Zen Acrobatics
"Pay close attention to the state of your mind and do not worry about your body - fill any places where your mind is lacking but do not let it become overfull at all...
Understand thoroughly how a small body can be large in spirit and know completely how a large body can be small in spirit;
Whether large or small, set your mind straight - having a mind that is not controlled by your body is essential"
Miyamoto Musashi \ The Book Of Five Rings
The aim of this workshop is to allow space for learning and research through concepts and ideas which we find inspiring, fulfilling and enriching both for our artistic work and our lives.
Dates
5-7 February, 2021
Times
Fri 5th | 6 pm - 9 pm
Sat 6th | 10 am - 6 pm (with 1,5 hour lunch break)
Sun 7th | 10 am - 6 pm (with 1,5 hour lunch break)
*The workshop is open to people with a prior movement practice of any kind.
Price
Early bird | €220 (Register before Jan 8)
Full price | €240
Location
17 Chemin des Mines,
13011 Marseille
Info & Registration
Email Lucas
Content
My approach to acrobatics has developed from the urge to look for freedom in movement. It led me to the wonderful paradox between meditation and acrobatics, the attempt to find tranquility in the chaos, to understand whether it is possible to create a practice that is inspired by the eye of the storm.
The main goal is to find a movement quality that supports simple actions like walking and running, as well as acrobatic feats without a difference in effort, mental fatigue or structural tension.
To do this, we will search for high levels of awareness and precision so the body can react quickly to the changes in skeletal stress, and to maintain flow without unnecessary distractions.
In classical acrobatic disciplines – Preparation, Climax and Landing are being treated as completely different aspects while usually one is more important than the other.
In "Zen Acrobatics" the practitioner aspires to transform all 3 states into one motion that can ultimately connect to any other type of movement.
Examples for inputs that are used in this learning process are: Sounds of take-offs and landings, alignment in relation to the space, 'Eye -Focus', application of forces, integration of breath, momentum and more.
Those are being covered in addition to the classical Element analysis, anatomical Instructions and basic conditioning. The acrobatic training allows the mover to tune into a "mind-quality" which is usually present only in extreme sports or full – contact sports.
The mover becomes animalistic and functional, and while attempting complicated feats he turns on "survival instincts" which allows him to reflect on his movement from an entirely different point of view. The risks turn into a play of one's body with gravity and the idea of falling is gradually being forgotten and turned into a way of moving/being that is rooted in lightness, fluidity and the willingness to improvise.
Personally, this type of practice over the year has given me confidence, joy and a more calm and serene mind. It allows me to tap into somewhat of a child-like state which supports me both in my artistic career and in my personal life.
About Tom
Tom Weksler has been practicing Martial Arts and different forms of acrobatic disciplines from a young age. Tom graduated in 2009 from “The Workshop For Dancers and Choreographers in Haifa”. Since 2010, Tom has been dancing with “Inbal Pinto and Avshallom Pollak Dance Company” and performed with the company's productions in many theatres and festivals around the world. Tom is currently performing around the world the performance “Collective Loss Of Memory” - choreographed by “Rootlessroot” (Jozef Fruček and Lind Kapetanea) and produced by “Dot504”. Since 2017 Tom has been dancing with Guy Nader and Maria Campose Dance Company.
In 2012 tom has created 'LOBOS' in collaboration with Yogi Dekel and Breno Caetano. In 2014 Tom Created the Duets "SARU' and "Heder" in collaboration with Tokyo Based Dancer and Choreographer Mayumu Minakawa. Both Duets has performed internationally in various theaters and festivals. In 2017 Tom has premiered the Duet "Pilim" in Collaboration with Circus Artist Yogi Dekel. Since 2017 tom has also established an artistic collaboration with Catalonian Dancer and Choreographer Roser Tutusaus. The collaboration is currently in process of completing the theatre piece 'After The Rain' (premiered in Bari, Puglia in 2018) and the street piece "RISE".
Tom and Roser have established Wonderground Company in 2019, focusing on creations which are departing from the collaboration between dance, movement and other art forms.
Movement Archery workshops have taken place in Dance Schools, Circus Schools, Dojos and Professional Companies in: Israel, Italy, France, Belgium, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Greece, U.K., Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, U.S.A, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Photos by Aida Vargas