Cybernetic Futures Inst. 4
Technoetic Arts &
the Spiritual & Occult in Art, Film,
Screen-Dance + Networked Performance
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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 by Lila Moore PhD Thesis (2001)
GAIA- MYSTERIOUS RHYTHMS
TRAILER
Screen Dance as Rite of Passage is a captivating exploration of dance on screen as a hybrid art form with its own unique, screen-based aesthetics. Based on Dr. Lila Moore’s PhD research (Dance on Screen, Middlesex University, 2001), this artist’s monograph delves into the transformative power of screen dance as a ritualistic art form. Through detailed analysis and poetic reflection, Dr. Moore reveals how screen dance can access imaginal realms of the psyche, offering a path toward deeper self-awareness and healing.
At the heart of the monograph is the film Gaia – Mysterious Rhythms, a screen-dance-ritual created by Dr. Moore as part of her practice-based PhD. The film follows a young woman dancing on a seashore, engaging with the natural elements—earth, sea, moon, and sun—unfolding a profound rite of passage. Through this interplay of movement and environment, the dance becomes a metaphor for transformation, empowerment, and self-integration. The visual poetry of Gaia weaves together body, psyche, and nature while exploring feminine identity and ancient archetypal symbolism through a non-verbal cinematic language.
Additionally, Dr. Moore explores screen-dance as a hybrid, screen-based technological art form that has evolved alongside advancements in technology, modern art, and digital art. She reflects on screen-dance technoetic potential—how, through the use of screen-based and digital technologies, it can reveal and give form to the invisible and imaginal realms of the psyche, soul, and consciousness.
This monograph is ideal for students, scholars, filmmakers, dancers, and choreographers seeking a deeper understanding of screen dance and its spiritual, psychological, and artistic dimensions. It will also resonate with those interested in women's spirituality, goddess studies, Jungian psychology, Transpersonal studies, and movement-based therapies. Richly illustrated with visual references, the text provides links to the film and offers insightful commentary, making it both a theoretical resource resource and a source of creative inspiration.
A new review of Screen Dance as a Rite of Passage – Gaia Mysterious Rhythms has appeared in S/HE: An International Journal of Goddess Studies, written by Dr Helen Benigni, Ph.D., whose response to the work unfolds with a depth that matches its intentions.
S/HE: An International Journal of Goddess Studies
Volume 4 Number 1-2 (2025)
Helen Benigni, PhD, is the author of The Goddess and the Bull, The Myth of the Year, and The Mythology of Venus (Bloomsbury). She is Professor at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia.
Click on the Pdf to read and download.
Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
For inquiries about screenings and workshops, contact Dr Lila Moore.