Holistic dancing: new book by Janet Karin
Janet Karin has written a book that captures her decades worth of extensive experience in working with dancers: ‘The Art and Science of Ballet Dancing and Teaching: Integrating Mind, Brain and Body’.
The book details how expressive movement is initiated and controlled, and discussing the importance of embedding creativity and expressivity within ballet technique from the dancer’s first lesson to their final performance.
Janet Karin O.A.M. promotes ballet as a holistic art form resulting from the integration of mind, brain and body, and describes the motor control factors that can enhance or interfere with achievement. Throughout, professional dancers’ personal experiences illuminate the text, from the euphoria of "flow" to the search for creativity and harmony, from the debilitating effects of anxiety, trauma and pain to the reward of artistic autonomy. Teaching is presented from a philosophical viewpoint, enriching and extending the child’s innate movement skills and expressive power.
Practical yet reflective, this is an essential guide for dancers as well as dance educators and students.
Karin is a highly qualified and regarded dance academic, who has pioneered dance research and education, particularly in the health and medical areas, since retiring as a founding member of the Australian Ballet. Among her many achievements, she was director of her own school in Canberra, was assistant to the artistic director of the (the) Australian Ballet, Ross Stretton, has been President of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science and Head of Artistic Studies and Kinetic Educator for the Australian Ballet School. She has published many papers and studies on Australian ballet and culture. She received an Order of Australia Medal for her services to dance in 1986.
Contents include chapters such as "Unveiling dancers’ artistry and "Technique, training and changes in dancers’ brain".
It's hard to imagine a more ideal book for teachers of dance.
Just go here to order.