Perceptual choreographies
Roots and branches of the movement
Elements of Sensitive Dance®, Somatic Dance, and Contact Dance / Axis Syllabus Study Group
Bologna
Saturday, February 21, 2026
14:00 - 18:30
with Yiskah Jessica Cestaro
and Francesca Ravagnani
A meeting dedicated to somatic intelligence and its expression in movement, which is inspired by the image of the root and branches as an organizing principle of movement, creating a dialogue between somatic experience and choreography.
We will explore and cultivate the capacity to stand still* and to go into space, investigating how these two conditions can mutually and usefully inform each other. We will see how in being still* it is valuable to preserve dynamic potential and how in movement can be the seed of rest.
The course alternates between moments devoted to the micro and the implicit in terms of grounding, presence, and internal movement, and moments in which the bodily experience manifested is in support of movement, coordination, and organization in space inside and outside the skin. Anatomy and biomechanics will inform this process. From the spine to the limbs.
We will be guided by some questions: How to stand with vitality and presence without stiffening or collapsing? How to move efficiently, avoiding overexertion? And what relationship exists between the two?
We will dance in solo or dialogic contact between bodies, moving between somatic exploration, analysis, deep listening and dynamism. The encounters are divided into moments of theory, application, reflection and sharing, in order to access the complexity of the body in a titular and assimilable way.
Axis Syllabus, sensitive dance, somatics, and biodynamic mindfulness nourish this research at its root, and their fruits are implicitly expressed in the dance.
This training is for dancers, actors, artists, and researchers who wish to nurture an investigation of the body in art and performance, enriching their somatic vocabulary and movement practice. For all people, even those with little experience, who wish to encounter the body in terms of knowledge and research, in a safe and non-competitive group field.
Salotto Somatico program orient to a multifaceted view of the body, celebrating a dialogue between art, health and life.
Yiskah is a dancer, teacher, performer, researcher in the field of movement and somatic languages. Somatic practitioner in bio-natural disciplines, craniosacral biodynamics and mindfulness. She has studied and worked in Italy, Europe, Africa in a dance and theater companies, social projects for people with disabilities and as a street artist. It is in the process toward axis syllabus certification.
BIO complete
Francesca is o peratrix shiatsu. and since 2017 has been practicing sensitive dance® of which she completed a two-year in-depth training with teacher Roberta Claren and osteopath Enrico Simonetto. She has followed processes of instant composition and choreographic writing with Marina Rossi (Lelastiko). He practiced butoh dance meeting Atsushi Tachenouchi, Yumiko Yoshioka, Kea Tonetti, Minako Seki in Barcelona, Katsura Kan and the 4Rude duo in Sofia.
