Rakesh Sukesh, an artistic force bridging India and Belgium, excels as a versatile performer, choreographer, teacher, and producer. His roots in yogic philosophy, accredited by the Shivananda Yoga Centre, and his dance training in Kalaripayattu and contemporary techniques under masters like Jaychandran Palazy and Dil Sagar shape his work. He has collaborated with renowned groups like Ultima Vez and Bollwerk, creating choreographies such as A Dream of Silence and Yatra. His current solo production, because I love the diversity, explores racism and micro-attitudes. Through pioneering the Intact Method-Interconnected dance practice and leading international festivals, he significantly influences the cultural landscape.
CANCELLED: Power of Breath (Intact-Methode)
Rakesh Sukesh
This workshop integrates contemporary scientific findings with ancient breath work practices to support dancers in enhancing their physical and mental abilities. Recent research, as highlighted by Jerath et al. (2006), underscores the significance of breath in regulating physiological and psychological states, emphasising its role in reducing stress and improving cognitive function. Building on this scientific understanding, the workshop introduces traditional breath work techniques such as Pranayama, including specific practices like for example: Kapalabhati and Nadi Shodhana. These ancient techniques aim to develop breath control, optimise respiratory pathways, and enhance breathing capacity, thereby facilitating dancers' performance improvement.
Participants will go through structured improvisation stages, synchronised with specific breathing patterns, illustrating how breath can drive movement, create rhythm, and deepen the connection between dancer and environment. The warm-up exercises blend dynamic fluid and dynamic movement patterns with deep, rhythmic breathing to enhance oxygen flow to muscles, preparing the body for versatile activity.
Performance is profoundly impacted by different breathing rhythms. Various breathing patterns create different impacts on physical movement, emotional, and mental states. Practicing these rhythms in various contexts helps dancers understand how breath modulates emotion. We analyse how breath patterns affect the body and mind, teaching participants to set performance intentions and use breath to transform these intentions into physical and emotional expression. Techniques such as breath visualisation and breath-gesture synchronisation will be employed to amplify expressive power.
To address post-performance recovery, we introduce breath-based strategies like box breathing and progressive relaxation, designed to alleviate fatigue and stabilise the body. These methods enable dancers to recover swiftly and maintain peak performance levels. By the end of the workshop, dancers will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to use breath to enhance their performance, manage their mental and emotional states, and recover effectively.
- Studio 2
Tanzhaus Zürich
Wasserwerkstrasse 127a
8037 Zürich - Wheelchair accessible
Online Event
The dates marked as "Online Event" take place exclusively via livestream on the internet and not on-site.
Wipkingerpark
Festival site Zürcher Theater Spektakel / Saffainsel
Kulturama
Museum der Anthropologie
Tanzhaus Zürich
Tanzhaus Zürich
- Wheelchair accessible
- English
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Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the two-day workshop.
Open to: Dancers, choreographers, performers, movers of all kinds
