Dancing with Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Praxis

Still Moving
Kevin O’Connor’s teaching method combines contemporary dance with biodynamic craniosacral practice. Biodynamic cranial practice attunes to the living tissues subtle ‘breathe” – a phenomenon that produces rhythmic impulses which can be palpated by sensitive hands. The presence of these subtle rhythms in the body was discovered by osteopath Dr William Sutherland over 100 years ago after a remarkable insight he had while examining the specialised articulations of cranial bones. Contrary to popular belief Dr Sutherland realised that cranial sutures are, in fact, designed to express small degrees of motion. He undertook many years of research during which he demonstrated the existence of this motion and eventually concluded it is produced by the body’s inherent life force, which he referred to as the Breath of Life.

Furthermore, Dr Sutherland discovered that the motion of cranial bones is just one element in a system of subtle rhythms that involves the whole body. He identified the particular importance of the rhythmic motion of tissues and fluids at the core of the body in this system – including cerebrospinal fluid (the ‘sap in the tree’), the central nervous system, the membranes that surround and partition the central nervous system, the cranial bones and the sacrum.

In this movement workshop I apply techniques to attune to these multiple subtle rhythms of the body. It is a practice of becoming articulate to the dynamic stillness of the body. In becoming articulate to this kind of stillness there is potential for discovering new ways of dancing and moving with the body.
Dancers become attuned to multiple states of attention which are applicable to both studio practice and performance

Teaching:
Toronto, Canada, January 2016
Earthdance Mass June 2015