created by Chaim Gebber
2005
In this year Chaim Gebber started the research to develop his own movement system, called The Conscious Body System
The “Conscious Body system” teaches movers how to build up strength rather than save it, and how to use that strength in a safe and healthy way. It is a system that guides movers to be precise and work consciously with their bodies and unique structures.
During the classes, we train the body to magnify basic skills of moving to and from the floor, until we are comfortable with fast weight transitions. This is done through pulling and pushing movements on the floor, at safe and personal speeds. Thinking through movement is an important tool for comprehending the muscular activations in the body. The idea is to create an environment where it is possible to go as fast as possible, or as slow as needed. The Conscious Body System is structured in 2 parts: improvisation system and movement workout combination.
HOW I DISCOVERED THIS UNIQUE MOVEMENT SYSTEM
I moved to Berlin in 2014. I was passionate about contemporary dance, and if I wanted to explore my options in that field, Berlin was the place to do that. I didn’t know exactly what was awaiting me. But, there were many great venues to check out. The first school I found was TANZFABRIK. Also, it was very close to my flat and working place. I immediately fall in love with this school. One of my favorite afternoon classes was Chaim Gebber’s contemporary dance at 4:45 p.m.
It was this kind of class that I could participate in for two years, and I didn’t get bored. It is for intermediate students. I think many people who tried Chaim Gebber’s class are still not aware of the name of the technique he is teaching. Actually, he calls it a system, namely a CONSCIOUS BODY SYSTEM.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH CONSCIOUS BODY SYSTEM
Being in Chaim Gebber’s class, I could immediately notice its structure. It is not one choreography. Chaim Gebber teaches a combination of movements, which interrelates with each other. Many of them are repeating through the classes. But every time, some new patterns are added. That keeps the students interested and gives them the feeling that they are learning and improving.
Chaim Gebber’s energy is very calm and friendly. He smiles at you, and if you are a regular student, he will definitely talk to you at some point. His classes include a lot of floor work, which is my favorite. There are also some acrobatic elements like handstands and jumps. The pace starts slowly with a conscious “stretching” mode and increases to the full power jumping rhythm.
In the wintertime, the class would start with a quick massage in the standing position – which was, believe it or not, just a perfect warm-up at that moment. I remember hurrying up from work to Chaim Gebber’s class. I was, most of the time, already very tired. But, I knew that the class would start with a short partner massage. That always gave me time to relax, switch the energy from the workplace to the dancing room, and give me the best start to train. I will never forget how enjoyable that was.
To conclude, whoever is in Berlin and is a contemporary dance lover, needs to try Chaim Gebber’s class in Tanzfabrik.
