Florentis: An intergenerational screen dance project led and directed by Ruth Way

Ruth Way's Upcoming Conference Presentation, Eastwest Somatics Institute October 10 & 11, 2020

Ruth Way teaches at the University of Plymouth in the UK

Florentis ( 2019) examines the impact of loneliness and the potential for somatic movement practice to resource individuals to retain a physical mindfulness and an ongoing engagement with ‘being in movement’ to support wellbeing. The project was informed by a series of somatic movement workshops delivered in partnership between the University of Plymouth and Age Concern Plymouth.

Filmed on location at the Orangery, Saltram House, a National Trust Property, Plymouth. Florentis is inspired by this 18th century working orangery and the tropical gardens at Saltram House, engaging with its sensorial potential and the poetic images and experiences resonating in these landscapes.

This presentation will include a screening of Florentis ( 10 minutes) , followed by a short paper which will discuss how a somatic movement approach informed the performance making and filmic processes and fostered empathic exchange, connection with others, how we can rediscover flow in movement and move into our corporeal space.

Short Biography - Ruth Way

Ruth Way is Associate Professor in Dance, Theatre and Performance at the University of Plymouth and Co-Director of Plymouth Conservatoire. She is Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Dance and ResM. Dance degrees. Specialist teaching and research areas are in the fields of somatic movement practices, screendance, performance training and digital dance practices. Ruth trained as a professional dancer and choreographer at the London School of Contemporary Dance and toured internationally with Earthfall Dance and Lusty Juventus Physical Theatre. As a practical scholar she has presented her practice as research through articles, screenings, performances and conference papers internationally. She is co-director of Enclave Productions with visual artist Russell Frampton and their dance films have been selected for major festivals in Europe, Australia and USA. Ruth is a graduate of Eastwest Somatics Institute and a registered somatic movement educator, publications include chapters ‘Somatic Awakenings’ in Sondra Fraleigh’s book ‘ Moving Consciously’ (2015) and ‘Heaven is a Place The politics and poetics of LGBT location in a community dance film’ ( 2017) Roberta Mock, Kayla Parker and Ruth Way In Sarita Malik, Caroline Chapain and Roberta Comunian (eds), Community Filmmaking: Diversity, Practice and Places. London: Routledge. Florentis (2019) selected for international open air film festival OnArt Poland 2020.