What is Open Floor... See the video

Conscious movement practice

I have put together some descriptions that are found on the internet which describe various schools of movement practice. This it to help give a broad understanding of what conscious movement practice is.

I hope this may also give you an anchor from which to relate your own experiences. Open Floor is build upon this common ground from which all dance practices lay their foundations. 

• Open Floor... is a lively, sweaty, full-on dance inquiry. A place for creative focus and loving attention
• 5 Rhythms....Dance practice is  a  dynamic way to both workout and to meditate in the same breath.
• 5 Rhythms...Dance  practice will help  you  discover your own freestyle movement rooted in unexpected, fresh ways of moving—from within you and highly personal
• Contact Improvisation.....To focus on bodily awareness and physical reflexes rather than consciously controlled movements
•  Biodanza...a system of self-development that uses music, movement and positive feelings to deepen self-awareness
• Movement Medicine...practice is meant to give people tools to integrate the freedom and aliveness of the dance into daily life.
• Simon Yearwood...Yoga in motion!

About Open Floor Movement Practice

​For those of you who know the above conscious dance classes or workshops then you will understand the simple and beautiful structures that they follow.
In Open Floor we also use a simple  structure called the "movement cycle" that works as follows

1. opening our attention to what state we are in and surroundings.
2. entering into whatever dimension that is arising (mind, body, emotion or spirit)
3. exploring this dimension we allow it space and let it in
4. activation then follows where we fully experience and express  to the fullest
5. Settling then follows where we let the experience leave us. We may then start the cycle again exploring something new.

 This movement cycle could be  as short as a song or as long as the session. This cycle is our movement meditation spiral, continuous and never ending, an awareness we carry on and off the dance floor.  Teachers create exercises so that dancers can have a fuller deeper experience in what ever landscape they are travelling through. In my classes we warm up in different ways. No warm up is the same as every class is unique. The main body of the class is where I teach  the theme for the evening using exercises. You are guaranteed to come away with something new and revealing. 

These extracts are taken from the Open Floor International website. You will find more information at the following link including workshops in Finland and teachers who might be near to where you live. http://openfloor.org/

Open Floor has three pillars of teaching. Common Ground, Common Sense and Common Good.

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.

First timers

Guideline 1
There are no steps to follow.

Guideline 2
On the Open Floor we shift from speaking with words to speaking with movement.  It makes for very creative conversations.
Guideline 3
If you have no idea what to do, try something below: 

• Stay  As with any meditation practice, distractions happen – expect them. Just gently bring your attention back to movement. 
• Pace yourself  No matter what the rest of the room is doing, listen to your body. If you relax in the beat, like a swimmer treading water, you’ll refuel.
• Stretch yourself  If you always keep to yourself, include someone else in your dance. If you prefer dancing with a partner, try going solo. Slow down. Speed up. Experiment. Break a habit. Imitate somebody and see how it feels. Create your own remix of others' moves.  
• It’s not about the music  The teacher uses music to catalyze movement. Love it or hate it, how you respond is up to you. Use everything as fuel for your dance.  
• Don't give up  We all hit patches of fatigue, boredom, shyness, frustration, or discomfort. Even if you can only wiggle a finger or nod your head to the beat, stay with it until something changes. Most often, it will. 
• Enjoy yourself  Excessive seriousness will slow you down. ​

Core Movement Resources of Open Floor Movement 

This is not a core movement principle however its a core part of Open Floor Emotional Intelligence.