MELANIE SCHAUWECKER
Feet rooted in the Earth
Snaking down into the core of Mother Gaia
Crown rising to the Heavens
Opening to the light of Father Sky
Where these energies meet and merge:
The core of the Heart
Deep within the void of this space,
In the dark womb of the Heart
A tiny bud of light opens and swells
Bursting forth with radiant rays
A blossom of sunlight
Powerful, shining, expanding
About
My work encompasses both solo and collaborative experiences that support reconnection with our embodied wisdom. I hold spaces where presence and intentionality bloom into personally sacred ritual and creative expression. Expressive Energy Work is the name I have created to encapsulate my various offerings.
As a performing artist, my journey began in musical and traditional/classical theatre before expanding into devised and experimental performance. Creating from poetry, imagery, and improvisation sparked a passion for the intuitive and magical sides of performance, drawing me toward non-traditional forms of theatre.
My creative practice is shaped by a background in physical theatre, alongside years of study in various branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine including acupressure, Classical Feng Shui, Qi Gong and T'ai Chi, as well as Reiki and intuitive bodywork.
Connecting with the Earth through a meditation practice that incorporates simple physical movement informs my creative process. Here, the body and voice fuel visualizations and vice versa, like a live channel between body, earth, and spirit.
I feel increasingly called to the power of women gathering in circle, barefoot, hand-in-hand, guided by sound and movement. It is here that we may deepen our creative expression, our connection with one another, with Mother Earth, and with All That Is... experiencing joy, feeling whole, and at peace.
Training
MFA Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre, Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre
BA Theatre Performance, minor in Cultural Anthropology, San Diego State University
Physical Theatre Certification, L'école Jacques Lecoq (Paris, France)
Clown Workshop, École Philippe Gaulier (Étampes, France)
Traditional Balinese Dance & Shadow Puppetry, Dell'Arte Abroad (Bali)
Odin Week Intensive Participant, Odin Teatret (Denmark)
Apprentice Performer, Theatre of Yugen (San Francisco, CA)
Chi Nei Tsang, Moxibustion, Cupping, Wu's Healing Center (San Francisco, CA)
350-hour Acupressure Certification, Acupressure Institute (Berkeley, CA)
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, Soma Yoga Institute (Humboldt County, CA)
120-hour Classical Feng Shui Certification, Golden Gate Feng Shui School (Oakland, CA)
Interested in exploring my full body of theatre and performance work? Visit my artist portfolio.