Angélique Willkie
Release Technique

Release Technique no extra tension needed The class, focussed on moving as organically in space as possible, can be loosely described as a combination of Limon and Release techniques. Relaxation exercises on the floor focus on sensations of weight, space, contact with the floor and minimal muscular effort to execute movement, culminating in a floor combination directly applying these ideas. A logical extension of the floor work, the standing work concentrates on developing the support from the spine and on using the muscles in a free and efficient manner so that no extra tension is created other than the one really required to execute the movements. The isolation and weight of body parts, the openness of the joint articulations, and the relationship to the floor are used as the stimuli for movement. These will also focus the dancers’ awareness on guiding the physical energy and momentum naturally created in and by the body while moving. This approach encourages an intelligent use of the physical instrument allowing each dancer to discover the full organic possibilities of his/her body. This physical class plays with the use of space, level changes, musicality and rhythm and is, after all, an opportunity to just dance! Born in Jamaica and based in Belgium now, Angelique Willkie has been working primarily on the freelance circuit, including Cie Karin Vyncke, les Ballets C. de la B., Needcompany and as a singer with the Belgian world-music group Zap Mama. She is a regular guest teacher of Ultima Vez/Wim Vandekeybus (Brussels), Park Studio/Henny Jurriens Stichting (Amsterdam), Charleroi/Danses (Brussels), Circuit-Est (Montreal), SEAD (Salzburg), ao.