. The activation of the diagram.
4. The three tasks used for this creation
5. The organization of the body diagram into a code of five spheres.
1. THE DIAGRAM "THE SPHERICAL BODY."
The elements that constitute the Spherical Body are:
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- 35 spheres
- 29 strings
- 01 cube
