photo by Alice Garrick
UpComing Workshops click here for calendar for Spring, Summer and Fall workshops in Vienna, Berlin, Taipei, and Chile (South America), Minneapolis for Klein Technique and Zero Balancing, NYC with New Dance Alliance and Summer Melt with Movement research
PERFORMANCES SPRING/SUMMER 2019
Monday March 18 – Movement Research Presenting Series the Judson Church..8pm free A new solo in process, loosely based on the photos of Eadweard Muybridge
Sunday June 9 – Performance Mic
Saturday June 15 “Soltice” at the University Settlement House, an evening of dance created by Stepanie Schwartz and Craig Zarah . 730 start time barmahler@aol.com
Performances in and around Queens as part of the 7th Annual Queensborodance Festival…check website for specifics of dates. and locations, events, and community gatherings 
photo – Nicole Cordero, Queensboro Dance Festival 2018
Workshops: Our time together engages us, as a group, in an in-depth study of our bodies; The information we work with is grounded in 40 years of perceiving, studying, practicing, teaching and moving – observing the body in motion and at rest. Students find the supports underlying the superficial muscles, deep within, lying closest to the bony structure of the pelvis, connecting the pelvis to the legs, through the bones of the legs (sitz bones to heels),- the hamstrings); the 6 small and mighty external rotators, the psoas group (connecting the leg to the trunk/spine), articulating the leg in motion at the hip joint, and the tail-pubic bone connection – the deep muscles of the pelvic floor. With these, we stand the pelvis precisely upon the heads of the femur bones. With grounded support, the spine and the shoulder girdle become free and mobile, for movement, expression. We become articulate and clear; the legs become powerful .
photo: Rachel Thorne Germond
The skeleton is our resource for imagery and physically detailed work, the bone being the densest and deepest tissue in the body, conducting the most energy (force), aligning us to the forces of gravity in the simplest and most direct way. This lessens the disconnections that can lead towards injury.
In open class, our movements are specific and simple, and at the same time, deeply changing. These movements /exercises break the body down into its component parts, which are explored, analyzed, connected and reintegrated into the whole. Basic anatomy, for the purposes of our work in class, is explored. and worked on in depth and detail. As well, different choreography’s are used to organize, move, and connect the body.
We aim towards improved body function, efficiency in movement, and attention to injuries as well as their prevention. I draw upon my many years of practice, connecting and re-educating my own body in dance and in life, my research in teaching styles and skills. I continue to explore and challenge my 40 years of practice and interpretation of Klein Technique.
From 1982-2001, I was the “motor” at the Susan Klein School of Dance, and and then at the Susan Klein and Barbara Mahler School of Movement and Dance 2001-03. My travels for work began in 1988- teaching and performing my solo dances. In 2005, I joined the extraordinary faculty at Movement Research, where I continue to teach. My products and processes are supported by my faculty position.
A large component of the work of Irmgard Bartenieff, one of Susan Klein’s teachers, Dr. Fritz Smith , my teacher/mentor, originator of Zero Balancing, a hands on body work modality (www.zerobalancing.com), Dorothy Vislocky – my very first initiation to dance and the possibility of changing ones’s movement patterns, along the the brilliance of Susan Klein – teacher, and colleague beginning in 1978, are deeply woven into the work I teach, and embody, Klein Technique tm-
workshop took place in Santiago, Chile September 28-October 3 2016
CUERPO INTELIGENTE/CORPUS INTELLEGENTIA January 2020 – workshop and performance contact danzaotux@gmail.com
Vienna, Austria April 15-19 2019 https://tqw.at/en/workshop/klein-technique-workshop/28409
BERLIN at TANZFABRIK EASTERWORKSHOP 2019. www.tanzfabrik-berlin.de/de/festivals/oster-tanz2019
HORSE DANCE THEATER, Taipei, —See below
JUNE : a 2 hour workshop with NewDanceAlliance as part of Performance MIX Friday June 7 12-2 “Essential Principles for Fluidity in Movement “- partner work that utilizes major principles of Klein Technique through Touch. Developed by Barbara Mahler
BACKGROUND CONTINUED : PROFESSOR Dorothy Vislocky, 1973-1979, was my time working in her company – PEOPLE/Dorothy Vislocky Dance Theater, and 1973-77 were my years as her student. She was the creator of the Dance Major and it’s curriculum at Hunter College, NYC. She was my initiation into thoughts of re-doing, letting go, alignment of the pelvis in relationship to technical development and facility. space. Our reading material in our college dance classes were not the usual dance books. “Zen and the Art of Archery,” the Carlos Castenada stories, and books on how perspectives affect our mind, movement, and perception, and moving selves in the world. She was a pioneer dance kinesiologist, choreographer, visual artist, dancer, dance therapist; a major and deep influence, inspiring me to pursue this world of movement, dancing, teaching.
These influences, along with movement of all styles and genres come into my classes and workshops, along with the perspectives and information I have gained from my own movement re-education; my 40 plus years of teaching, dancing, learning and changing.
“Mahler, a noted teacher, views dance training as a voyage of self-discovery. Barbara Mahler roots her choreography in distillation, as if she aims to extract the essence of her ideas, making them calmer and purer.”(Village Voice)
Feature Article in DANCE TEACHER MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2017…click the link below.
http://www.dance-teacher.com/2017/01/barbara-mahler-teach-klein-technique/
“Within a specific structure, all students work at their own pace, and level. Exercises and movements, done repeatedly with increasing intelligence and awareness, or “resonance” facilitate a path of change and openness.
Feedback from a workshop in London– Barbara Mahler’s morning classes and one-day workshop 2015, 2014 in London, England – IDA – Independant Dance Agency
I’d like to give some feedback from this week’s professional classes.
“Barbara has been amazing. Her knowledge and intelligence is beyond belief. The technique is so fundamental and there is no possibility for the UK to have it in a regular basis. And her pedagogic approach towards teaching… can’t find the right words but it is so incredible but subtle that it is rather invisible. This is incredible because it is there. I felt (having come 4 out of 5 days) that everybody in the class learned something but not in their heads, on their bodies, including myself on this.
I have certainly been challenged and confronted, but in an environment that allowed me to take the time, space, energy to try things out, without needing to learn, or fulfill expectations, or worry about gaining anything, and as a result I feel all these things happened!
I gained a huge amount, a re-connection to my dancing and moving body. A feeling of it’s potential. I go away with a rich resource to practice and practice. I feel better, positive.
The workshop was extremely interesting and physically engaging. The simple movements/patterns with profound and complex feedback. I feel I will be processing over the next few days, weeks…I would like to do more with Barbara.
What are your reasons for taking his workshop?
‘To expand/deepen theoretical comprehension ‘
‘Curiosity for Klein technique’
What do you think you gained from this workshop and did it meet your expectations?
‘New insights into how the body moves’
‘Awareness of Klein Technique’
‘Deepen practice’
‘Freedom of space in my body’
Did this workshop give you access to work that is difficult to find elsewhere?
‘Special teacher – lovely atmosphere in the studio’
‘Klein workshops only happen very occasionally in this country’
A real appreciation of the hip joint and better appreciation of joints in general. Rediscovery of self as embodied and grounded. Pivotal!
WORKSHOP in Asia – http://www.horse.org.tw
Taipei, Taiwan with Horse….June 25-July 5-2019
contact:horse.info1@gmail.com
The photo below is from Limerick, Ireland March 29-April 1 2015 www.dancelimerick.ie
Minneapolis MN happens twice a year and involves theory, open classes, zero balancing sessions and zero balancing training wendyruble@gmail.com
for zero balancing class info, and araveji@gmail.com (jennifer arrave) for Klein Technique classes, workshops, and Zero Balancing sessions. UPCOMING _ -MAY 2019, October 2019
Our work is done on a body level, interweaving theory and practice. Dr. Fritz Smith says “I wish you could, for a moment, see the world through my eyes”.
Click on link for schedule On-going Classes in NYC
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY: 10-12 at 537 Broadway – Eden’s Expressway. These classes are Sponsored by MOVEMENT RESEARCH . THE MORNING CLASSES ONGOING http://www.movementresearch.org
FRIDAY Morning 10-12 . Dance Technique 280 Broadway at Gibney Studios/ Movement Research beginning September 9 —— This is a movement class/Barre : Our time in this class will be devoted to the application of the essential principles of Klein Technique TM as it relates to moving in a non-pedestrian way. The class facilitates fuller use of the ball and socket joints and their figure 8’s. We work with a barre using simple phrases for clear use of legs, trunk, and shoulder girdle/arms, connecting to the earth with the diagonals, pelvis, and legs. Across-the-floor work aids in integrating us to the space around us. The class is aimed at the integration of movement/dance with the principles of the stretch and placement classes – efficiency, connection, articulation, grounding, clarity.
It’s principles go beyond aesthetic viewpoints, being a technique that provides strong grounding underpinnings for all types of movement. The work done in class is to re-educate the body with an interweaving of theory and practice on a physical level., in a non- linear manner. We work to let go of the outer muscles which hold our bodies (and minds) in misalignment and misconception, inhibiting our function, creativity, and well being..We don’t “exercise” yet we become stronger, more articulate; the body more facile and resilient. We learn to use the floor, and work without a specific aesthetic construct, leaving us open to all styles.
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SOME RECENT and PERFORMANCES, RESIDENCIES – not in chronological order
RAD Festival, the annual dance festival in Kalamazoo, MI…March 9-12 2017
Santa Barbara and LA, November 2016 with ART BARK INTERNATIONAL
Queensboro Dance Festival 2016,17,18
25th Anniversary of Movement Research at Judson Church..September 12 2017
Movement Research Artist in Residence 2001-03, 2008-09 seasons
LIFT OFF with New Dance Alliance – space grant summer 2015
Artist in Residence At Brooklyn Studios for Dance Winter/Spring 2018
BIO BIO Festival Conception, Chile October 2018 – new student work
Wilson College, PA Spring 2015 – new student work
Wilson College, PA 2004 – Artist in Residence
Dance Place D.C. in conjunction with new dance work project with Dr. Adrienne Clancy and Company, Silver Springs, MD spring 2015
https://vimeo.com/268215629/ff4920edc.1 password -barbara2018… Brooklyn Studios for Dance April 22/23 2018
Dance and Process at the Kitchen w Karen Bernard May 2016
Four at Four…Four choreographers April 10, 2016 at Dance Entropy/Green Space, LIC
Schwelle, Berlin Germany annually 2010-2015….Thank you Felix Ruckert!!!
School for Modern Dance in Copenhagen Denmark…annually 1994 – 2015
Yasmeen Godder and company/community – Jaffa Israel September 2015
Independent Dance Agency – London, England October 2014,15
LIFT-OFF Space Residency with New Dance Alliance August 2015
THE PLACE , Maryland DC -Master Classes with Barbara Mahler May 2015
Clancy DanceWorks Silver Springs MD- reworking group dance May 2015
WILSON COLLEGE, Pennsylvania.choreography March 2015
TAKE ROOT -at Green Space, LIC – new dances for 4 women January 2015
DEACON School of AUSTRALIA, in NYC JANUARY 2015 winter intensive Klein Technique
Santiago and Valparisso, Chile…2011…Government Arts Funding
SUMMER MELT has been an annual event/workshop 2008-present
ICELAND -2012 sponsored by Dance Atelier, and the National School for Contemporary Dance, the Iceland Academy for the Arts, and classes with the modern dance company, as well as research time for the creation of new solo.
2011…3 weeks in Chile – Santiago and Valparisso, a government funded residency for teaching and performing
To further integrate and experience the possibilities which are open to all of us in a workshop, and for each workshop to address the specific needs of the group, there is the additional construct of improvisation, dance technique, choreography, and any other creative process for further integration of these principles into one’s unique movement practice. Workshops are created for specific situations and group dynamics.
