Cristina Planas Leitão – Choreographer, Performer and Teacher. Holds a BA in Dance Performance from ArtEZ – Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Arnhem, The Netherlands, graduating in 2006.
She has worked extensively with David Zambrano since 2005 as a student. In 2010 she was one of 50 artists chosen to be a part of 50 days of Flying Low and Passing Through in Costa Rica certifying her in both techniques. Since then Cristina has been sharing her knowledge of the work internationally at ArtEZ – Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Arnhem; Codarts Rotterdam; Tanzquartier Wien; Ginasiano Escola de Dança; DansateliersRotterdam; de Stilte NL, Marameo (Berlin); K3/ Kampnagel Hamburg; Henny Jurriens Stichting, Amsterdam; Fórum Dança, Lisbon; Balleteatro; Dance Ireland; Folkwang University – Essen; among many others.
In her class, Cristina embodies and shares her knowledge of David Zambrano’s Flying Low adapted to her own artistic vision, very often described as a softer and spatially complex approach. The original technique focuses on the dancers relationship with the floor by utilizing simple movement sequences and by practicing speed and the release of energy throughout the body in order to activate the centre. There is a special attention given to the extremities as extensions of the centre and indicators of direction, proposing awareness and clarity to the movement.
In Cristina’s practice, the dynamics of the class increase progressively using imagery: several states of consistency of the body and density of the space are explored. The material challenges each participant to discover the primary laws of physics: cohesion and expansion and therefore many basic exercises are deconstructed into a more explorative work to achieve the right individual state to develop further.
The class is built with several short set exercises where participants are challenged to find their own way of doing and what are the pathways that cross through their bodies, rather than established formulas or shapes; as well as complementary exercises in couples for a better understanding of those physical properties & the movement quality itself.
During the class we constantly practice the principles rather than the exercises and everyone is challenged into disconnecting from the usual right & left or front & back idea. The proposed exercises change everyday, so no attachment needed!
The idea of a total body and to get to where we want with all of ourselves can be used in anyone’s’ artistic practice.