A workshop with Karine Butchart
 Glastonbury Dance Festival 1999
 A review by Sara Shrapnell

After following likely dancers clutching the unhelpful maps and walking over hot tarmac to find the hall in the Abbey School, I arrived in Karine Butchart's "Dancing from Within" session rather flustered and tense. I wasn't expecting a practical class and nor it seemed was anyone else, but Karine soon put us all at ease and welcomed us to her class.

After a warm up and a few moments of calm down, Karine talked us through the five elements and allowed us to imagine ourselves as these elements through a combination of the music, her ideas and our own dance. The technical abilities of the dancer seemed to be unimportant, indeed as I relaxed I stopped consciously dancing and simply moved, often with my eyes closed, in my own space. The music was wonderful, yet I doubt I would recognise it again as, just as a film score adds to the film without distracting, so the music Karine had chosen flowed over me as I simply enjoyed the experience.

It is a reflection on Karine's teaching abilities that although we were dancing in an uncharacteristic style I didn't feel in the least self-conscious. I don't think I have let my inhibitions drop to such a degree since my childhood and that was a surprisingly freeing experience. I was reminded that in life I should take more time for enjoyment and freedom. I also felt very strong, self confident and feminine.

The class over ran, by common consent, to allow us to finish what we had started, but still the end came to soon for me. As we came together at the end of the session Karine said we might feel a little emotional and I was surprised to find tears on my cheeks. As I left I gave Karine my details and I wait with anticipation for news of the next workshop to arrive.

Sara Shrapnell