tennis 3

tennis 4

tennis 5

tennis

tennis

tennis 2

1. Experiences:

1st Game: In the space everybody has to be always moving, the game is to make 30 passes. The score reset each time the ball touches the floor.

2nd Game: In the space where everybody is always moving, the game is to make 30 passes. Each one who let the ball touching the floor is eliminated.

1st Game bis: In the space everybody has to be always moving, the game is to make 30 passes. The score reset each time the ball touches the floor.

To begin there are 2 different experiences from the same game. By changing one rule the game becomes a sport: there’s no issue in the 1^st game while there’s elimination (and “winner”) in the 2^nd one and we can observe more concentration, engagement and presence in bodies and eyes. Each time I’m really impressed by the changement in behaviors and a sharing with the group can make it aware, then we can go again into the 1^st experience but as a game and with the same attention than in the 2nd.

2. Movements

1^st movement:  A continuous movement of each one in the space, very easy walk (then run…) and very important because this is the first step to the movement. Everyone can do it without thinking too much so we can go on to create other movements.

2^nd movement: The Tennis ball which is thrown and received all along the game. It’s a link between each other in the group. The tennis ball is a concrete way to create movement; also it keeps the brain busy and let the body going by its own into the 1st and 3^rd movement.

3^rd movement: New rules to go further. The idea is to use more and more tools to find a very alert state and bring bodies in movement. I like to change the speed, the space, or to include one other ball, two other balls… Or to give new rules all along the game as recycling  the energy of the ball to turn before to send it back away, receiving the ball as low or as high as possible, receiving and sending the ball almost at the same time, sending the ball to put one out of his center…

3. Issues

 As I used to do this game with non-professionals it imports not to talk about “dance” which sometimes scared people who never dance. With the idea of game and “sport” there’s pleasure of being in movement, there’s challenge with yourself and the accumulation of different actions/rules divert bodies and mind: I believe that more there’s information to match with more you could find freedom. As each one keep alert they don’t hesitate to fall, jump, reach out, run… to be at the right place at the right moment. So they create movement, and this movement becomes very instinctive. The whole body is invest and engage!

I find very funny and  interesting to look at some sport images to illustrate the idea that movement can be created without trying to dance. Here you can find some of tennis player.

From this experience it's easy to go further, then I like to work without the ball, in improvisation with the memory of the experience, alone or with the whole group...

I think there's a lot to imagine to create movements without trying to create it.