Published Articles

The following are published book chapters and articles on dance, Authentic Movement, and somatic practices by Susan Bauer.

 

• • • “The Embodied Teen: A New Vision for 21st Century Education.” Common Ground Magazine, July / August, 2018.
      

      Embodiment—how we live in our bodies and express ourselves—is different for everyone. It evolves over our lifetime in relation to changes in our inner and outer environment. This process is never more precarious than in our teenage years…read more

  • • “Find Your Position: An Embodied Approach to Movement and Daily Life” In Embodied Lives: Reflections on the Influences of Suprapto Suryodarmo and Amerta Movement, UK: Triarchy Press, 2014.
      

      The simple phrase, “find your position,” was one that I heard Prapto use many times in his Joged Amerta workshops that seemed to represent a rich, multi-layered perspective on practice which includes this sense of centeredness or inner connection…leading to deeper ways of knowing that contribute to the inspiring and often synchronistic flow of life…read more

    • “Dancing with the Divine: Dance Education and the Embodiment of Spirit, from Bali to America.” In Dance, Somatics, and Spiritualities: Contemporary Sacred Narratives. UK: Intellect Press, 2014.
      

      The Balinese Sanghyang Dedari ceremony, in which the classical Legong has its roots, involves two young pre-pubescent girls who are put into a trance by a priest, then generally placed on the shoulders of the largest village men and, to the sound of Balinese chanting, become possessed by celestial nymphs. They then begin dancing–in perfect unison, having never studied the dance, with eyes closed…read more

  • • “Body and Earth as One: Strengthening our Connection to the Natural Source with EcoSomatics.” Conscious Dancer, Spring, 2008.
      

      The term ecosomatic opens up an inspiring dialogue about the dynamic relationship between the earth and the living beings inhabiting it. As humans, we begin moving in the womb, and movement is a constant in our lives…read more

    • “Welcome to City of Nice People”: Cross Cultural Dialogues on Authentic Movement in Thailand.” Contact Quarterly, Winter/Spring, 2007.
      

      On the second day, another concern arose. Someone asked: “How does this practice of Authentic Movement apply to my daily life?”…I asked them to each take some time in nature, alone, staying fairly close by. “There, I began, “notice what you become aware of, what draws your attention—for example, the softness of the earth and perhaps a desire to lie down. Then maybe you lie down and look up, and you see a cloud in the sky. Just be there and follow what you experience…read more

    • “Oracles: Authentic Movement and the I Ching.” In Authentic Movement, Moving the Body, Moving the Self, Being Moved, (Vol. Two), London: Jessica Kingsley Publication, 2007.
      

      From many years of moving, I have come to see Authentic Movement as a way to enter a place of deep knowing, allowing me to connect to inner guidance through my body…read more

    • “Finding the Bone in the Wind: A Journey with Prapto Suryadarmo in Bali, Indonesia.” A Moving Journal, Fall/Winter, 2005.
      

      “Shall we just move?” This simple question begins our warm-up and our time together in Bali. Seven of us have gathered–from England, Germany, American and the Netherlands—to work with Prapto for three weeks. Today we meet each other as I enjoy most, in movement… read more

    • “Authentic Movement: Mindfulness in Motion.” In In Touch Newsletter, New Mexico, 2002.
      

      After graduating from Middlebury College as a dance major, I moved to Northampton, Massachusetts. No longer interested in modern dance, I was searching for my next path. There I discovered classes offered in both Contact Improvisation and in something called “Authentic Movement.” I called my dance professor from Middlebury, Andrea Olsen, to ask her advice…read more

    • “Somatic Movement Education: A Body-Mind Approach to Movement Education for Adolescents – Part 1.” Somatics Journal, Spring/Summer, 1999.
      

      Forever focused on their bodies, adolescents struggle with their perception of themselves. They think about their appearance, weight, physical skill level, and especially, with how they are perceived by others. Yet, with all this focus on their bodies, in the present educational system students are barely learning about their bodies, nor given time to explore their own perceptions and subjective experience…read more

    • “Somatic Movement Education: A Body-Mind Approach to Movement Education for Adolescents – Part 2.” Somatics Journal, Fall/Winter, 1999/2000. read more

 

• • “Must to the Mountain: A Journey with Sardono Kusumo at UCLA.”  Contact Quarterly, Summer/Fall, 1998. read more