Attentional Focus in Dance: Enhanced Performance

By Clare Guss-West, Director of the Dance & Creative Wellness Foundation 

View the interactive session (below and available until May 2021) on Attentional Focus in Dance that was offered at the Dance Health Finland conference on November 14, 2020 and led by Clare Guss-West, author of Attention and Focus in Dance. 

The simple exercise examples Clare offers in this workshop are focused to help the participants observe and compare what they think or feel during the internal and external cues. She encourages observations about the energy and effort required, asks questions to guide reflection about the differences experienced, and teaches for understanding about what is happening in the dance practice for the dancer. Johanna Osmala, president of Dance Health Finland, asks Clare a few questions at the end to hear further insight from Clare.

 To learn more, get your copy of Attention and Focus in Dance.

Trained as a classical and contemporary dancer and musician, Clare began choreographing with American composer Philip Glass and was resident choreographer and director at English National Opera. She has done productions for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, San Francisco Opera and Ballet, Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Royal Opera House, BBC Proms and Opéra de Paris.