Dance

When Jazz Unlimited’s Patricia Rincon was in Europe recently (for a sabbatical from UC San Diego’s dance program), she made some professional contacts that may benefit dance students at the university. In fact, her friendship with Swiss creative dance teacher Madeleine Mahler is already helping.

“I invited Madeleine . . . to come here to teach our students because I saw her work in Europe and I felt it was important for our students to be exposed to another approach to dance,” Rincon said. “The kids are designing dances of their own, and this seminar helped them deal with the creative process.”

Mahler describes her creative dance as a form designed for “laymen.” In an effort to increase her students’ potential for “spontaneity, intuitive body expression and natural movements,” she culls movement ideas from every form of dance (including mime and gesture). But the technique is not tied to any specific style.

The objective of Mahler’s approach is to stimulate creativity, an intangible that most educators insist cannot be taught.

“I show them how to create from elements,” Mahler said. “What I need, I take--whether it’s jazz or any form of dance.”