UC San Diego

Gesture and Breath are the language of the body. They are powerful and informative instruments for storytelling, creative exploration and emotional sustainability. While exploring gesture and breath, I noticed my body responding with profound access to untapped depth. Our bodies are far smarter than our minds can ever be. In my second year, I learned that punctuation, rhythm and breath played an important role in the exploration of classical text. Tone and tension, story and relationship can be created by the manipulation of these instruments. Simple tools to gain access to profound expression. Adding gesture to this exploration provides an embodied punctuation and rhythm. Dynamic storytelling can be demanding on the emotional and physical body. There are many techniques designed to recall sense memory to feel something, but this? Can it be as simple as gesture and breath? I learned the job is not to feel, but to tell the story. I can quicken my breath, lower my center and cover my head. I don’t need to feel fear to tell the story of fear. Breath can also swoop in to calm, regulate and soothe. Storytelling can be sustainable through its mindful integration with an informed, embodied process.