DANCE: EMBODIED IMAGINATION

​​In this six-part course, we explore movement as a space for curiosity, awareness, and ease. Starting with gentle internal listening and embodied exploration based on the Ilan Lev Method and Feldenkrais, we attune to the body’s intelligence through play, imagination, and attention.

From this somatic foundation, we move into dynamic guided dance improvisation, exploring textures, emotions, and the unknown. Drawing inspiration from Gaga and Viewpoints, the practice awakens spatial and communicative expression, inviting participants to connect inner experience with creative movement.

The teaching is grounded in inquiry — learning through questions rather than answers — fostering curiosity, play, and embodied imagination, where movement becomes both a personal and shared discovery.

Feldenkrais and Ilan Lev are somatic methods from Israel, each with a Jewish philosophical approach to learning, awareness, and transformation. In this class, we explore these ideas through movement, sensation, and embodied discovery.

The course is given in central Stockholm, not at Paideia’s premises. The address will be announced in the admission letter, if you’re admitted to the course.

Course structure 

“Embodied imagination” is a Dance course where we move through exercises and guided improvisation and investigate the intersections between Feldenkrais technique, Ilan Lev method and Dance. 

The dance practice is drawn from the teachers professional experiences as dancers and techniques like Gaga, View points among others. With principles from Feldenkrais and Ilan Lev method they have developed their own dance and choreographic language that they will share with you during this course.

Prior knowledge

The course is given in English.

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed. Application is open to all interested in dance, movement research, and to spark their imagination and creativity. 

About the teachers 

Julia Kraus is a choreographer, dance artist and Feldenkrais practitioner currently based in Sweden. With one foot in Israel and one in Sweden she’s been working with choreographers such as Roy Assaf, Mari Carrasco, Rotem Tashach, Maya Brinner, project with Batsheva ensemble, among others. As a choreographer she’s been creating both her own- and commissioned work for stages like Dramaten, Riksteatern, Scenkonst Sörmland, Zebra Dans, Orionteatern among other. She´s at the moment developing a dancework where she explores her jewish roots and identity.

Sarah Stanley is an Ilan Lev Method practitioner, yoga teacher, and dance artist with over fifteen years of international performance experience in the US, Europe, and Asia, including work with Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More, Gallim Dance, Örjan Andersson, Jefta van Dinther, Kat Válastur and John Heginbotham among others.  Sarah is a co-founder of FRAME, an association exploring the intersection between dance and well-being through workshops and artistic productions.

Photo: Thomas Zamolo