Moving Ecologies

ABOUT THIS COURSE

 This short course will explore how to create tools for physical engagement with the more-than-human-world to promote ecologically sensitive encounters that will help participants attune with our environment in transformative ways. The aim of this course is to promote new notions of interconnectedness and entanglements as developed through kinaesthetic empathy and attentiveness, whilst also exploring dimensions of affective ecologies.

Working across the Dartington estate and combining a critical and collaborative movement ecology approach, participants will be encouraged to find diverse sensory modalities, including exploring inter-species storytelling, exploring trees (hi)stories, fungi networks and conversations with the river Dart. Participants will explore in lectures, practical seminars and workshops, the role of movement across different environmental experiential scales, from microscopic to climatic, as well as engaging in current critical sources exploring eco somatic movement, critical phenomenology and decolonial approaches to land-based movement. This transdisciplinary approach will further extend critical dialogues between embodied experiences and environmental theories, and to allow participants to reflect and debate on current contemporary challenges.

Dr Rachel Sweeney is a practicing movement artist specialising in transdisciplinary approaches to decolonizing body-place relationships. Dr. Marie Hale is a geographer specialising in more-than-human geographies and embodied ecologies.  This course is suitable for movement-based practitioners, ecologists, environmentalists, social scientists, or anyone working in physical dialogue with the natural world. Please come prepared to move both indoors and outdoors.

 On this course you will:

• Be introduced to methods of practice led inquiry that involve physical engagement with the more-than-human world
• Develop your own active, physical practice that can be used to help communities embrace their own connections with place

TEACHING DATES

On-site teaching dates:
10am Monday 6 May – 4.30pm Friday 17 May (weekdays)

On-site teaching sessions will take place on weekdays during the dates of your course usually starting around 10am and finishing at 4.30pm, with occasional evening sessions. As part of our learning community you are also invited to join morning meeting, and a variety of events and student-led activities that will likely be happening during your course.

Online teaching dates
Monday 27 May – Friday 14 June

Teaching sessions generally take place between Monday to Wednesday. The online timeframe enables participants time to reflect and provide time for individual study. The course rhythm is designed to accommodate participants work and caring responsibilities.

Please note that the course fee does not include accommodation and meals for the on-site portion of your course. Should you be accepted onto the course, our Short Course team will advise you on how to book one of our accommodation and catering options.