Helen Poynor is an independent movement artist whose approach has evolved out of 30 years of professional practice on four continents. She specialises in movement in natural environments, site-specific, autobiographical and improvisatory performance and cross art-form collaborations combining movement with installation, text, film and the visual arts. She is an internationally recognised movement teacher, director and performer whose early intensive training with Anna Halprin at the San Francisco Dancers’ Workshop and Suprapto Suryodarmo from Java served as the foundation for the development of her unique approach to non-stylised movement and performance practice. She is recognised by Suprapto as a teacher and is a guest associate teacher for Talmapa UK. Helen is a visiting professor of performance at Coventry University and taught performance practice at the University of Plymouth for five years. She is a Senior Registered Dance Movement Therapist ADMP UK and a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist with ISMETA and works with individuals in private practice.

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Dancers and communities: a collection of writings about dance as a community art

The stories in this book illustrate the rich exchange that takes place between dancers and communities. Dance can be an accessible and empowering creative tool for individuals and groups to express their identity, feelings, histories and aspirations. People of all ages and from all walks of life are represented in this book, participating in ongoing dance projects, celebratory events, and performances. Locations range from work places to detention centres to natural environments. The artists represented in this collection are committed and experienced, sharing a common enthusiasm to practise their art with communities. Their words and those of the participants are inspiring, challenging and thought provoking, making this book a unique contribution to the practice of dance in Australian communities.