Elinoy Grach

Question 1: Unique challenges and gifts

A challenge I noticed with the work was that when a dancer retired, it brought up the challenge of continuing the previous history of the work. The dancers had to learn previous movements to continue the legacy properly. Another interesting thing was being able to see someone’s movements, especially if they’ve passed on. The dancers are able to provide this to the families specifically because they learn previous movements.

Question 2: Examples of movement

One of the movements that struck me was when a dancer woke up to find themselves sleeping in the position of one of the participants. It was interesting to me that the movements have become so ingrained in the dancers that they unknowingly adapt them into their lives. Another thing I found interesting, while not necessarily a movement, was when one participant noticed that he had been unintentionally making himself seem small and attempting to take up as little space as possible. Because of this realization, he bought a bright coloured coat. I enjoy how this process allows participants to view how they may be seen and are able to combat signals they were unaware that they were putting out.

Question 3: Three people’s habitual movements

Person 1: Rubbing their neck when they’re stressed. The arm lifts and moves from side to side in a repetitive motion. The skin becomes red, and their facial expression changes to a more concerned one the longer this motion continues. This movement tends to make people worried.

Person 2: Bouncing their leg while sitting. The vertical movement of the leg affects their surroundings and the movement of the rest of their body. They start to bite their lip and the inside of their cheek as they make themselves more stressed with their movement due to their heart rate rising. This movement makes others around them also stressed.

Person 3: Picking/scratching at their scalp. The arm reaches up, and the head tilts down. The facial expression tends to go into a blank stare. When the movement is noticed, the facial expression tends to become slightly embarrassed, and the motion stops quickly.