Moving Together with
Leela Fisk & community
Hi, I’m Leela Fisk,
I’m a movement artist and community dance practitioner. I’ve been leading dance groups in & around Totnes, South Hams, UK since 2010.
Together in the community groups that I lead, we create movement sanctuaries – safe spaces for listening into our bodies. We explore intuitive movement and creative expression, how we connect with others & we listen in each changing moment.
The essence of the movement practice I offer is transferable across everyday environments and creative arts practice, grounding our body in every day breath, and exploring expression.
“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.”
-Nietzsche, Friedrich
What I offer
Ongoing groups around Totnes & online
All committed groups run on a fortnightly basis and are open to newcomers at the beginning of each term.
Practitioner trainings
Devon School of Soul Motion Year 1 Embodied Leadership lays the foundations for Year 2 community dance practitioner. ICMTA accredited programme
Mentoring
In-person or online tailored sessions for existing group participants & Soul Motion teachers (or trainees)
“I’ve had counselling over the years, but movement can shift things in a different way which is hard to describe. I feel sure that this sort of movement is an important part of what I need to stop the cancer coming back.”
“I love dancing in this deep and beautifully held space with Leela. An amazing understanding emerges with self and others and the music is exquisite.”
‘’Having the space to allow myself to tune in to my body and allow movement that nourishes my being, brings me back in touch with myself and I feel revitalised, grounded and with a sense of connection to myself and others.
I feel gratitude for opportunity to be a part of this group.’’
“I have enjoyed every minute of your classes, no matter what state I was in. I have found the enquiries very engaging and I always drop into some form of timeless movement presence, which is very beautiful.”
What is beneficial about conscious dance practice and what is the science behind how it supports our day-to-day life?
Throughout history, dance has been known for health benefits. Many of us know we feel increased wellbeing after dance.
Polyvagal theory has shone a light to explain how dance accesses key portals – breathing, posture and movement- that benefit our autonomic nervous system function.
An example in conscious, or call it meditative dance, is attuning to breath and slowing down our exhale which regulates vagal activity. Conscious dance also engages intentionality – sustained attention – a type of mindfulness in our sessions that tracks movement and sensation awareness and is also recognised to positively impact our autonomic nervous system. This beneficial regulation supports feelings of relaxation, safety, and wellbeing.
* autonomic* the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.
About the Practice
Weaving
movement in the stillness
stillness in the movement
Alone and together
Intimacy of our inner landscapes
Vibrancy of space we share
Across my groups I offer different perspectives on movement practice, it all depends on the time of day – our circadian rhythm, and the needs of the group.
Often in dance groups, I’ll lead somatic enquiries first in the quiet of our own breath and develop these by offering guidance to move in individual ways to varied musical soundscapes. We explore the intimate relationship of our own expressive dances across relational landscapes.
Easing into conversation with Space as primary movement partner, we can embrace a fuller sense of our breath, our bodies, the potential we inhabit. When we relate with others and the co-creative ‘third’ space between us, we can hold a wider viewpoint and offer freedom to play, to explore and see beyond the mind’s eye.
In movement groups incorporating words and theatre, we use voice instead of musical soundscape. We call upon the same movement practice and principles to engage our poetry, stories and word play originating from the body.
Join The Movement
“You have to love dancing to stick to it.
It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away,
no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums,
no poems to be printed and sold,
nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive.”
