THE START
The metamorphosis method was initiated by Iratxe Ansa. Her vocational dance training and professional career has shaped her method and teaching philosophy. Having worked and learned from master teachers and choreographers in the dance world, she brought together through this method, excellence and fresh insight to shape a new generation of performing dancers.
In the last few years, Iratxe and Igor have been travelling internationally, working with both students and professional dancers workshopping their ideas, translating their movement language and passing it onto dancers of all artistic and creative backgrounds. Their method focuses deeply on the importance of process, working to pull individuals out of their comfort zone and reach their absolute maximum physical, emotional and artistic potential.
WHAT IT IS
Metamorphosis is a process of transformation and growth. It is a process of maturing, whereby dancers become artists. This method leads dancers on a path that calls for disciplined, focused and intelligent hard work. It encourages creativity through guided exploration - a nurtured and trusted environment where artistic knowledge is transferred and explored.
This aids dancers to demonstrate high quality movement skills with physical strength, aesthetic quality and aligned pathways. Technical skills become a vehicle to speak with the body and a means of expression to communicate dance at the highest level.
The method commences Starting on the floor with a series of exercises aimed to awaken the potential of the holistic body.
It follows a classical barre which provides an important gateway to fully understanding the extremely physically demanding work. However, it is a far cry from its traditional and practical form. Iratxe gives imagery to ignite the senses, and a powerful sense of breath is used to ‘contaminate’ the body, the skin, and the organs with energy. The goal is to be fully present and alert, and to keep this concentration throughout the entire process.
Immediately following the barre, dancers begin to explore different parts of the body in a guided improvisation. It is a multi sensory experience: sight, smell, touch, and sound.
These elements are built into the process from the very beginning, yet at this point , the body is warm and fuelled, stable yet agile, and ready to leave its being and transform itself. Although the improvisation is a highly individual exploration, Iratxe often encourages interactions within the group to increase awareness of the present moment which is being created.
A creation of personal choreographical material is then found based on the skills acquired during the improvisation. The process of personal investigation is then coached individually with the aim to visualize and work with the material from another perspective and enrich it.
The use of breath is key in understanding this process. The body is woken up and made pliable through deep breath and is then used to show dynamisms. Dancers learn that breath is the initial impetus to give movements their desired quality. Through breath, musicality is intelligently understood and thus shown.
WHY WE DO IT
Working in this way over a period of time truly transforms dancers both physically and mentally. Barriers are broken through, limitations once set from a previous experience become none existent , and a deep inner self confidence ensues.
Through the metamorphosis method dancers are able to show refined technique, by incorporating subtle, sensitive movements of the feet, legs, spine and arms - right through to the fingertips. All areas of the body are thought of to give maximum effect. This physical sensitivity enables dancers to respond in a detailed manner, adding special nuances to the given material.
This method cultivates the desire to become thoughtful dancers; artists who reflect on knowledge of body and mind through their various experiences. It is a mentored process which leads dancers on a path of enrichment and great satisfaction. Reflection is facilitated throughout the process to give dancers a voice to express with words, what they felt and expressed through movement. This allows dancers to experience a sense of self-empowerment where they can make their own decisions and take risks with the skills they have acquired.
There is a strong focus on imagery, imagination and visualisation. Dancers are encouraged to express movements through multi-sensory experiences; sight, smell, touch and sound. All areas of the body are explored through these sensory channels.
The metamorphosis method compliments dance fundamentals by adding strong focus on introspection, leading to an original and creative expression of self.
Metamorphosis takes one on a positive journey of active learning. This approach allows dancers to find optimal individual paths to reach brilliant outcomes for themselves as well as the desired goal for the entire team. The intelligent dancer will thrive in this environment, and will be left feeling hungry to learn and explore further.
TEACHING HISTORY
2020
Ryerson University, Toronto (Canada)
Centro Coreografico Canal, Madrid (Spain)
Carmen Amaya conservatorium, Madrid (Spain)
Centro Andaluz de Danza, Sevilla (Spain)
Royal Swedish Ballet School, Stockholm (Sweeden)
Arabesque, Ourem (Portugal)
Auditorium Ballet, Verona (Italy)
ZO3Y, Guangzhou (China)
Enigma Dance Arts Creatives, Kunming (China)
Good Dance Center, Nanning (China)
2019
Centro Coreografico Maria Pages, Fuenlabrada (Spain)
CDW, Vicenza (Italy)
Arabesque, Ourem (Portugal)
Tanzwerk 101, Zurich (Switzerland)
Keimyung University, Daegu (South Korea)
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Jerusalem (Israel)
Pallco, Porto (Portugal)
Ryerson University, Toronto (Canada)
Totem Dance, Kiev (Ukraine)
Factory Ballet, Madrid (Spain)
Equilibrio Dinamico Ensemble, Bari (Italy)
Dantzagunea, San Sebastian (Spain)
2018
Tanzwerk 101, Zurich (Switzerland)
Centro Cultural España, Universidad del Pacifico, Lima (Peru)
Danza Concierto, Medellin (Colombia)
Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá (Colombia)
Acosta Danza, La Habana (Cuba)
Danza contemporanea de Cuba, La Habana (Cuba)
Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española, Cartagena (Colombia)
Luzerner Theater, Luzern (Switzerland)
Tanzhaus, Zurich, (Switzerland)
Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma, Madrid (Spain)
EDAC Espace Des Arts Chorégraphiques, Lyon (France)
Metamorphosis International Residency, Lisbon (Portugal)
Intensive Contemporary Dance Course, Gijon (Spain)
International Contemporary Dance Workshop, Prague (Czech Republic)
Ateneo della danza, Siena (Italy)
George Brown College, Toronto (Canada)
City Ballet, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Wellesleys Studio, Auckland (New Zealand)
New Zealand School of Dance, Wellington (New Zealand)
PPY - Sydney Dance, Sydney (Australia)
Factory Ballet, Madrid (Spain)
2017
Factory Ballet, Madrid (Spain)
Boris Eifman Academy, Saint-Petersburg (Russia)
Cannon Dance, Saint-Petersburg (Russia)
Compañía Nacional de Danza, Madrid (Spain)
Centre 151, London (UK)
Valencia Danza, VIII Campus Internacional, Valencia (Spain)
METAMORPHOSIS INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY, Shanghai (China)
Shanghai Dance Theatre, Shanghai (China)
Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu, (China)
Dance Teq Centre, Toronto, (Canada)
Chez Bushwick, New York (NY)
C
Ateneo della Danza, Siena (Italy)
Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua (China)
Zhejiang Academy of Music, Hangzhou (China)
Shanghai Dance Theatre, Shanghai (China)
Normal University, Shanghai (China)
House of Dancing Water, Macao (China)
Northwest University for Nationalities, Lanzhou (China)
Beijing Normal University, Beijing (China)
SEAD, Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, Salzburg (Austria)
2016
National Taiwan University of sports Dance Department, Taichung (Taiwan)
Zhong Zheng High School, Taipei (Taiwan)
Chinese Culture University Dance Department, Taipei (Taiwan)
National Taiwan University of Arts, Taipei (Taiwan)
University of Taipei Dance Department, Taipei (Taiwan)
Tainan University of technology Dance Department, Tainan (Taiwan)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong (China)
SOTA, School of The Arts, Singapore (Singapore)
Metamorphosis Summer Course Residency, San Sebastian (Spain)
Centro de produccíon de danza contemporanea, Mexico City (Mexico)
En Movimiento joven talento mexicano, Mexico City (Mexico)
laCantera, Mexico City (Mexico)
Saitama City Ballet, Saitama (Japan)
Hatsunekan Studio, Kyoto (Japan)
Dance Studio “CORAZON", Fukuoka (Japan)
Chung-Ang University (South Korea)
Equilibrio Dinamico, Bari (Italy)
2015
Dantzagunea, Errenteria, San Sebastian (Spain)
D´Motion, Internartional Dance Festival, DPAC, Damansara (Malaysia)
M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival (Singapore)
Beijing Normal University, Beijing (China)
SOTA, School of The Arts, Singapore (Singapore)
Dantzerti, Bilbao (Spain)
DAF Dance Art Faculty, Rome (Italy)
La Cantera, Mexico DF (Mexico)
Metamorphosis summer course residency, Mexico df (Mexico)
+Danza, San Salvador (El Salvador)
Beijing Dance festival, Beijing (China)
Studio ARCHITANZ, Tokyo (Japan)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong (China)
New Zealand school of Dance, Wellington (New Zealand)
Atamira Dance company, Auckland (New Zealand)
PPY Sydney Dance Company (Australia)
Austinmer Dance theatre (Australia)
La Cantera, Mexico DF (Mexico)
Centro Cultural de España en Mexico, (Mexico)
2014
DantzaBiz Bizkaiko Dantza Etxea Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao (Spain)
DAF Dance Art Faculty, Rome (Italy)
UNAM, Mexico DF (Mexico)
IB Stage, Barcelona (Spain)
Balance Art Center, Beijing, Metamorphosis summer course Residency (China)
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Toronto (Canada)
Peridance (New York)
Dantzagunea, San Sebastian (Spain)
PPY Sydney Dance Company (Australia)
Austinmer Dance theatre (Australia)
2013
Alono King's Lines Ballet training program, San Francisco (California)
Summer course at Menagerie du Verre, kazuko Hirabashi, Paris (France)
Dance world Cup Spain, Jury + Workshops, Barcelona (Spain )
Northern California Dance conservatory (California)
ODC, San Francisco (California)
Arts Umbrella Dance, Vancouver (Canada)
Balance Art Center, Beijing (China)
IB Stage, Barcelona (Spain)
2012
Centre de Dansa de Catalunya, Barcelona (Spain)
Dantzaz and Nudans, San Sebastian (Spain)
Jove Ballet de Catalunya, Barcelona (Spain)
2011
CobosMika Training program (Spain)
