ATTENTION AND FOCUS IN DANCE. ENHANCING POWER, PRECISION, AND ARTISTRY

• Part I. Shifting Attention
Chapter 1. Attentional Focus Challenges of Dancers
Chapter 2. Attentional Focus: A Scientific Perspective
Chapter 3. Attention and Focus: The Intersection of Eastern and Western Movement
Chapter 4. Attentional Focus: Enhancing Power, Precision and Artistry
Chapter 5. Refocus Mind, Replenish Energy
• Part II. Cueing Attention
Chapter 6. Teaching With External Attentional Focus
Chapter 7. Beyond Attentional Focus
Chapter 8. Optimal Attentional Cueing

The Western approach to dance is largely focused on control and mastery of technique, both of which are certainly necessary skills for improving performance. But mindful attention, despite its critical role in high performance, has gotten short shrift—until now.

Attention and Focus in Dance, a how-to book rooted in the 20 years of attentional focus findings of researcher Gabriele Wulf, will help dancers unlock their power and stamina reserves, enabling efficient movement, heightening their sensory perception and releasing their dance potential. Author Clare Guss-West—a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher and holistic practitioner—presents a systematic, science-based approach to the mental work of dance. Her approach helps dancers hone the skills of attention, focus and self-cueing to replenish energy and enhance their physical and artistic performance.

A Unique, Research-Based Approach
Here is what Attention and Focus in Dance offers readers:
• A unique approach, connecting the foundations of Eastern movement with Western movement forms
• Research-based teaching practices in diverse contexts, including professional dance companies, private studios, and programmes for dancers with special needs or movement challenges
• Testimonies and tips from international professional dancers and dance educators who use the book’s approach in their training and teaching
• A dance-centric focus that can be easily integrated into existing training and teaching practice, in rehearsal, or in rehabilitation contexts to provide immediate and long-term benefits

Guss-West explores attentional focus techniques for dancers, teachers and dance health care practitioners, making practical connections between research, movement theory and day-to-day dance practice.

“Many dancers are using excessive energy deployment and significant counterproductive effort, and that can lead to a global movement dysfunction, lack of stamina and an increased risk of injury,” says Guss-West. “Attentional focus training is the most relevant study that sport science and Eastern-movement practice can bring to dance.”