Dance and Stillness; A danced inquiry to the experience of stillness

We explore the subject of stillness: specifically the§stillness that occurs in the midst of movement,§turbulence or chaos. It is found in the midst of§movement - it can also be conceived as that which§frames, or holds all movement. A principal focus is§to distinguish the therapeutic value of this§stillness. A Christo-centric philosophy and worldview§are ground to the work and the research methodology§is hermeneutic phenomenology. Within this framework a§choreographed dance work and written exegesis are§equal parts of the whole. The choreography for the§dance work employs a neo-classical-contemporary§technique particular to the choreographer. The dance§work was choreographed on and presented by four§dancers. These four dancers and four watchers were§the research participants. As the dance work evolved§it was presented in process and the participants§interviewed subsequent to the showings. Information§was sought about the essence of the danced/watched§experience, with particular attention being given to§the felt experience of stillness. This is a story and§a journey - being the vehicle for the central theme§of the thesis to be best elucidated.