Lunch | Philippe Rochat, Lori Teague, Alejandro Abarca | Self Consciousness and Authenticy in Dance & Developmental Psychology

Center for Mind, Brain, and Culture

Perspectives from dance professionals and professors (Teague and Abarca) on the issue of self-consciousness and the quest for authenticity will be discussed in light of developmental research on the origins of self-concept (Rochat). A developmental blueprint of self-awareness will be presented (Rochat), alongside somatic approaches to dance training, grounding the discussion in what might be the foundations of what we perceive as authentic movement in the context of daily social interactions (Rochat) and in dance performances (Teague and Abarca). The concept of “presence” as opposed to “absence” will be tentatively discussed as a potential subjective benchmark of what we perceive as authentic: something that is direct and devoid of self-consciousness, producing “a flow,” “ a fullness,” “a groundedness” from within.