Michelle Wilkinson - MOVING NATURALLY

 Michelle is on a journey of human embodiment. She is exploring the relationship between physical movement and sensations, emotional feelings and associated images and thoughts. Yoga positions, dance and non-stylised movemenent  are gateways into this exploration. Her strong desire to connect the human body with the outer world of seascapes and woodlands has brought her, since 2006, to attend regular individual sessions, workshops and movement training with independent movement artist Helen Poynor on the world Heritage Coast of West Dorset and East Devon www.walkoflife.co.uk . 

The 'Moving Naturally' mat-based sessions have been greatly influenced by her practice and exploration of Shiatsu (Diploma from Bristol School of Shiatsu) since 1990 and Feldenkrais with Shelagh O’Neill (Cornwall) and Tricia Woods (Exeter) since 2006. Michelle is a Graduate Member of the Shiatsu Society. 

As a small child Michelle spent much of her time outdoors playing in woodlands, fields, by rivers and in streams around Stroud and in the Wye Valley. She dreamed of being a dancer, nurse and teacher. In late childhood and during her teenage years she set up her own school dance group, was a member of the British Red Cross Society and  created a one-class room school in her parents' garage where she taught primary aged children. This evolved into an Education Degree in Movement and Dance from Exeter University. Following this Michelle spent a post-graduate year at the Laban Centre, London in 1980, where she studied movement and dance in the community. On her return to Devon she attended a variety of yoga classes and workshops both in Exeter and Totnes and from this developed a regular practice, which has become an important part of her movement exploration.

Since the early 80s she has been teaching weekly sessions, individual sessions and workshops in movement, dance and yoga to a variety of people and groups in and around the Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth area. These include babies, children, students, professional adults, adults with learning disabilities and retired residents. By 1997 the fusion of   Yoga Dance work started to emerge and continues to grow. In 2011 'Moving Naturally' became a more reflective title for the evolution of this movement work.  'Moving Naturally' is not a particular discipline, system or style of dance, movement or yoga, but a discovery of the essence of human movement  which lives within the individual. Michelle is a Professional Individual Member of the Foundation for Community Dance.     

Michelle would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of her teachers especially those named here. She would like to recognise them as a source of inspiration and movement scores that she may adapt to use in her own 'Moving Naturally' teaching. She would also like to thank the participants of her sessions and workshops who support and grow this body of work.

Michelle has been using visual and written art forms as a way of recording her explorations and discoveries. These have been deeply enriched by her creative collaboration with artist Pauline Dyer www.movingnature.co.uk  

Pauline Dyer - MOVING NATURE

Nature has always played an important part in my life from my earliest days near the Blaise Castle woodlands, Bristol and school at Kings Weston House with its magical surroundings. Then later to life on the tropical island of Mauritius, followed by the last 30 years in which I have lived close to the River Otter in Devon. It is here that I have taken much of my artistic inspiration from the walks surrounding the banks of the river and the beautiful Jurassic coastline nearby.  A love of making art led me to a 2 year course in Art and Design at Exeter College followed by 3 years at the University of Plymouth, culminating in a degree in Art History with Design Arts. Over the years I have worked on art projects with children and adults using different media including mosaic, fabric and found objects.  

Inspired by the natural world that I have encountered whilst exploring in my locality,  I have been moving and creating artworks in the environment. Because of the ephemeral nature of this work, the artworks are recorded in digital images which are then printed onto handmade paper and mounted onto wooden frames. For exhibitions and sales visit the MOVING NATURE page of this website.