SAFER SPACE
MOVING HEART'S EVENTS INTEND TO SUPPORT AS SAFE SPACE POSSIBLE for all people regardless body, gender, identity, ethniticy and religious believe. We wish to create for everyone as inclusive environment as possible. We are curious to learn from each other.
SAFER SPACE POLICY
Here we are introducing some explorative viewpoints of how we all can contribute to each others well being, named as 'Safe Space'. Guidelines below is developed for practising contact improvisation but can be applied to other courses, trainings and events with Moving Heart as well. Safe Space Guidelines below is influenced and inspired from wordwide texts used on Contact Improvisation jam's and festivals.
DISCRIMINATION When it comes to people and minorities that may face widespread discrimination within mainstream society a Safe Space policy is incredibly important. Discrimination and oppressive patterns in the society doesn't necessarily stay away from the dancefloor or another educational setting. We can all learn more about how to care of each other and treat each other with respect.
Racism, transphobia, sexism/other oppressive, discriminating or harrasing behaviours are not tolerated.
If anyone or anything makes you feel uncomfortable or if you witness harassment, please report this to the organizers. A person who act according to this might have to leave the event.
DIFFERENT PRONONUNS
English and Swedish language traditionally divides people to two gender groups and people are often called he or she. In recent years the use of pronouns they or them has become a way to give space and respect for gender diversity.
In Moving Heart events we practise calling each other by our names and letting everyone express themselves with which pronouns they would like to be called. In the beginning of an event we invite all participants to share what they are called; with he, she, they or them. We help each other to kindly remember gender diversity; knowing it might be something many are not used to think about while talking about or to another.
TOUCH AND INTIMICITY
When practising Contact Improvisation and Aguahara we work with physical touch. In Contact Improvisation you will study techniques such partnering and communication through touch. In Aguahara we study how to give treatments holding another person in the water. In our culture physical closeness and touch is mainly experienced in intimate relationships such as lovers or between parent and child. Our preferences of touch is often limited and shaped by our earlier experiences. Therefor practising touch can be a vulnerable space. Unclear and abusive intentions is harmful and when we work with touch it's extremely important to respect our own and other people's boundaries. In Moving Heart courses we intend to create a safe space to widen our understanding of touch. We are aware that for instance it is natural to sometimes feel sexual and sensual energy, that's human and totally okay as long as we don't confuse ourselves with these feelings and translate it to intentions that are not part of the practise.
SELF CARE
Moving heart events are not designed for therapy, although the contents may be therapeutic.
We acknowledge that practices may awoke emotional processes and that being a human is to be sensing and feeling and experiencing a range of different moments. You are warmly welcome as you are and to be part of the education or event with both tears and laughter.
For your self care; If you are in an current mentally vulnerable state and in need of special support,
contact us before you attend and we can acknowledge what support we can provide or not in that specific event. Note that Moving Heart's events are not group therapy, but does trainskills for tending to yourself on your day-to-day basis. If you need deep work to heal your past, the invitation is that you reach out for a therapist, teacher, healer, or shaman who specializes in trauma-integration work, to help you on your journey.
TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH
ElinMaria is a certified Trauma Informed Facilitator through Somatic Selfcompassion® Teachers Learning Collective. She intend to integrate Trauma informed Approach and guidelines in Moving Heart events, meaning she has competence to:
- Realize the widespread impact of trauma and stress;
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma and stress in community members;
- Understand potential roads for recovery;
- Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures and practices; and
- Seek to actively resist re-traumatization.
If you have further questions, pls contact us!
Warmly, ElinMaria and Gabriel
LEARN MORE Click on the selected topic
- Trans
- Sexual energy in Contact Improvisation Text by Joerg Hassman
SAFER SPACE GUIDELINES
Contact Improvisation
* TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF*
Adjust, explore, take a break and watch for a while. Drink water.
* RESPECT YOUR BOUNDARIES *
If you start to feel overhelmed and something does not feel ok; step out, take a break. Re-connect to what you need. Practise to leave exercises and dances whenever you feel like it. You don't need to explain why.
* RESPECT THE BOUNDARIES OF OTHERS*
If somebody leaves from a dance with you, LET GO and find your way to your own dance. Don’t try others to do what they don’t want to do. Practise to receive a no! Don’t expect from others that they want to cuddle or hug; be sensitive and practise to listen when it’s the moment to give a hug.
* EXPLORE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF YOURS
AND OTHERS BOUNDARIES! *
Take it as an exploration in the world of physical contact. Find out different moments and different needs, be creative and respectful.
* EXPLORE HOW TO ENTER A DANCE *
Explore how to enter a dance and how to find a common agreement about dancing together! Have the courage to receive a Yes and a No!
* NO GRABBING! *
Let your dance-partner be free to catch themselves. In case of falling, don’t grab ankles and wrists, especially during lifts. Don’t try to lift anyone who doesn’t want to.
* EXPLORE GENDER-ROLES *
There are no assumed gender roles in practising CI (how a woman/man/trans/bigender should dance). There is no need to give each other different genders; You can explore and play and change the roles. Realize not everybody are or behave how we assume a certain gender to be.
*NO DISCRIMINATION IS TOLERATED*
Practising CI is a space to cultivate safety for everybody! Racism, transphobia, sexism/other oppressive, discriminating or harrasing behaviours are not tolerated. If anyone or anything makes you feel uncomfortable or if you witness harassment, please report this to the organizers. A person who act according to this might have to leave the event.
* CARE FOR EACH OTHER *
Be empathetic with others; needs can be different. At some point we love to be cuddled up, other times to talk and share or we prefer to have own space and be left alone. Explore how to respect and care for each other as well how to communicate your own needs.
CREATE A SPACE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHERS TO
- EXPLORE, BE CURIOUS AND GROW OUR UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNICATION THROUGH TOUCH
- BE SAFER
- BE WHO WE ARE
Moving Heart 2020