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LM-Dance (1)

New* The video is a recording of a talk by Dr Lila Moore, a unique exploration  of the often-ignored aspects of aesthetics, the esoteric-occult, the symbolic, and the motivation behind the drive to innovations and the making of novel art forms.

Moreover, it's a beautiful dance journey into the Mysterious Rhythms of a planetary mystical vision, as commented  by Professor June Boyce-Tillman:


Thank you for informing us, exciting us, and inspiring us. Lila, it was a wonderful example of how to present material, which as you rightly say, and as I often say, why would I write it in music if I can say it in words. And this is often the question around all artistic presentations. But to be able to speak so beautifully about it, I think it was extremely well done with the wonderful images. So I think all of us here, are very very very grateful to you for an inspirational presentation!   


You are a beautiful visionary; thank you for sharing this compelling work. Reem Khashou, Master-level fitness and wellbeing coach, MSc student
 

Your presentation was amazing. I really loved it! So many dimensions, art forms, symbols and messages all rolled into one beautiful piece.

Sian Brown, MSc, Musician, singer, and music therapist

The talk took place in April 2024 as part of the Spiritual and the Arts Special Interest Group of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality.

The talk was introduced by the esteemed Prof. June Boyce-Tillman MBE, a leading British academic with a profound understanding of music, spirituality, and theology, particularly women's role in church music. Her expertise, as a Professor of Applied music at the University of Winchester and an ordained deacon and priest of the Church of England, brings a wealth of knowledge to our events. 


The talk was a collaborative effort, co-hosted by Annalisa Burello, MSc, who, together with June and Lila, co-founded the Spirituality and the Arts SIG as part of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality. This inclusive approach is a testament to our shared passion for this subject.

 

As mentioned, this presentation does not discuss the technical and aesthetic aspects of editing and choreographing for the screen. As briefly mentioned in the talk, editing is like dance and music notations, determining the rhythms of any screen-based piece. Moreover, as June remarked, speaking about non-verbal art forms in which words are not meant to replace or translate images and movements is challenging. It brings to mind Isadora Duncan's words: "If I could tell you what it meant, there would be no point in dancing it.

Gaia - Mysterious Rhythms is a dance-ritual performed by a young woman on the seashore. The dance unfolds a rite of passage and a process of transformation through the woman's interaction with the elements of the natural environment: the rhythms and features of the earth, sea, moon and sun.

In formal terms, Gaia was set out to explore the notion of screen choreography through a subtle, poetic and reflective interplay of images of the body and the environment. In terms of content, the woman's performance is perceived as a source of metaphoric and archetypal imagery that highlights the intricate relationship between body, psyche, and the world.

Dance on Screen PhD Thesis

Read the Abstract and Introduction below

GAIA- MYSTERIOUS RHYTHMS
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The artist's monograph Screen Dance as Rite of Passage is based on Dr Lila Moore’s PhD thesis entitled Dance on Screen (Middlesex University, 2001). Her thesis claims dance on screen as a hybrid art form with unique screen-based aesthetics. In this monograph, she demonstrates via detailed study, the capacity of screen dance to function as a ritualistic art form. The text explains how screen dance can reveal the imaginal realms of the psyche and seeks to holistically bridge and heal the split between the body and the psyche as well as the divide between the body, psyche, nature and the artificial, technological world. Screen Dance as Rite of Passage is based on the film Gaia – Mysterious Rhythms, which Dr Lila Moore made as part of her practice-based PhD.

Gaia - Mysterious Rhythms is a screendance-ritual performed by a young woman on the seashore. The dance unfolds a rite of passage and a process of transformation through the woman's interaction with the elements of the natural environment: the rhythms and features of the earth, sea, moon and sun. In formal terms, Gaia (short title) was set out to explore the notion of screen choreography/screendance through a subtle, poetic and reflective interplay of images of the body and the environment. In terms of content, the woman's performance is perceived as a source of metaphoric and archetypal imagery that highlights the intricate relationship between body, psyche, and the world. Gaia illustrates processes of transformation, Self-integration and empowerment relating to female and feminine identity. Moreover, it provides an analysis of spiritual, noetic and imaginal realms, including ancient symbols and archetypal symbolic forms, through the non-verbal visual poetry and fusion of dance and film.

The monograph is especially suitable for students, scholars, film-makers, dancers and choreographers, and can be useful to those interested in women’s spirituality, occult and goddess studies, Jungian psychology and Transpersonal studies, and movement-based therapies. The monograph provides detailed explanations and visual illustrations including links to the film and useful references.


The monograph is free to read on Amazon Kindle Unlimited
Get it on Amazon.com  Amazon.co.uk  and Worldwide

 
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