Social Presencing Theater - by Arawana Hayashi (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Social Presencing Theater: The Art of Making a True Move is a journey into the origins, principles, and practices of an innovative social art form co-created by Arawana Hayashi and colleagues at the Presencing Institute. This embodiment practice deepens reflection and supports individual, team, organizational, and social transformation. This highly accessible book offers an introduction to newcomers and provides a deeper understanding of the work for experienced practitioners who wish to create powerful spaces for heart-based learning and action. The book addresses the origins and underlying principles of Social Presencing Theater, while containing practice instructions and stories that highlight its uses in companies, schools, and social projects.

Social Presencing Theater invites us to tap into our natural creativity and ability to fully embody the "performance" of being human. Hayashi's intention with this work is to offer movement practices that support people in recognizing their own and others' embodied wisdom, compassion, and courage to act. In the face of today's enormous environmental, social, and spiritual challenges, we can become disconnected from the fundamental human goodness that lives in our presence. Social Presencing Theater invites us to make the true moves that are ours to make to create a society of brilliance, warmth, and strength.

Review Quotes

"Arawana Hayashi is a master. She has invented a form whereby people learn to use their bodies to explore, individually and collectively, what the intellect can never fully grasp-the complex social structures we humans create and become stuck in. She has created a wonderful vehicle to guide the journey."

-Peter Senge, MIT & Center for Systems Awareness"Arawana's clear and lighthearted storytelling invites us into new ways of being together-she explores how we can collaborate beyond words, become more present and aware of the world around us, and sense into the emerging future."

-Eileen Fisher, founder, EILEEN FISHER, Inc."This book takes you on a remarkable journey into uncovering the link between embodiment, awareness, and social systems. As Arawana describes her process using Social Presencing Theater, we experience how our own movements can be problematic, or hold the key to creativity and coherence of the whole."

-Wendy Palmer, Leadership Embodiment"Making a True Move is an eloquent and inspiring affirmation of the power of art as spiritual practice and agent for social change. This profound and multi-layered book offers a balm for our turbulent world."

-Meredith Monk, composer, performer, interdisciplinary artist"Making a True Move is a fierce and gentle contribution at a moment when we desperately need to reconnect with our own bodies and to make sense of the collective body, the human community. This book is both a treasure and a prayer."

-Dr. Angel Acosta, Director of Fellowship, Garrison Institute"Throughout Arawana's graceful teachings are the qualities of inspiring, visioning, and guiding people through the movement of life-movement of learning, movement of change, movement of manifesting."

- Larry Yang, author of Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community

"It is not easy to write about a lived, embodied experience; but Arawana's deep connection with spiritual roots and her long-standing dance practice enable her to share in a very expressive way the essentials of Social Presencing Theater."

-Tho Havin, Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan"This outstanding and beautiful book presents Arawana's experiences and wisdom in an inspiring and uplifting way."

-Steen Hildebrand, Professor, Aarhus University