/sə(ʊ)ˈmatɪk/ adjective relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.
Words: Nyah Schiessel | Photography: Danny Evans
Creativity is innate in every one of us, although so many people view it as a gift only reserved for certain remarkable people, or a mysterious quality of childhood that we inevitably grow out of. As grown-ups we must resist the trap of believing that being imaginative is a privilege of those with time on their hands. Everyone has the capacity for innovation; it is a trait that has been evolving in humans for millennia.
Even if you are somebody who considers themselves not to have a creative bone in their body, the journey of introspection to discover new parts of yourself will always pay off.
We can reflect on our own childhood to understand what is worth unearthing in adulthood. The places we found enjoyment before self criticism crept in. The things we weren’t afraid to spend time on before responsibilities begged for our focus. We can learn which stones are best turned over by remembering the activities we loved, the posters we stuck on our childhood bedroom walls and the way we connected with our curiosity through play. Children are an example of self expression and true humanity before social conditioning held any weight on our consciousness.
Nurturing our individual self expression and creativity as an adult means paying attention to the interests you might have buried and making contact with your innermost thoughts and experiences. Honouring your authentic experience and your inner world is crucial to live a life that feels inspiring and promotes wellbeing.
Becoming familiar with your self expression as an adult might seem hopeless, especially if you find yourself nestled in a life that rarely challenges you to think outside the box, or try new things. That is why one of the greatest things you can do is expose yourself to new environments. Whether you follow the call of childhood interests or simply take a gamble on a new class that tickles your fancy, actively choosing to reconnect with your creativity is something to be celebrated. There is a strong pulse of expression in our Jersey community that warmly welcomes anyone who is curious. Many opportunities for self discovery can be found in classes, experiences and workshops on our island.
One such space is Somatic Dance Jersey, facilitated by Mia Bourne. Her sessions craft a space for conscious movement practice, fostering body awareness and inviting those who join to listen inwardly and let the body speak its own language. Perhaps you have been searching for a way to tap into your creativity without picking up a paintbrush or digging clay from under your nails, but something intuitive and free that brings you home to your body and connects you with your inner child. Curious to learn more about the practice and what it offers, I spoke with Mia about her journey with movement and the role dance can play in bringing people home to themselves.
“In a world that asks us to be perfect and perform, this is a space to feel and respond.”
A sober practice, free from alcohol, substances and even mobile phones… Not the dance scene many are accustomed to in Jersey, but no mask is necessary at Somatic Dance Jersey, where the dancefloor does not discriminate but welcomes people of all backgrounds to find and honour their individuality without pressure or distraction.
Most of her life was spent dancing in structured environments, following choreography and finding little self expression in dance, and it was during a challenging chapter of her life in which Mia found hope and softness in free movement practice at 5Rhythms, founded by Gabrielle Roth in London. The natural high and feeling of aliveness that came after a class soon led Mia to explore a more personal practice. She began to attend ecstatic dance classes in Hackney while also finding her own movement in the park, dancing with nature and noticing a strong connection between dancing with the trees and plants, and the relief of no longer suffering from stuck emotions that were searching for a way to pass through.
Watching others move their bodies and dance with no rules; shaking, crawling and jumping, gave Mia permission to let go. “Watching people move together with unfiltered honesty softened something in me,” and so, after 5 years of journeying with movement and experiencing the healing medicine of dance, finding connection with others, but most profoundly herself, Mia became a qualified facilitator with Somatic Dance International and brought Somatic Dance Jersey to the island.
Q: What is an unexpected benefit you have gained from expressing yourself through dance?
A teacher once told me “How you move on the dancefloor is how you move through life.” That insight stayed with me. As I allowed myself to be more creative and responsive in dance, I noticed that same shift happening beyond it. I began to meet life’s challenges more creatively. Instead of experiencing obstacles as blocks, I started asking ‘How can I respond to this creatively?’ ‘How can this become part of the dance instead of something in the way?’
Q: What is one small thing people can do every day to tap into somatic movement?
Put on your favourite song and find a way to embody your 10 year old self! We often as adults neglect playfulness and expression in our daily routines. By allowing yourself to dance freely you provide your nervous system with joy. I think children are our biggest teachers, they have no fear of judgement, they are the embodiment of pure joy and play, they are unapologetic for their unique expression and I think as we grow older we become more conditioned by social norms, and less able to connect with what we truly feel and want to express.
Q: Do you need any dancing experience to join your classes?
Absolutely not! My classes are open to all. We often have an age range of men and women from 18 – 65+.
Q: What would you say to someone who was skeptical about starting?
Trying something new can feel uncomfortable, I certainly felt that way when I first went to my first free movement practice. This practice is not about being “good” at dancing, it’s about feeling joy in our bodies, connecting with the present moment, with each other and also having fun whilst moving. We are all living this messy human life, we experience anger, joy, rage, grief, sadness, love and everything in between. We all have our own stories, our own experiences of life “lifeing” us. On the dance floor everything can exist together, everything is invited to be expressed and to be moved, it’s a celebration of life and all the beauty and challenges we experience as humans. My hope for this community is that things can begin to be expressed together and not in isolation.
Whether through art, music, or moments of reflection, reconnecting with our creative expression allows us to remember parts of ourselves that have been submerged beneath the demands of adulthood. Maybe the real invitation is not to pressure ourselves into being more creative, but to return to something that has always been there- patiently waiting for us to listen.
