Part of the Dancing in Jersey Spotlight Q&A series.
Welcome to the latest edition of Dancing in Jersey's new Q&A series, Spotlight Q&A. In this series, founder Hayley delves into the stories and passions behind Jersey's vibrant dance community.
The series continues with a conversation with Emily Bartleman, a passionate advocate for embodied movement and the founder of SOMA Jersey, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing opportunities to move and dance expressively and fully, free from restraint.
Dancing in Jersey (DiJ): Can you tell us about the inspiration behind SOMA Jersey and how it all began?
Emily Bartleman (EB): I came to Jersey nearly 8 years ago bringing with me a love of somatic movement and dance practice. This was born out of a Master's degree in which I was fortunate enough to immerse myself in Laban's movement analysis and theories of Space Harmony, whilst also becoming somewhat obsessed with the work of Joan Skinner's Skinner Releasing Technique. I am not a professional dancer, have never stuck with ballet classes for any length of time and can be floored by too many 'steps but I have a real passion for moving and longed for more embodied movement and dance opportunities on the island - hence, SOMA Jersey.
It took me 8 years to realise that in order to attend the classes I longed for, I would need to set something up. Eight years and a little (a lot!) of courage!
DiJ: What does SOMA Jersey offer, and who can benefit from your workshops?
EB: SOMA Jersey seeks to offer movement and dance workshops to anyone desiring to move and dance more fully, expressively and freely. Through many different disciplines, embodied ballet, Feldenkrais technique, Skinner Releasing Technique (SRT) as well as the practice of Rudolf Laban (to name but a start!), SOMA Jersey hopes to ignite this desire within others as well as support practitioners, both on- and off-island, by providing opportunities for them to share their knowledge and expertise.
At the heart of SOMA's ethos, is that these movement and dance opportunities are 'for all', regardless of experience, and can be accessed by the participant at any level.
SOMA Jersey is a registered non-profit organisation.
DiJ: What makes your approach to movement and somatic practice unique?
EB: Experiencing the joy of embodied movement and dance, free from restraint. This is the ethos that underpins the organisation. 'Restraint' might be physical - areas of tension within the body that are 'held', or psychological - our own thoughts and feelings that hold us back from moving freely and expressively. Sometimes we are unaware of our own restraints – our inability to 'let go'. The workshops aim to support participants to move beyond these internal barriers.
DiJ: How does SOMA Jersey help people connect with their bodies in a meaningful way?
EB: SOMA Jersey aims to enable individuals to 'listen' to their bodies' physiological connections and natural movement patterns more keenly.
This is something that is often overlooked in today's busy world. It requires attention, compassion, a little patience and often playfulness but is key to unlocking so much of what SOMA Jersey is about.
Our inhibitions, doubts and fears, often unconscious, can surface through movement and conversely be released, leading to greater freedom both physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Embodiment enables us to get in touch with who we were born to be! All one needs is a leap of courage and a desire to move beyond!
DiJ: What are some common misconceptions about somatic movement that you'd like to dispel?
EB: I don't really feel inclined to dispel misconceptions. For me, the most powerful element to somatic movement (I prefer 'embodied') is when practice enables release. There is a lovely idea encapsulated by Joan Skinner, founder of Skinner Releasing Technique: the dance dances itself. To me, this suggests there is a point at which the body takes over, takes 'flight' even, loses all inhibitions and starts to move of its own accord. It is an ideal, but a beautiful one!
DiJ: Can you share a success story or a memorable moment from your sessions?
EB: The sessions are yet to start but a recent success story has been uniting two wonderful practitioners, Helen Lincoln, a qualified Feldenkrais practitioner and Emily Ward, a former professional ballet dancer, both of whom have a passion for somatic practice. Their meeting has sparked a beautiful collaboration - a trio of embodied ballet workshops, to be accompanied by live piano music at David Hick Interiors - commencing 17th March (so watch this space!). It's a really magical combination for those longing to 'inhabit' ballet movements more expressively. Helen's initial ATM, Awareness Through Movement sessions, will help to enable this.
DiJ: What role does dance and movement play in overall wellbeing, from your perspective?
EB: It is fundamental to who we are as human beings. Connecting with how we are uniquely designed to move and dance is synonymous with wellbeing. Getting in touch with our embodied selves, unpeeling layers of prescribed behaviour – societal, relational, genetics even - this can only be a good thing!
DiJ: Do you collaborate with other local dance or wellness groups in Jersey?
EB: It is early days but going forward the organisation would love to collaborate with local groups sympathetic to its ethos. Ballet d'Jèrri's Tabitha Dombroski is leading a workshop in May, focusing on natural movement pathways unique to one's own body.
Further afield, in the Autumn, I hope to welcome Lizzy le Quesne, a qualified Skinner Release practitioner, who has connections with the island, and Susi Thornton who runs the Laban Movement Choir Project in the UK which I used to be involved with.
DiJ: What advice would you give to someone who is new to somatic movement and unsure where to start?
EB: Please come along and try a workshop especially - perhaps - if it requires a little courage! I myself have had a significant break from opportunities like this so you will be in good company. Hopefully, it will be a chance to enjoy and 'let go'... and you will come back for another!
DiJ: How can people get involved with SOMA Jersey, and what's coming up next for you?
EB: Look for SOMA Jersey's workshops on the Dancing in Jersey website - 29th March, 27th April and 17th May. Purchase tickets through the Eventbrite links. Any questions do please email emily@somajersey.com. I would be delighted to hear from you.
Also, do keep an eye out for the trio of embodied ballet workshops starting on Monday 17th March which will be advertised through Dancing in Jersey as well.
We are about to publicise SOMA Jersey through social media. A website is yet to materialise - one 'step' at a time! I really do hope you will get involved.
