Does engagement with the Feldenkrais Method® influence body awareness, motivation and self-regulation of adolescent dancers?

A case study during the Covid-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Claudia Mölders MFA, Feldenkrais Practitioner, Dance teacher
  • Liliana S. Araújo PhD

Keywords:

Dance Education, Feldenkrais Method, Motivation, Self-regulation, Covid-19 Pandemic, Interoceptive awareness

Abstract

As dance educators and researchers, our particular concern, beyond teaching dance skills, is to support the dance students in becoming self-determined, satisfied dancers, and somatic practices can play an important role in this process. This exploratory case study investigated the experience of the Feldenkrais Method in supporting motivation for dance, body awareness and self-regulation of adolescent dancers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Twenty adolescent female recreational dance students recruited from the first author's dance studio took part in the study (intervention group: N=10, age M=14.80, SD=1.81, control group: N=10, age M=14.50, SD=2.06). Both groups were involved in regular dance classes; the intervention group participated in a 10-week Feldenkrais Method programme consisting of one lesson per week, the control group had no Feldenkrais Method lessons. The study was conducted online due to Covid-19 lockdown measures in place at the time.

Qualitative data was collected from the intervention group in the form of drawings, individual reports and feedback to capture individual experiences with the Feldenkrais Method.

In addition, two questionnaires were used in both groups to assess the impact of the intervention on body awareness and to explore motivation to dance, which were completed before and after the intervention. A two-way mixed ANOVA (analysis of variance) revealed tendencies towards increased interoceptive awareness and self-regulatory processes in the intervention group. The influence on motivation in dance classes could not be determined. Both groups showed a significant increase in felt pressure/tension and also a more self-centred focus, suggesting a possible influence of the pandemic. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed high levels of engagement and heightened awareness among those who took part in the Feldenkrais Method classes.

Results suggest that even a short Feldenkrais Method intervention under the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic may be appropriate for adolescents to improve their self-awareness, learning and self-regulation processes. Future research should investigate psychosocial and learning outcomes of Feldenkrais Method interventions in general and with adolescent students in particular. Further research is also recommended to determine possible confounds of the pandemic and their influence on motivation.

This article is also available in Spanish.

Author Biographies

Claudia Mölders, MFA, Feldenkrais Practitioner, Dance teacher

Claudia Mölders runs a private dance studio in Cologne, where she teaches dance and the Feldenkrais Method and has carried out various projects researching the effect of the Feldenkrais Method on young dance students. She studied dance science at the University of Bern and at Trinity Laban Conservatorium of Music and Dance, London, has been a certified dance teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance since 1998 and completed the Feldenkrais training Neuss 8 with Chava Shelhav in 2003.

Liliana S. Araújo, PhD

Liliana Araújo is former programme leader of the MSc and MFA programmes in Dance Science at Trinity Laban. Currently, she is Assistant Professor of Performance Science at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. She holds a PhD in Psychology, she is a chartered psychologist and a certified stress management, health, and wellbeing coach.

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Published

2023-10-04

How to Cite

Mölders, C., & Araújo, L. S. (2023). Does engagement with the Feldenkrais Method® influence body awareness, motivation and self-regulation of adolescent dancers? A case study during the Covid-19 pandemic. Feldenkrais Research Journal, 7. Retrieved from https://feldenkraisresearchjournal.org/index.php/journal/article/view/144