Un zeste de… Imaginaires corporels dans l’œuvre somatique de Nancy Topf

In 2012, Melinda Buckwalter edited The Anatomy of Center (Contact Editions), publishing for the first time the principles of the Topf Technique® and Dynamic Anatomy as well as the historical context of the development of Release Technique. Recently translated into French by Contredanse, Nancy Topf’s The Anatomy of Center takes us on a journey to the center of the human body, exploring anatomical components through movement and images. This is what Melinda Buckwalter will propose during this webinar, bringing us from the pages of the book to the practice, from our eyes to the curves of our spine, from a heritage to a physical and sensitive experience.

Melinda Buckwalter was a student of Nancy Topf’s in the early 1990’s, and has focused her research on Topf’s work and taught dance inspired by the Release Technique as well as anatomy and kinesiology. She published Composing while Dancing: an Improviser’s companion in 2010. Since 2005, she has been co-editor at Contact Quarterly.

Nancy Topf (1942-1998), American dancer, choreographer and teacher, is a pioneer, along with John Rolland, Marsha Paludan and Mary Fulkerson, of the Anatomical Release Technique, movement education and physical rehabilitation. Over a period of thirty years, Nancy Topf developed her approach to Release Technique, called Topf Technique ™ and Dynamic Anatomy.