Visual scribing created by Petra during our August Open Movalogue Call
Dear Movalogue friends,
Social Presencing Theater (SPT) is centered around the idea that there exist three types of body: the individual human body, the collective social body, and the earth body. Many of us once sensed into those bodies either in-person or online. The SPT practices of "Village" and "Dance of Five/ Little Village" serve as effective tools for delving into the social body, enabling participants to experience its essence and allowing space to notice its unique characteristics. This post is dancing with the parallels to the birth and development of a human body. It examines the transformative shift that occurs when a group transitions from a set of individual perspectives to a unified collective entity.
In the realm of SPT, the practice of "Village" provides a powerful illustration of this phenomenon. After some time of collective nonverbal movement, participants reflect on their experience following the simple questions "What did you notice?" and "What surprised you?" When facilitating a "Little Village" I often ask the groups: "If your village had a name, how would it be called?" This seemingly simple act of naming often sparks a profound shift. The group begins to perceive itself as a distinct organism, moving from a state of analysis to one of co-creation. The addition of a name seems to imbue this emergent social body with a unique identity.
This process mirrors the development of a human body, which begins its journey in the womb, culminating in birth and the subsequent bestowal of a name. Both experiences highlight the transformative power of naming and its role in establishing identity.
Nurturing the Newborn Social Being
Something similar happens during any sustainable creation of groups and organizations. After the group crystallized its identity by naming it (sometimes a name is already given), a collaborative shaping of this new social being begins. This process is distinct from the sum of individual actions and, much like raising a child, requires attention and awareness.
The act of naming signifies not just a beginning, but also a starting point for the ongoing development of the social body.
The group, now perceiving itself as a unified being, begins to co-create its identity.
This co-creation extends beyond individual contributions, giving rise to something new that wasn’t present in the sum of its parts.
Like a newborn child, this social body needs special care in its early stages:
Mindfulness: Group members need to become aware of their role within the social body and learn to sense the needs and dynamics of the collective.
Openness: A space for collective learning and growth must be created, allowing for the emergence of new behaviors and modes of interaction.
Commitment: The development of a social body takes time. It is important to accompany the process without forcing it.
A bunch of interesting question raise from this perspective:
Can a social body being grow up and thrive without 'parental' care?
Which further growth stages (e.g. compared to adolescence) occur?
What guiding principles become visible?
What role does Presencing play?
Our monthly Open Movalogue calls are meant to be a safe container to explore such questions with an open mind, heart and will.
If you're intrigued by this concept and wish to experience the emergence of a social body firsthand, we invite you to join our upcoming Open Movalogue call. Engage with a diverse global community as we explore the transformative power of Social Presencing Theater and other Social Arts.
Our next gathering is on Tuesday, October 15th, at 10am EST / 4pm CEST / 10pm Singapore.
We warmly welcome everyone to be a part of Movalogue's Social Body. Feel free to share this invitation widely!
With open hearts and boundless gratitude,
Movalogue Firekeepers
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