Over six hundred Alexander Technique teachers came together from around the world to explore the theme: “The Embodied Mind in Action.” Several RIAT teachers and trainees were in attendance, and RIAT’s Caren Bayer and Nan Walsh taught Continuous Learning sessions throughout the week. A wonderfully rich time was had by all. Amid a plenitude of workshops, the week’s assemblies and plenary talks spanned everything from Polyvagal Theory, to neuroscience, to education.
The running second theme was “The Future of the Technique.” Panels, keynotes, plenaries, and discussions explored the subject every day, summed up with the wonderful RADA (and therefore Alexander) trained actor, Chipo Chung, answering the question: “Is AT past its sell date?” Her answer: a resounding “absolutely not.” She described the Technique as the hub of integration at the center of a spoked wheel of all the other methods that she learned, and continues to practice today. Her extraordinary closing keynote was a living witness of how that is true. As was Robert Fripp’s opening keynote. You can still catch them both through the streaming option!
The week also looked back to look forward. Of the Legacy Panel, one teacher shared that the Legacy Panel provided direct oral transmission that gave living context to all that was being experientially directly transmitted in the workshops. Another panel featured teachers who worked with first generation teacher trainers; Ann Battye, who trained with Marjory and Bill Barlow, simply and profoundly addressed the future of AT saying that “the Alexander Technique is too valuable to disappear.”
The closing ceremony honored Michael Frederick, who initiated the first international congress in 1986 and for whom this will be his last as co-director. The baton was then passed to Carol Prentice and Sara Barefoot, announcing that the next Congress will take place in 4 years. We look forward to it!
Photo credits: Ruth Hommelsheim, Karla Booth-Diamond, Nan Walsh, Carlos Jimenez-Fernandez, Luc Vanier.
