Manny is interested in how rituals of coming home to the body, to a place of wakefulness - of being present – allow for a process of gently being with, attending and responding to what is arising internally and externally. She is especially processing how cultivating attitudes of friendly curiosity, patience, non-striving, non-judging and a beginner’s mind nudges her towards and into fertile territories that have not previously been explored. In doing so surprising and unfamiliar ways of resting, dwelling in stillness and moving are often experienced.
At the moment her own practice is a five stage ritual – stage one begins with a meditation practice; stage two is a movement ritual of folding inwards and opening outwards; stage three is a movement exploration; stage four is meditating on insights that have arisen, or not, from stage three; stage five is writing and drawing. Often what arises out of playing with a movement exploration or combinations of explorations will inform her solo dance making.
Manny also has a love of connecting with nature and a lot of her movement explorations take place in the natural environment. She has spent many years developing ways in which the natural environment can be woven into performance work that takes place indoors.