Eco-somatics at Tessellate Festival
Last September, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Tessellate Festival, creating a movement workshop that explored the tension between dystopia and utopia. Moving our bodies in non-linear and fluid patterns, finding ways in which we might break free—if only momentarily—from the relentless rhythm and fast pace of modern life.
Albee Barton and I had the joy and honour of guiding a movement workshop called The Verdant Body—a living, breathing exploration of eco-somatics and our innate connection to the Earth.
During the 75-minute workshop, we gently guided participants through breath, movement, visualisation, and sensory attunement. Together, we explored how each element lives within our soma—creating a quiet co-regulation between bodies and land, between individual breath and collective rhythm.
Eco-somatics was at the heart of our offering. Rooted in embodied awareness and inspired by the work of Joanna Macy, eco-somatics invites us to sense ourselves as part of the natural world—not apart from it. It teaches us that our bodies are one with the Earth. That the soil, wind, fire, and water aren’t just elements we move through—they are within us. Our past is rooted in these elements, shaping not only our present but the way we move toward the future.
Eco-somatics invites us to experience the body as part of a larger, interconnected ecosystem. It offers an embodied approach to healing, regulation, and reconnection. Through guided, body-based explorations, participants learned practical tools to deepen their connection with the Earth — and to discover a sense of inner utopia, through the use of movement, breath and somatic expression.
Tessellate Festival runs each September at the Abbotsford Convent in Narrm, Melbourne – “A night focussing on the experience as much as the dancing, Tessellate will take you on a journey through the darker sides of dance music whilst navigating you through an art sphere made up of intrigue and mystery. Tessellate means togetherness. A collective made up of individual pieces who come together to create something bigger and stronger than the sum of their parts. An experience showcasing art and music both locally and from around the world.”
For more information and ticket details, head over to tessellate.club.
*Due to the success of The Verdant Body, the workshop is set to return at Green Monday Studios towards the end of 2025. If you’re interested in experiencing this exploration of eco-somatics, please email hello@somapractice.com, and Albee and I will gladly add your name to the waitlist.