SMASH#10 Morning Training
dynamic expansion
Shannon Cooney

The dance and movement practice Dynamic Expansion, created by Shannon Cooney dancer, choreographer and craniosacral practitioner, connects one to the physical phenomenon of the Craniosacral (C/S) system and explores it through movement via improvisational forms.
In the workshop one is introduced to techniques to tune into their Craniosacral Rhythm (CRI). By sensing this profound rhythm it is possible to go directly and deeply into the practice of self-witnessing. The techniques taught incorporate natural, fully-physical, energetic, and subtle dance/movements that are guided into movement improvisations. As the work evolves, one’s capacity to remain wholly connected to this vital rhythm while expanding into varied dynamic states of presences is at the heart of the practice. Dynamic Expansion offers many possible applications to one’s personal artistic/ creative work practice including: a vibrant palette/ range of movement qualities, joy in movement, fine-tuned visual field perception, enhanced depth of focus, heightened and subtle states of presence, refined self-perception skills, new systems of connecting with self others and, profound experiences in the sensorial field.

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Shannon Cooney, Canadian choreographer, dancer/performer and dance educator based in Berlin, Germany since 2006, received a B.F.A honours/dance at York University, Toronto in 1992. Her choreography has been presented since 1993 in Canada, Europe the in the U.K. As a dancer she has performed in the works of numerous choreographers and she danced with Toronto-based Dancemakers (1994-2006), artistic director Serge Bennathan, which toured nationally and internationally. Shannon performed in installation works of Visual artists Marla Hlady (CA), Signe Theill (DE), and Heidi Sill (DE), and performed in numerous events of performance improvisations with musicians/performers and artists. She works as an artistic advisor and creative facilitator for directors and choreographers in dance and performance. Shannon created a dance method, Dynamic Expansion, which she teaches internationally for dance training centres, companies, universities and organizations. It is a practice combining her embodied knowledge in craniosacral therapy and contemporary dance. Her recent choreographic/performance projects include: Taste of Freedom (2016) every one everyone (2013), acoustic sightlines (2012), Assemblages (2011) and Spiral Pendulum: dance (2009).

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photos:
John Oswald
Cylla von Tiedemann