Release technique

Release technique is a dance technique that focuses on breathing, skeletal alignment, joint articulation, muscle relaxation, and the use of gravity and momentum to facilitate efficient movement. Release techniques can be found in modern and postmodern dance, and have been highly influenced by therapeutic movement techniques such as Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique, and in yoga and martial arts.

History

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries dancers began to question the rigidity and formality of classical ballet. Isadora Duncan in particular articulated the need for dance which she described as being connected to the earth, sensuality and the natural body. In pursuit of this goal, pioneers such as Margeret D'Oubler, Martha Graham, Rudolf von Laban and Doris Humphrey began to invent new dance techniques that involved radically different movement.

Elements of release technique began to emerge as these pioneers, and protégés such as Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon, Irmgard Bartenieff, Erick Hawkins and Anna Halprin, contributed further ideas and inventions. For example, D'Oubler envisioned dance based on scientific analysis of human anatomy and movement; Humphrey's technique focused on allowing gravity and momentum to affect the body; Hawkins advanced the idea that physiologically efficient movement is inherently beautiful.

At this time, dancers also began seeking influence from other movement disciplines. For example, Hawkins invited teachers from the tradition of Ideokinesis (the work influence by Mabel Elsworth Todd) to teach his dance company, some were also influenced by F.M. Alexander's teachings. In Europe the Folkwang Academy was receiving teachers from the tradition of Else Gindler.

These dance techniques, although not universally agreed on to be "Release Techniques" laid the ground for the next generation to come.

When the Post-Modern dance generation emerged in the 1970s, this is when "release technique" emerged more distinctly and was named. Joan Skinner, a modern dancer and a student of the Alexander Technique, created "Skinner Releasing Technique" which utilised elements of Alexander Technique in a dynamic and free flowing way. Mary O'Donnel Fulkerson created "Anatomical Release Techique" which was highly influenced by elements of Body-Mind Centering, the work of Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen. Steve Paxton, a member of the Judson Church Dance Theatre and the Grand Union pioneered Contact Improvisation and developed a body of work known as "Material for the Spine" which incorporates many release principles. As well as these techniques, dancers of this generation were exploring many of the various contemporay somatic practices which were becoming more available, such as the Feldenkrais method, as well as traditional techniques such as Tai Chi and Yoga. Although not so clearly codified as Fulkerson's or Skinner's work this was arguably the "release generation", which influence continues, albeit in a less formalised way.

Contemporary technique

It is rare nowaday to find pure "Release Technique" teachers and classes, or formalised release technique, being taught in a consistent way. The trend is towards highly hybridised classes based on a mix a wider canon of contemporary dance and somatic practices, based, on the individual experience, interests and expertise of the teacher. The principles of release technique have become popularised within contemporary dance and it usually taught as an integrated element, rather than a stand-alone class. However, some teacher do never-the-less offer release technique classes as a distinct method of teaching, performing, dancing and as an aesthetic philosophy.

See also

• Skinner releasing technique
• Doris Humphrey

References

• Olsen, Andrea; Caryn McHose (2004). Bodystories. Lebanon NH: University Press of New England. ISBN 1-58465-354-X.
• Bainbridge-Cohen, Bonnie (1993). Sensing, Feeling and Action: The Experiential Anatomy of Body-Mind Centering. Northampton MA: Contact Editions.
• Johson, Don Hanlon (1995). Bone, Breath, Gesture: Practices of Embodiment. Berkeley CA: North Atlantic Books.
• Diehl, Ingo (2011). Dance Techniques 2010 - Tanzplan Germany, English edition. Germany: Henschel Verlag.
• Lepkoff, Daniel (1999). "What is Release Technique?" (PDF). Movement Performance Research Journal (19).

External links

• An article about release technique at contemporary-dance.org