My journey with Art of Flow
I often think about what my role here at Art of Flow is, what the Experimental Jam is, and how can we best serve in what we‘re offering.
When I joined one of the first Jams in 2018, I was immediately fascinated by this combination, this wild mix – Discovering what is happening in the moment, close and playful contact with other movers, and just feeling this immense freedom. Also the challenges, the fear of rejection, of wanting to look good, of wanting to belong. Though I immediately felt accepted by the people I‘ve encountered. I rarely had the feeling that I needed to proof something. „Leave your judgement (towards yourself and others) outside …“, a phrase that still echoes from those early days into present jams, was and still is a powerful encouragement.
Looking for a way to express myself on a physical level, but not being a fan of dance techniques or learned routines, I found exactly what I was looking for. It‘s this feeling that anything can happen. It‘s about becoming open, curious, and dropping any idea what might happen or imposing ideas on the moment and interactions. Over the years I‘ve come to value this as a practice in itself. Of course it doesn‘t always happen, but when it does it‘s pure magic. It‘s flow. It‘s creating something with other movers that‘s a unique, intelligent expression of the present moment, a gift.
Through the years, my role as a participant grew into voluntary helper, then into space holder, and at some point into taking the project lead over from Alicia, in a wonderful collaboration with Miriam and Diane. In those years, I saw and felt the value of community, of sticking with a project and seeing it blossom over time, through all the love that has been poured in by all the participants, the movers, the musicians, the warmuppers, the helpers, and the facilitators.
In 2024 the team has grown again. Dear friends who have been with us from the beginning have officially joined the team. Welcome (back) Alicia, Greggy and Matthias! :-)
The heart of this project, what we do, is about community and being curious and playful about the present moment.
I‘m so excited about the future of Art of Flow and Experimental Jam. To see where it will go, and to co-create on that journey. For me, the heart of this project, what we do, is about community and being curious and playful about the present moment. And that happens with YOU, so thank YOU for your participation, your courage to also show up, for being vulnerable, for being so curious and playful.
I was lucky to join two movement-events co-hosted by Kirstie Simson in Montreux in 2023 and 2024 called „The emerging body“ (Thank you Diane for the recommendation!!!). Kirstie was part of the movement back in the seventies, when she moved and explored together with Steve Paxton, the founder Contact Improvisation. I got goosebumps when she described how they discovered unchartered territory, not yet having a name for what was happening. Only later it grew into a technique and got the name Contact Improvisation. I was deeply impressed and touched by what she has to offer and the values which she embodies. Also the critique of her that Contact Improvisation has been reduced to a technique, that people „do“ on each other, rather than being open, resonated deeply with me.
Since that event, I feel a seed has been planted in me and I want to help bring it to life. I see these kind of spaces being offered also for younger people, kids, teenagers, and people with disabilities, who might have difficulties moving in a conventional way. Especially since we are so focused on the digital world and our digital devices, I can‘t imagine what devistating effect this has on a young body/mind. I truly feel that those kind of spaces offer healing, and are therefore a medicine for the current time we live in.
I often feel something tribal, something ancient when we‘re moving together. As if we have been doing this for a very long time. And by continuing to do so, we tap into a field, an intelligence, that keeps on growing and evolving, beyond space and time. Like a organism that grows or a yummy bread dough that‘s being passed down generations.
Thank you for joining me on that journey! Let‘s be playful, brave and curious! I‘m curious to see, what will unfold.
With love,
Frederic
