021: Alexandra Baybutt: Illuminating Bartenieff, Somatics, Presence & Performance
“Trust the process and be patient.”
Alexandra Baybutt
In this episode of the Shapes in Motion podcast, Stephen Moynihan interviews Alexandra Baybutt; movement coach, artist, researcher, dramaturg, and educator, exploring her journey into dance and movement, the significance of somatic practices and the influence of Irmgard Bartenieff's work. They discuss the role of presence in performance, the importance of time management in the studio, and the ethics of knowledge transfer in teaching. Alexandra shares her experiences in higher education and the challenges faced in the arts, while also looking forward to future projects and collaborations.
About Alexandra Baybutt
Alexandra (Ali) Baybutt works freelance and for employers as a movement coach, artist, researcher, dramaturg, and educator. She is a certified movement analyst in the Laban/Bartenieff Movement System or LBMS (through LSSI/LIMS, 2010), and a registered somatic movement educator (ISMETA) having first encountered this work at Laban on the BA Contemporary Dance Theatre (2002-2005). Since 2004, she works professionally in London and in Europe in performance, dance, education and research. Recent projects include Doing Things With Theory workshops for the Tanzquatier, Vienna; researching equity in working conditions in dance for the European Dance Development Network; dramaturgy for choreographer Tania Soubry; teaching LBMS modular trainings in movement analysis and somatic practice with WholeMovement; performance-making with poet Mary Paterson; and creating and facilitating somatic sound practices with Play As We Are, Netherlands. Alexandra completed her PhD from Middlesex in 2020 on dance festival curation in the former Yugoslav space that became a book published in 2023 with Routledge. Coaching clients include performers and artists and those seeking a creative retreat/expansions from regular practice. She currently teaches performance practices for UCL on the BA Creative Arts and Humanities.
Links
Website https://alexandrabaybutt.co.uk/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alexandrabaybutt.movement/
Play As We playasyouare.weebly.com/
Academic profile https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/87148-ali-baybutt
YouTube free Bartenieff-based movement classes https://www.youtube.com/@alexandrabaybutt5570
Chapters
Introduction to Movement and Dance Journey
Exploring Somatic Practices
Understanding Barteneiff's Influence
The Role of Movement in Performance
Integrating Movement Coaching
Presence and Performance
Teaching and Higher Education
Time Management in the Studio
Ethics of Knowledge Transfer
Long-term Challenges in the Arts
Future Aspirations and Projects
To get in touch with Sarah visit www.sarahperrymovement.com and follow @sarahperrymovement on Instagram.
To get in touch with Stephen visit www.stephenmoynihan.net and follow @stmoynihan on Instagram.