In this article you will learn: what Authentic Movement is and its origins, its philosophical underpinnings, and how it is practiced.
A Brief History:
Authentic Movement (AM) is a contemplative dance practice pioneered by Mary Starks Whitehouse in the 1950s and further developed by Janet Adler and Joan Chodorow. Whitehouse synthesized her studies and training in Modern Dance and Jungian Psychology to create what she first called "Movement In Depth," a practice that explored embodied active imagination allowing "the unconscious to express itself through movement." Both Adler and Chodorow studied with Whitehouse and continued to enrich the practice with their own unique expertise. Chodorow was a Jungian Analyst and approached the practice through the lens of active imagination, developmental psychology, dreamwork, and archetypes. Adler was a Dance Movement Therapist anchored in Buddhist psychology, mindfulness, and mysticism. She named her lineage of the practice "The Discipline of Authentic Movement." (1)
"Authentic Movement is informed by developmental psychology, somatic epistemology, Jungian thought, dance ethnology, and mystical studies." (2)
Authentic Movement is applied not only in Dance Movement Therapy settings but also within dance, performance, and somatic fields, as it fosters personal expression and deepening self-awareness. Though these are the most common contexts where you will see AM being practiced, it is meant for everyone and is beneficial for the holistic health and healing of all! No prior experience is necessary when practicing AM, however, it can be helpful to have basic knowledge of mindfulness and meditation.
How it Works:
Authentic Movement can be practiced with a group or in a one-on-one setting. There are two basic roles within the practice: The Mover and The Witness. The Mover participates in self-directed movement with their eyes closed while being witnessed. The Mover brings awareness to movement impulses that are sensed in the body as feeling, sensation, or image, and expresses movement impulse without any intellectual directive. The movement is meant to facilitate an experience of "being moved" by the unconscious itself. The role of The Witness is to see The Mover through a "clear lens" without judgment, interpretation, or projection. The Witness pays attention to their own inner feelings and sensations while keeping their gaze on The Mover.
In Janet Adler's words:
“The form of this work is simple—one person witnesses another person moving in a studio space… The witness, especially in the beginning, carries a larger responsibility for consciousness, as she sits to the side of the movement space. She is not ‘looking at’ the person moving, she is witnessing, listening, bringing a specific quality of attention or presence to the experience of the mover.
The mover works with eyes closed in order to expand her experience of listening to the deeper levels of her kinesthetic reality. Her task is to respond to a sensation, to an inner impulse, to energy coming from the personal unconscious, the collective unconscious, or the superconscious.”
— Janet Adler, from “Who is the Witness?” Contact Quarterly, 1987 (3)
The shared presence between the mover and the witness is often described as the relationship of "seeing and being seen." This dynamic forms the foundation for cultivating the inner witness—the ability to observe oneself with complete acceptance and compassion. Authentic Movement is grounded in the human need to have healthy relationship with oneself, others, and the divine. It aims to nurture skills such as loving awareness, presence, and authentic self-expression.
The center of the work in the discipline of Authentic Movement is about relationship: between a mover and and outer witness, between the moving self and an inner witness, between the self and the collective, the self and the Divine. Relationship, relationship, relationship. This gift, this challenge of being a person is about relationship. — Janet Adler
Those who facilitate Authentic Movement experiences use a variety of formats depending on the context, however, always remain rooted in the two roles of The Mover and The Witness. Some facilitators take a looser approach, while others maintain the exact structure of the practice as passed down to them by their predecessors.
To learn more about the discipline of Authentic Movement consider these resources:
I give many thanks and sincere gratitude to my teachers: Mary Abrams, Penny Collinson, Lindsay Gilmour, Diana Levy, and Lisa Tsetse.
Citations:
(1) Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentic_Movement
(2) Authentic Movement Institute: https://www.authenticmovementinstitute.com/authenticmovement
(3) Susan Bauer: https://susanbauer.com/dance-movement/authentic-movement/
(4) Pallaro, P. (Ed.). (2007). From autism to the discipline of Authentic Movement. In Authentic Movement: Moving the Body, Moving the Self, Being Moved (Vol. 2, pp. 24-31). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
About the Author:
Lillian Kemanis, is a Registered Somatic Movement Educator & Therapist (RSMET) with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA), and holds a masters degree from University of Central Lancashire in Dance and Somatic Well-being: connections to the living body. She offers support to individuals seeking a holistic and alternative approach to navigating life’s challenges. With over 10 years of professional experience in the movement healing arts, Lillian supports her community through personalized 1:1 Somatic Therapy sessions, immersive group workshops, and accessible online education. Her sessions prioritize body awareness as the primary pathway to address underlying emotional, mental, and physical needs, following a "bottom-up" therapeutic approach. Her methods facilitate the development of internal self-awareness and mind-body integration, helping clients restore a deep sense of connection to their vitality. Read more about Lillian's offerings here: https://www.lilliankemanis.com/sessions
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