MODULE 3//Sept 27 2021 -WHAT AM I DOING?

WHAT AM I REALLY DOING?

Tonight's we had a very useful Module 3 discussion about what we are doing in our research, how we are framing, finding clarity, scratching the surface, focus on relevant, how we specify what we are doing....so after the discussion and really thankful after some clear questions, i would like to say about my project...

Still my research title will not be my setting stone and I will be flexible and open as much as I can..

 As part of my 2 month physically active researching period on a project Embodied flow in motion I am interested in exploring embodied flow in motion in 7 phases (slow flow, free flow, bound flow, open-spiral fluidity, fluid touch, floating sound, imagery flow, flow re-patterning) through embodied movement practices. In the context of this research, for me embodiment through fluidity has many stages and possibility to achieve fluid movement requires knowledge and experience of moving the body according to feelings, present state of mind, consciousness, breath support, good body coordination, spine mobility and stability, connection with the ground, sound, how to listen and act. I am interested in how to achieve stillness in movement, and also what is happening when we break the flow and start with another element, or just turn it to another direction. How this movement can become holistic and organic and still fluid and integrated? Can we transcend our ordinary consciousness and become so completely involved that we lose our senses of time and self?
I will develop practices that will base on elements of fluid movement, touch, voice, sensing, participative observing, reflecting and bring to mind a sense of connection to the embodied flow in motion.

about my methodology...

 My methodology is constant research. I will take into account connection from pragmatism (Dewey, James, Piaget), phenomenology (Husserl, Kant, Hegel, Merleau-Ponty) and existential philosophy (Kierkegaard, Pascal) combined with other valuable somatic approaches and vivid thoughts of contemporary somatic movement researcher and thinker (Laban, Fraleigh, Eddy, Csikszentmihalyi, Olsen, Cottrell, Cooper Albright, Pallaro, Maoilearca,..)
My idea is to apply embodied, phenomenological and pragmatic approach and skills of reflection and try to explore this creativity, reflectivity, transformation and according to Husserl “flowing change’ of conscious perception in movement with an amount of physically and mentally abled practitioners within the limits of their skills who are willing to express and expand their awareness in the movement, according to the state of presentness, emotions and breath, including dynamic interplay of experience and outer expression of space harmony and body limitation. Phenomenological aspect leads us from conscious experience into conditions that help to give experience its intentionality. Conscious is important in somatic work and unique for disembodied participation. We experience. This experiential or first person feature is an essential part of the nature structure of conscious experience. When I say, I move, I act, I think, I breathe, I desire, I live, … this is phenomenological an ontological feature of my experience to be experienced and meta cognition of what it is for the experience to be. 

I will use quantitative and qualitative research method, but I will certainly put an accent on the qualitative aspect of the research. This will allows me to reflect on my own experience as a researcher as part of the process and could provide datas about emotions, sensing, state of presentness. During the research I will combine action research and grounded theory so participants could continue to review, evaluate, request and improve practice either just keep questioning and examine the findings of participant observation and then proceeds to the analysis of those findings before any other data are collected. I will also involve reflective autobiography and interpretation of personal experience with the help of research diary to illustrate embodiment through fluidity more truthfully. During the research project I will use desk-based research of existing/available information, systematic literature reviews, policy analysis and case study (in-depth investigations of a single person, group may require observations and interviews). This planned analysis during seven weeks I will use for my Independent Professional Practice Project in next Module. That would be reflection on my inquiry.

gathering data...

 Participants will not be excluded according to any criteria. Will be approached and contacted via email and social media sites. Participation will be voluntary and participants will always have a right to withdraw from the research. Participants will be treated confidentially and anonymity will be made clear about the sessions and participants role in the research study. Because this is a shared practice session, I do hope that we could dance together in a way that we see each other. From a facilitator’s point of view, I would love to see and hear the participants at some point during the session, cause this class will be shaped by all participants...

Maybe this sound a bit ambitious, but I will be definitely open to the process, where will flow take me I will try to shape the class with all useful and meaningful information.. This will be experimental research, we will not try finding the answers, we will look for more possibilities...Since my my participants will be very colorful group (that means that I will shape the class with a non dancers- not professionals,  professionals, people who does not move too much, or on a daily basis, actors, performers, yoga teachers and practitioners, other artists), I do not have expectations at that point that i would like to control my research and do everything what is in my mind). I am eager in HOW we are moving/dancing according to our feelings, possibilities, body wisdom, body and mind knowledge, according to how we breathing, I do not want to teach them and want to be part of our together research but still with clarity of what I want to present them...like Angela said in the end we must start from somewhere, and I will start from the tiny impulses in the body directed with the breath, slow flow, and scratching the surface. I will try to do it managable. I do not want to overthink, to overreact, to do anything I will jeopardize my research. In the end that supposed to be a journey of 5-10 people who like to move, who like to explore and enjoy in what they are doing...

From next week i am starting with the process and let's hope that in few weeks I will have much to say..

Let's go with the flow.