Alexandra Beller – Somatic Awareness in Dance
From Dance Med Spotlight by Alyssa Arms
September 4, 2025 · 1h 6m
About this episode
In this episode, Alexandra Beller discusses the importance of somatic awareness in dance and how it can help dancers cultivate a sustainable practice.
In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight , host Dr. Alyssa Arms is joined by Alexandra Beller MFA, CMA—an artistic director, choreographer, educator, and certified movement analyst. A former dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Alexandra is now a leading somatics educator and the author of two upcoming books, including The Anatomy of Art: Unlocking the Creative Process for Theater and Dance . Alexandra has helped countless artists discover their creative voices—not by telling them what to say, but by teaching them to listen to themselves. In this conversation, she shares how dancers can move away from self-criticism and instead cultivate somatic awareness, building a sustainable practice rooted in agency, resilience, and joy. Key Topics and Highlights What Somatics Really Means Alexandra breaks down the practice of somatics, explaining how breath, awareness, and the mind-body connection can reshape the way dancers train and perform. From Inner Critic to Inner Witness By shifting from judgment to observation, dancers can begin replacing harsh self-talk with compassion and awareness, opening the door to deeper artistry. Mirrorless Practice The conversation explores the…
People in this episode
Host: Alyssa Arms
Guest: Alexandra Beller
Topics covered
- somatic awareness
- dance training
- self-criticism
- mind-body connection
- sustainable practice
Keywords
- somatics
- dance
- self-compassion
- resilience
- creative process
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
Books & works: The Anatomy of Art: Unlocking the Creative Process for Theater and Dance
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