Open Floor International was created by a number of seasoned dancers and teachers of movement mediation practices, conscious dance and many other embodiment practices, like somatic psychology. They came together to form the Open Floor school that teaches embodied movement meditation and conscious dance. Christine is a teacher with Open Floor International (OFI) and teaches Open Floor Encounter and Libido Fundamentals, among other Open Floor workshops.
Open Floor International (OFI) has developed a curriculum, a framework within which to explore what it means to be an embodied being, using a wide range of exercises, music, movement, reflections and inquiries. What is it to be embodied physically, emotionally, mindfully and spiritually? How do we take in the information that we are 100 percent relational beings and have basic hungers for different kinds of relationship? OFI explores 4 realms of relationship, the 4 hungers: the hunger for solitude, connection, belonging and spirit.There's an essential movement language everyone speaks on the dance floor. All moving practices call on universal elements that are inherent in any moving body: breath, gravity, centering, expansion and contraction and grounding. Open Floor International and all embodiment practices share these explorations.
Open Floor Movement Explores:
Common Ground
Open Floor Movement Practice is a lively, sweaty, full-on dance inquiry:
- How can we move and include it all – feelings, other people, thoughts, wild passions, limitations?
- Can we use movement to soften the tight spots in our tender hearts and stretch our capacity for relationship?
- What happens if we turn old repetitive thoughts into choreography for creative dances?
We start small, end quiet. We respond to obstacles and mind the gaps. Ask, how am I now? What’s possible? Find direction. Add fire. Push the limit. Embrace paradox.
There's an essential movement language we all speak when we take these questions to the dance floor. We call on universal elements that are inherent in any moving body, such as breath, gravity, centering, expansion and contraction. This is the common ground that all embodiment practices share.
Open Floor is where the rubber meets the road – a place for creative focus and loving attention.
Common Sense
Since the beginning of time human beings have gathered to dance. Mindful movement is surging all over the planet because it's good for us. People who dance regularly have keener minds, greater emotional intelligence, and a calmer presence. Connection, compassion, and communities grow. In this challenging world, common sense tells us to spend time dancing.
Common Good
The ripple effect is inescapable. One dance can change someone’s day, one act of kindness can inspire a whole community. Students often leave a session able to bring a more generous presence out into the world. We dedicate our work to the common good, to the benefit of all beings.
Common ground. Common sense. Common good.
This is what we cultivate on the Open Floor.