BODY
EXPLORING THE PHASIC BODY QUALITIES
The body is not seen merely as a structure, but as a dynamic system that can adopt different “material qualities” depending on environment, speed, and exertion of force. These four qualities — Elastic, Colloidal, Tensile, and Stiff — describe how the body responds, shapes, structures, and transforms in space. Each quality invites us not only to do movement, but to be movement — from individual segments to the entire organism.
4
QUALITIES
ELASTIC
The body or body part stretches, redirects forces, and stores/returns energy — a kind of spring-like, dynamic quality.
COLLOIDAL
This quality describes a “soft,” fluid-like structure within the body — not rigid, not purely elastic, but capable of adaptation and distribution — a kind of “liquid” material behavior of the body.
TENSILE
The body structure intentionally generates tension — muscles and fascia work together to control resistance and to create or transmit force. The body behaves like a stretched rope or strap — active, controlled, and powerful.
STIFF
The body adopts an almost rigid, structured quality — high resistance, clear form, minimal flexibility. A solid, stable structure that supports posture and form over extended positions.
ELASTIC
Examples
Lower Body
The lower body stores elastic energy upon impact, converts it into a dynamic rebound, and uses the leg chains as a responsive spring structure.
Mid Body
The mid-body acts as an elastic pivot point that absorbs rotations, swings, and directional shifts reactively and transmits them efficiently.
Upper Body
The upper body generates spring-like rising and lowering motions that create elastic tension in the arms and shoulders, supporting fast, rhythmic impulses.
Lower Body
The lower body moves softly, fluidly, and adaptively; joints yield and distribute forces without creating rigid endpoints.
Mid Body
The mid-body functions as a soft transmission medium in which ribs, spine, and pelvis redirect and distribute forces in fluid sequences.
Upper Body
Arms, shoulders, and chest move in gentle waves without fixed structural boundaries — a soft, liquid material behavior that emphasizes transitions.
COLLOIDAL
Examples
TENSILE
Examples
Lower Body
The lower body generates targeted tensile load along the leg and hip chains, enabling controlled force transmission and stable positioning.
Mid Body
The mid-body tightens like a stretched band that channels and regulates tensile forces while creating stability across the whole body line.
Upper Body
The upper body builds active tensile tension through the arms, back, and shoulder girdle to create precise, powerful lines and controlled movements.
Lower Body
The lower body adopts a stable, nearly rigid structure that provides resistance, locks positions, and forms clear, unmoving axes.
Mid Body
The mid-body forms a firm, compact structure that yields very little and holds the entire body in a clear, defined shape.
Upper Body
The upper body maintains an almost immobile tension, bearing loads, supporting positions, and creating a stable framework for precise forms.
STIFF
Examples