Simonson Technique Is progressive on four levels. This technique
comprises a complete dance technique which not only trains dancers in
jazz dance but prepares them equally well for working in modern and
other dance vocabularies. Hailed as an intelligent and logical method to
prepare the body for dance, the Simonson Technique has received
recognition throughout the world since 1970 and is taught by certified
faculty in 20 countries worldwide.
Simonson Technique focuses on extensive and specific stretching in most exercises. The emphasis on stretching is based on the premise that skeletal alignment problems cannot be corrected until ineffective and/or hypertonic muscular holding patterns are released. As held muscle patterns are released, body parts can be re-aligned with ease and not force, and range of motion increases in affected joints. Using force to correct alignment creates an additional holding pattern superimposed on the original. This intensifies body confusion and lessens the ability for a free range of motion through the joints.
Alignment of the skeleton, as viewed in profile, follows a plumb line running from the crown of the head through the center of the earlobe, shoulder joint, hip joint (trochanter), and knee, ending just to the front of the ankle bone. The chin forms a 90 degree angle to the throat and head weight is balanced on the top of the spine without tension Standing placement of the pelvis is always vertical whether in parallel or lateral (turned out) rotation of the legs.
"I had no intention of developing a technique."
In parallel positions of the legs the student is asked to work
parallel from the hip joints, not, parallel from the feet. If tibial
lateral rotation is greater from the knee down than from the hips, the
student is asked to stand with the lower leg in natural rotation. He is
never asked, in this case, to stand with the feet parallel.
In
turned out positions of the legs the student works only from the natural
turn out line from the hips. This applies to both the supporting leg
and working leg. If one leg has considerably more turnout than the
other, the student works to the turnout line of the lesser leg, when
standing equally on both legs (ie: first position turned out).
Hyperextension
of the legs is always corrected. The student never pushes the knees
back, as this creates a weakening of supporting and soft connecting
tissue in the knee joint. In parallel rotation and downward flexion
(inverted body weight), as in hamstring stretching, the student softens
his knees which directs the stretch into the belly of the muscle and
away from the knee joint.
In full body contractions, viewed from
profile, in parallel or turned out demi-plle, the shoulder is vertically
aligned over the hip joint while the pelvis tucks under and the rib
cage deepens back.
Working in bare feet, the weight of the body is supported by a
relaxed foot with the weight spread equally throughout the foot Three
points of contact with the floor are brought into awareness: the first
and fifth metatarsal and the center of the heel. The student is observed
moving through demi-plie, straight standing leg and releve to see if
there is any suppination or pronation of the foot from the ankle.
In
releve (demi-pointe) the weight of the body generally falls in a iine
from the center of the tibia through the second toe. The second toe is
the strongest point of contact with the floor. Slight variations on this
point of contact happen with tibial torque or tibial lateral rotation.
In parallel demi-plie, the weight throughout the foot remains the
same as it does when standing with straight legs. The knees float out
for demi-plie, not shifting down and/or forward into the knees or
ankles. The top quadriceps muscle softens down and away from the hip.
Body weight shifting forward on the feet in demi-plle usually Indicates
tight hamstrings and tucking under or a movement of pelvis weight
forward in space.
In first position turned out demi-plie, the
bulk of the weight remains over the back two thirds of the foot. If the
student has a long Achilles tendon, and therefore a deep demi plie, he
is asked to execute a demi-plie only as deep as the weight remains on
the back two- thirds of the foot. Weight shifting to the front of the
foot in a too deep demi pile places strain on the patella tendon,
creates compression on the anterior ankie joint and knee, and develops a
hypertonic anterior tibialis muscle. Again, the knees float out while
executing demi plie
Grand plies in first position turned out are
taught descending only, never ascending. Ascending from a grand plie
places too much compression and strain on the ankles and knees,
especially as all exercises in Simonson technique are executed center
floor without the use of a barre.
Grand plies in second position
turned out are done with the legs wide apart, so that at the depth of
the grand plie the knee is directly over the ankle This provides
vertical support for the knee from the back two- thirds of the foot as a
base, and through the ankle and tibia. It also allows for maximum
stretch of the adductors without placing undue strain on the knees.
The student is continually reminded to breathe calmly during
exercise. This especially applies when a position Is held for several
counts, as there is a tendency to hold the breath at the same time.
Contractions
or forward rounding shapes are executed with an exhalation. The
abdominals contract and flatten to push the air out of the lower lungs.
The diaphragm then moves upward and into rest, expelling the air from
the top two-thirds of the lungs. The sternum and front of the ribs
lower, therefore the student a maximum lengthening of the posterior
spine, as the spinal extensor muscles are stretched.
"Changing the attitudes of the body is one
way to change the mental attitudes; conversely, changing the mental
attitudes certainly change the body"
Mabel E Todd. The Thinking Body
The principle underlying the concept of bodymlnd is that there is no
separation between body and mind, and that changes in the body can be
effected through a mental imaging process. The student struggling with a
sensation of limitation or resistance In the body can be guided to send
that the particular area in question is "free", visualize muscles
softening, or sense more inner space in that area. Thus, instead of
working automatically, he becomes fully present in his experience, and,
rather than cluttering his mind with thoughts of biame and judgment and
what his body cannot accomplish, he actively effected through a mental
imaging process. The student struggling with a sensation of limitation
or resistence in his body can be guided to send the thought that a
particular area in question is "free", visualize the muscles softening,
or sense more space in that area. Thus, instead of working
automatically, he becomes fully present in his experience, and, rather
than cluttering his mind with thoughts of blame and judgment at what his
body cannot accomplish, he actively encourages his body towards change.
He can thus experience an immediate lessening of tension through this
process. Once he has experienced this bodymind connection as an
authentic sensation rather than an intellectual concept, the doors of
limitation open and all potential becomes accessible and possible.
Simonson
Jazz teachers are not required to work with this philosophy, but those
who do explore the bodymind connection find exciting and profound
results. Thirty years ago bodymind was more intuitive than conscious for
Lynn Simonson, but over the course of time it has become fully
integrated into her personal teaching style.