Earth Songs
17-18 April 2021

Midsummer Movers
25-27 June 2021

The Art of Being in Motion with Helen Poynor and Shelagh O'Neill
23-25 July 2021

Embodied Landscapes
Training workshop
11-12 September 2021

Autumn in the Woods
23-24 October 2021

Movement Ritual Explorations
19-21 November 2021

The Walk of Life is an innovative approach to non-stylised movement and creative expression. Established on the beautiful Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site in West Dorset/East Devon in 1991 it integrates moving in the studio with moving in response to inspiring natural environments on the coast and in the hills and woodlands nearby.

Simple movement scores arising from the structure of the body are offered as springboards into motion. These serve to heighten awareness and to awaken vitality. Personal explorations are transformed and become the ground for artistic expression.

This approach fosters an embodied sense of self and of presence both in daily life and in performance. In a process which unfolds over time each participant is supported to follow the evolution of their movement practice whatever their level of experience. Participants include experienced movers, emerging practitioners and interested newcomers.

These workshops offer the opportunity to re-connect with the joy, strength, ease and simplicity that our moving being offers us. Grounding ourselves through an embodied encounter with the land which refreshes both body and spirit we rediscover our 'place in the family of things' (Mary Oliver) . As we move in response to rock and water, tree, earth and sky, different experiences and movement qualities are evoked. Working in a receptive and respectful relationship to the environment deepens our awareness of the natural world and our sense of stewardship and of belonging. The Walk of Life was affiliated to the Jurassic Coast Arts Programme for many years.

This approach to the body in motion has been applied in the arts and performance, education, self-development, movement therapy and daily life. It has proved valuable to people from all walks of life.

After the challenges of 2020 it is a pleasure to offer a new programme in 2021 opening with Earth Songs a weekend workshop in April. There are seasonal workshops in spring, summer and autumn including Midsummer Movers 3 days in June, and Autumn in the Woods a weekend in October. Embodied Landscapes an intensive 2 day workshop in September is intended for experienced environmental movers. There's also the opportunity to participate in The Art Of Being in Motion, a popular collaboration between Helen and Feldenkrais practitioner Shelagh O' Neill in July, and in Anna Halprin's Movement Ritual in November, neither of which could take place in 2020.