A Qualitative Investigation of What “Body Awareness” Means to Dancers at A Public Midwestern University

ABSTRACT

The following study is a phenomenological qualitative analysis of collegiate dancers’ experiences with and perceptions of body awareness and somatic movement. Participants (n = 8) were trained dancers, although not dance majors. Semi-structured interviews explored what kinds of experiences dancers have had in the realm of body awareness, what their perceptions of these experiences are, and what kinds of effects they believe body awareness can have on their health and/or dance practice. Results show that participants defined body awareness as a complex process of mirroring, noticing, knowing, and controlling the body. Experiences with yoga and injury taught participants to learn more about their body’s structure and limits, but formal experience with somatic movement techniques was limited. Results of this study could be used to improve dance education at the college level, advance the level of inquiry into the benefits of somatic practices, and ultimately contribute to the improved health of dancers as a population.

KEYWORDS:

• Modern dance
• somatics
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Dr. Karly Geller, Dr. Valeria Freysinger, and Professor Lana Kay Rosenberg for their guidance in conducting this research.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.