Bartenieff Fundamentals Intensive

The next BF workshop will be:

December 6 & 7 (Sat/Sun) 11-5 pm

at HB Studio, NYC

About this Course

Unlock the secrets of your movement potential and transform your approach to the body and its connection to the world around you. Join us for an immersive 2-day in-person workshop where we delve into the profound realm of Bartenieff Fundamentals.

Bartenieff Fundamentals is a movement-based approach that helps you explore and understand your body’s potential for dynamic and efficient movement. Developed by Irmgard Bartenieff (George Bartenieff’s mother), a pioneer in Physical Therapy, Dance Therapy, and Movement Analysis, this method focuses on core principles of movement, including:

• Breath

• Core support

• Dynamic alignment

• Spatial intent

• Developmental Movement Patterns

• Joint Efficiency and Biomechanics

• Initiation and Sequencing

• Stability/Mobility

Through a series of exercises, guided explorations, hands-on feedback, and discussion, you’ll learn to improve your body awareness, coordination, and movement efficiency. Bartenieff Fundamentals is not just for dancers but for anyone looking to enhance their physical capabilities, reduce tension, and move with greater ease and expressivity. Whether you’re an athlete, actor, musician, or simply interested in improving your overall well-being, Bartenieff Fundamentals offers invaluable, practical self-awareness and actionable tools for healing yourself.

Here’s how this workshop works...

This course will take students through a comprehensive series of both concepts and physical exercises aimed at increasing awareness and functionality, articulation in both moving and talking about movement, and deepening observation skills.

We will be working both physically and intellectually to use the concepts of connectivity to relate to our larger environment and integration not only to ourselves but our full life. 

The Six Body organizations

• Breath

• Core-Distal

• Head-Tail

• Upper-Lower

• Body Half

• Diagonal 

The 8 Principles: 

• Breath Support

• Core Support

• Weight Shift

• Effort Intent

• Spatial Intent

• Initiation and Sequencing

• Rotary Factor

• Dynamic Alignment

The 4 Themes: 

• Inner/Outer

• Stability/Mobility

• Function/Expression

• Exertion/Recuperation

The Basic Six:

• Thigh Lift

• Forward Pelvic Shift

• Lateral Pelvic Shift

• Knee Drop

• Arm Circle

• Body Half

• X Rolls

Body Connections:

• Head-Tail

• Hand Scapula

• Heel-Sitzbones

• Scapular/Humeral Rhythm

• Pelvic/Femoral Rhythm

Body mechanics/Kinesiology:

• Flexion/Extension

• Level Change

• Propulsion

• Lateral Spinal Flexion

• Rotation (Inner/Outer)

• Circumduction

• Spinal Rotation

• Base of Support/Center of Gravity

• Abduction/Adduction

FAQs

Q: Do I need to be a dancer to take this workshop?

A: No, absolutely not. This work is about being in your body, with your knowledge, and expanding your awareness and functionality within yourself. There is no goal or choreography to meet, and no expectations about your experience with movement. Every body of every age, ability, functionality, and experience history is welcome.

Q: I can’t come live. Is there an online option?

A: No, we are only doing this one live. There may be future versions online, but we are taking the opportunity after a long hiatus away from in-person learning to be back in a room together with no technology…

Q: I have an injury. Can I still make it through the workshop?

A: Absolutely. This work is remarkable for rehabilitation, so everyone’s limitations, pathologies, and accumulated body history will become part of the workshop.

Q: I already have a CMA and know BF. Will this workshop be redundant?

A: My approach brings in the application of BF to our whole life, and traffics in applications like psychology, politics, personal emotional well being, and relationships, so hopefully, this work will be new and illuminating even to those who have practiced these patterns before. Also, every new facilitator will bring a new perspective to the observation and analysis of our patterns, so I hope to be able to shed light on both function and expression that may not be part of your mindset currently.

What people have experienced in previous workshops…..

“By bringing the language of Laban and the physical principles of Bartenieff Fundamentals into the rehearsal room, Alexandra cultivates a generous, collaborative, and artistically rigorous space. She empowers performer-collaborators to dive deeply into the physicality of their persona to make meaningful choices, regardless of their movement experience or the nature of the piece.  Her use of Laban and Bartenieff brings an enhanced sense of clarity, accessibility and focus to the work, both physically and intellectually.”

Myah Shein, Choreographer and Director

(student of Anatomy of Choice, Mindflock, Summer Intensive, Embodied Meaning, and AD for Alexandra on numerous projects, including “Make Thick My Blood”)

“In her weekly Bartenieff Fundamentals classes, Alexandra creates a space for engaged exploration that is collaborative and filled with kindness. I always feel both seen and heard in her classes. “

Joe Bowie, Lecturer at Northwestern University and former member, Mark Morris Dance Company

(student of Anatomy of Choice and BF)