EXPERIENCE SOMATIC MOVEMENT WITH JULIA MCKERROW
Professional Guidance
MY STORY
Personalised. Comprehensive. Fun.
I recognise the value and potential in others. I choose to create an encouraging, healthy and welcoming learning environment. I believe we can all move better and have the ability to continue to develop in our freedom and range of movement. With over 15 years experience working in the professional dance sector I have gained the understanding and ability to offer students and artists a comprehensive training approach to their movement practice and development. A few years ago after training and working professionally in dance performance and choreography for years, I suddenly began suffering with chronic back pain. I was forced to stop and after some time of inactivity I realised I needed to find a way forward. I began a journey of retraining, learning and relearning Somatic Movement practices. Through this training I have been able to return to dance with a new approach, awareness and joy in my movement. The biggest lesson I have learnt so far, is the importance of a regular self-practice for pain issues, strength, flexibility, creativity, efficiency and longevity. I am motivated to share these exercises with anyone who is wanting to establish a healthy moving body and for those who hope to experience a longer career in dance. I’m a patient, adaptable, and professional Tutor who is ready to help you reach your goals. Get in touch today so we can start working together.
WEEKLY SOMATIC MOVEMENT CLASSES
A part of a regular personal movement practice, complementing other dance training modalities. Designed for professional dancers, tutors and movers of all abilities committed to improving their own movement potential
Somatic MovementTuesday 5:30-6:45pm Hagley Dance Studio info@movementartpractice.org
Open Movement ClassTuesday 11:00am-12:00pm The Common Room, Arts Centre Juliamckerrow@gmail.com
REGULAR OPEN WORKSHOPS
During term breaks or by request.
New to Somatic Movement? Refresh your dance practice, restore your mind and body and enjoy moving with others. Stay in touch to find out when the next workshop is running.
SOMATIC MOVEMENT FOR DANCE/THEATRE STUDENTS -SECONDARY/TERTIARY
Secondary and private training institutions
Somatic Movement training for pre professional Performing Arts students. Classes can be tailored to work with NCEA learning outcomes and in preparation for performance seasons
PERFORMANCE COMPANY TRAINING
Working around your project and within your rehearsal schedule
I enjoy working with new and established companies in preparation and during their choreographic and performance seasons. I will design classes to align with your project interests and needs
CORPORATE HEALTH AND WELLNESS SESSIONS
On-site and on demand
Taking care of employees physical and mental wellbeing. Helping you to take time out during your day to reconnect your mind and body. Restoring your health and balance.
Get in touch to find out where I’m teaching next and see what I can do for you.
MOVEMENT AWARENESS
Discover adaptive strength and flexibility
Reconnect your mind and body through Clinical Somatic exercises. Develop a regular movement practice to increase a deeper understanding of your body, prevent injury, regain control and extend your movement potential
EXPLORATION AND INVESTIGATION
Retrain new pathways
Take control of your own learning. Work around your movement range and interests through the element of improvisation and listen to your body with Authentic Movement
KINAESTHETIC INPUT
Release tension
A hands on approach, personalised attention through kinaesthetic stimulus and guidance. Rediscover efficiency through Alexander Technique alignment principles and Skinner Releasing partner graphics
DYNAMIC IMAGERY
Create freedom and change
Experience new movement possibilities, performance range and greater freedom by developing and utilising your imagination. Incorporating Franklin Method and Skinner Releasing Technique Imagery into your practice.
Contact me today to see how you can benefit from a Somatic Movement session today
REVIEWS
“Julia’s choreography is elegantly enigmatic and utterly haunting” The Christchurch Arts Festival, Christopher Moore, The Press“Her moves belong to her skin. She is a strong woman whose authority is neither coquettish nor bullish.” Christchurch Arts Festival, Mark James Hamilton The Press“She understands the muscle of rhythm and choreographic craft.” Lynne Pringle, Theatreview
TRAINING AND WORK HISTORY
Mover Maker & Tutor
As a private teacher who develops personal one-on-one relationships, it’s important for my clients to know about my background. That’s why I invite you to check out my professional experiences. See for yourself how my teaching services are the perfect fit for your needs.
TUTOR BIOGRAPHY
Julia Mckerrow is a Christchurch based Contemporary Dance Artist and Movement Tutor.
She is a graduate of the Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts and a recipient of The Creative New Zealand Tup Lang Choreographic Scholarship. Julia has danced and choreographed for New Zealand’s leading dance festivals including The Christchurch and Otago Arts Festivals, The Body and Tempo. She was awarded ‘Best Dance’ at the Wellington Fringe for her dance work MOTH.
Julia has worked for Footnote Dance Company, Michael Parmenter, Fleur De Their, Body Cartography, Southern Lights Dance Co, Rebound Dance Co, The Unity Creative, Jolt Integrative Dance and Epic Entertainment.
She has undertaken professional development internationally at the Melt summer intensive in New York under dance artist Vicky Shick and with Australian based choreographers Madeleine Krenek and Sarah Elsworth. Locally Julia continues to investigate her interests and those of others through Movement Art Practice.
Julia worked as a guest tutor and Ncea Curriculum Leader of Dance for 12 years with St Margaret’s College where she devised choreography for major productions including Etch site specific work, Catwalk fashion show, The Ellerslie Flower Show, Dreamgirls, A Midsummer Night's Dream and many performing arts events. Julia has worked as a Contemporary Dance tutor for Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, Theatre Dance Academy, St Andrew’s College, Southern Ballet, Canterbury Ballet, Hagley Dance Company, Anneliese Gilberd Academy and many local High Schools.
Recent works include, The solo project MMXII (dancer curator),
The Red String Duet (the Body, dancer)
Shifting Lines (Chch Art Gallery choreographer, dancer)
Antipodes Creature (the Body choreographer,dancer)
Lab MAP (choreographer, dancer)
Boundary Unbound (exhibition, solo dancer)
Lucid-the visual feast ( dancer)
Fight for Christchurch (dancer)
The Christchurch Business Awards ( Choreography)
Room, The Body Festival (dancer)
Anchor Point (Coca Gallery installation performance)
Julia will be featuring in a new choreography for the 2019 Christchurch Arts Festival by Fleur de Thier
Most recently Julia mentored students and choreographers for the Hagley Dance Company graduating season Orbit 2018, The AGA 2018 graduation season of Belle Ame, Rebound Dance Company’s Born out of Curiosity Christchurch season for their Wellington and Otago Arts Festival tour and Fleur De Thier’s Collaboration The Space Between Us with installation artist Robyn Webster at The Lyttleton Art Factory.
Julia is committed toinvesting in the growth of local dance students and artists in their professional development and continued movement practice.
She has recently developed a Somatic Movement class for dancers and is currently teaching classes through Movement Art Practice, Hagley Dance Company, Annelise Gilberd Academy and workshops for St Margaret’s College Performing Arts Department. These classes draw from Release Technique, Dynamic Alignment Imagery, Franklin Method and Alexander Technique movement principles. Sessions are designed to increase kinaesthetic awareness for performing artists and to prepare students for a sustainable and healthy career. Julia offers material which will challenge and expand individual movement ranges by facilitating an experiential learning practice for artists.
If you would like more information about anything, I am available to chat at your convenience.