The course Our Inner Nature led by Minja Mertanen focuses on natural elements and movement through imagination. Each class begins with attuning to our bodies, identifying their wishes and needs. We then explore our inner movement through physical exercises, drawing inspiration from our imagination.
The classes primarily emphasise individual work and navigating personal inner journeys. Occasionally, there are opportunities for pair or group exercises with clear instructions. The course explores nature's elements through various methods. We’ll embody these elements to better understand their attributes and relationship with our inner space – our inner nature. By interacting with nature's elements, we can learn to appreciate the diverse aspects of ourselves. Where do we keep our fire? Where does rain reside within us? How do we tend to our inner garden?
The course is loosely based on Mertanen’s latest solo piece, Kasvu ja kukoistus (‘Growth and Flourishing’), which portrayed the cycle and blossoming of nature in mid-summer. Throughout the course, we seek vitality, blossoming, and the inherent power of growth in every living being.
Minja Mertanen is a qualified dance teacher, dance and movement therapist, and yoga instructor and is currently studying somatic movement therapy. Mertanen works actively as a dancer, performer, and performance maker in the field of Finnish performing arts, contributing to platforms such as Reality Research Center, Pluckhouse, and Other Spaces, and various buto productions. With 20 years of experience teaching dance and buto to professionals, enthusiasts, and special groups, Mertanen has showcased her talents and expertise at various festivals across 18 different countries, not only in Europe but also in Israel, Japan, and South America. She is also one of the artistic directors of the Helsinki Butoh Festival.
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Indulge the Movement – Contemporary dance for all courses are mainly instructed by the choreographers and performers of Zodiak’s previous, current and upcoming season’s programme of performances. Indulge the Movement courses are suitable for everyone, and you can participate even without previous dance experience. Indulge the Movement – Contemporary dance for all courses focus on motion and movement, but they also offer an opportunity to explore different dance practices with alternating instructors.
The language of this course is Finnish and / or English, according to the needs of the participants.