I BELIEVE IN THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF MIND AND BODY MOVEMENTS THAT MANIFEST THE UNITY OF OUR PSYCHO-PHYSICAL ESSENCE.
My interest in writing and research is directed toward understanding the unique intelligence of the body and its movement, exploring the richness of sensory perceptions, and moments when full attention is given to the perception of being in the HERE and NOW.
Publication 2022
Rudolf Laban – visionary of dance and theoretician of movement
The publication offers a comprehensive view of the life and work of the most important theorist of movement of the 20th century and a key figure of modern European dance, Bratislava native Rudolf Laban. The first part is dedicated to his unusual life story. In the second part, readers can familiarize themselves with the main ideas of his movement philosophy, the context from which his thinking about movement was based, the theoretical basis of his two movement theories: spatial and dynamic, as well as the development of his ideas through the work of Laban’s disciples and their application in the 21st century.
Publisher: Reserva, o.z.
Movement Research 2020
The physicality of emotional expressiveness of the body and voice
The research was focused on the use of Laban’s dynamic theory, the so-called Effort Theory as a specific method of developing expressiveness of movement and voice. This process involved becoming familiar with Laban’s theoretical concepts and then observing, analyzing, and recognizing a wide range of nuances in the qualities of movement and voice. The outputs of the project can be viewed along with the accompanying text:
Choreographic Research 2019
Individuality versus group
The choreographic research I collaborated on with students of the Department of Dance at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava was inspired by the idea of Laban’s movement choirs, in which a group of dancers was able to function as one “organic body”. The theme of my research was a group process based on the creative collaboration of individuals, which requires dancers to develop sensitivity, intuition, awareness, and flexibility of response. As a result, the group functions as a living organism where dancing together depends on each member’s ability to develop the skills necessary to read and co-create group dynamics. The outcome of the project was the performance Earth, performed in its premiere on 20 September 2019 at the Department of Theatre at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. In this document you can read a summary of my process and acquired experience.
Choreographic Research 2018
Application of Rudolf Laban's movement theories in group site-specific composition
The theme of the choreographic research was the search for intersections between architecture and choreography using Rudolf Laban’s movement theories. Working in an urban park supported the exploration of expanded sensory perception by deliberately limiting visual sensations, its impact on the experience in the body (feeling what is happening in the present moment here and now) and consequently on the performance in a given space with its specific atmosphere. The outcome of the project was the performance Feeling the (In)Visible realized with students of the Department of Dance of the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava on 21 and 23 September 2018. In this document you can read a summary of my process and acquired experience.
PUBLICATION 2016
Creative dance for children and youth
This publication is the first comprehensive guide to the creative method of teaching dance to children and young people in Slovakia. It includes a DVD that demonstrates the teaching methods. It deals with the possibilities of developing creative spontaneous self-expression of a child or a young dancer. It focuses not only on the issues of individual development of movement and dance skills, but also on the ability of children and young people to work creatively together in a group on the principle of respect and responsibility. The intention of the authors (Marta Poláková and Markéta Pucová text, Anna Hurajtová and Renáta Gálová DVD) was to offer a systematic framework for creative teaching with a lot of inspiration and guidance.
Publisher: B in Motion o. z.
PUBLICATION 2013
The Dynamic Body – A Contemporary Approach to Movement (Parts 1 and 2)
The starting point of this publication is a somatic approach to the body and movement, which understands the movement of the human body as a manifestation of an integrated system of body and mind. It aims to develop awareness of movement through deepened sensory perception, leading to an expanded ability to sensitively capture stimuli from both levels of the psychophysical whole – body and mind. These in turn become the starting point for harmoniously organized movement performance. The two parts of the publication elaborate in detail the individual concepts of movement (effective movement coordination, dynamic alignment, body connectedness, flow of movement, etc.). The publication introduces dancers, performers, actors, and other professionals who use movement in their profession to expert information that will theoretically support their practice.
Publisher: University of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava
PUBLICATION 2011
Freedom to discover dance
The first publication in Slovakia comprehensively presenting the phenomenon of improvised dance. The author systematically deals with various aspects of dance improvisation – its history, impulses of improvised dance, explains the elements of dance from which improvised dance is created, illuminates the expressive qualities of movement and the possibilities of composing improvised dance. In particular, it deals with the ways of teaching dance improvisation.
Publisher: Theatre Institute Bratislava