A Frenchman started on a journey to India to “discover himself many moons ago”, but he never dreamt of making Bengaluru his home. “In fact, this city chose me,” says Michel Casanovas, the artistic director of city-based Shoonya Centre for Art and Somatic Practices. “On my flight in 2008, I met a young man called Joseph Ollapally, who was also trained in the Feldekaris method that I am certified to teach. His passion and help brought me to Bangalore some years ago. During that time I collaborated with him and he also attended my workshops and sessions,” recalls Michel who then went on to teach his method that concentrates on somatic practises.
“I started working with various dance institutions and schools in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. My work gradually started to extend and I realised that my work could touch artistes and the dance community in a positive way. I was able to teach them how to deal with stress and injuries,” says Michel who then came back to Bangalore and started Shoonya. The place was started in memory of his friend Joseph who passed away in 2010.
“It may sound strange. After the death of Joseph, his family approached me and said that it was his dream to start a centre for Feldenkrais here and he wanted me to take the lead. They offered me this place and also supported us in many other ways. It is not a commercial place but is a platform for any art and a somatic place. I feel more driven just because of his passion and his drive.”
( Michel Casanovas. Photo: Special Arrangement)
He explains that the Feldenkrais method is “good for anyone. You don’t have to wait till your body is damaged by an injury but you learn to be aware of the way your body reacts. It is more of an inward journey. From the physicality there is a deep link to you psychologically and emotionally,” he adds.
“ From the physicality there is a deep link to you psychologically and emotionally ”
Michel will be conducting a workshop with Tripura Kashyap where people will learn to “sense themselves and also learn how to use the body with non-stressful movements and so on. We do not promise to teach you anything but we will provide an experience that will make it easy for you to do everyday exercise and how one can use his/her body effortlessly and yet achieve more.”
The workshop is open to everyone. “We want to make a space that will teach in a respectful way and provide a method that helps open up one’s mind to one’s body and its workings.”
About the name, Michel says: “Shoonya is because it started from the scratch. In everything we work from zero. And it is also a way of telling others that we are here to help and provide the space, so will you make the best of it and become a hero or a zero.”
The workshop will be held at Shoonya from July 3 to 5. For details contact shoonyaspace@gmail.com.