teaching/education work

new and bespoke projects undertaken, please contact me for details of therapeutic work.

email daniel @ danielweaver.co.uk please remove spaces

Teaching is an extension of my learning. Having worked with many good teachers (see list on right) in dance/movement and music, I now focus a lot on the body and Non-Verbal Communication. This works well with adults, children, professional or the curious. Sound, movement, visual stimulus, kinetic responses, somatic responses and even taste and smell can be used to access our feelings and learn about ourselves.

As a musician I realised that music is usually made using the body and that communicating from the stage began before I played a note. My approach is very physical.

I use a person-centered approach and respect for the individual's needs and abilities. Which means I tend to the person and try to facilitate their own explorations. That way they can take control and shape their development. It is especially useful for people wanting to communicate their ideas clearly, wether for theatrical use or in work and daily life. Through creative play we can rehearse our own decisions abd prepare for life.

Some workshop models can be seen here:

Non Verbal Communication 1 day workshop

Regular improvisation sessions

Previous workshops have included:

I am also researching setting up a company for adults with learning disabilities in the Calderdale area. If you are interested please feel free to email me.

Recent training includes a certificate in Psychodrama (an action method for group psychotherapy) and 1 year of Transactional Analysis (a system for understanding behaviour, with applications to psychotherapy, counseling, education and organizational or business development.)

During more than 20 years of working in performing arts I have lead and co-lead workshops in schools, colleges, and care settings for people with learning disabilities.

2 week intensive Improvising music for dance with Israel Contact Dance Festival and Rimon music school. 10 young musicians were coached in improvisation and understanding movement and theatre conventions then taken to work in demanding settings for international dance artists' classes. Ending in public performances and open improvisations with up to 500 participants.

Yaniv Mintzer - Dancer / Musician / Contact teacher.
"Working with Daniel has been a very special time for me. I got to see a unique work of the moment, both in his teaching and his performing.
together with thoughtfulness and caring he guided jazz and rock musicians into a journey of improvisation.

His work with dancers at the CI festival was fascinating for me as a musician and as a dancer on the contact floor. special presence on stage and tons of investigative spirit made it a highlight of the festival in many people's eyes. I intend to invite Daniel for future workshops and performances."

Nikki - Violin.
"This workshop was really one of the best things that happened to me.
Since the workshop end I look at music differently.

Daniel weaver taught me so much with his charisma and knowledge and especially with his unique way of looking at people and situations.
Im so happy that i won the oppetunity to expirience it, and i hope that others will have this opportunity too."

(more details and feedback available on request)

Alongside the usual composing and teaching work I am actively researching and training to develop a therapeutic approach to group work. My aim is to improve my understanding of group dynamics and interaction through creative processes so that I might better support participants who wish to develope emotionally through their creativity. This approach draws on my experience in devising and performing music and theatre as well as ongoing training in psychotherapy (TA and Psychodrama). It uses movement, sound, improvisation and collaborative group work and can be used for making performances or for personal development.

Teachers friends and colleagues.

Claire Russ - contact Improvisation and working with physical disabilities.

Steve Batts and Ursula Laubli - Contact Improvisation, Stage Skills and improvisation in performance.

Yumiko Yoshioka - Japanese Butoh and psychological dances.

Jos Heuben - comedy and physical theatre.

Wolfgang Hoffmann - Choreography and Solo dance.

John Stevens, Eddie Prevost, Barry Guy,...- Improvised music and ensemble work.

Sacha Bondarev - Physical Theatre.

"How Happy We Would Be" at Whitechapel Art Gallery

"Kissed" at Tate Modern

"Arcade Games" for C4

Corali Dance Company - a professional company of adults with learning disabilities.

I have worked with Corali for over 10 years, helping to devise shows and leading worshops and collaborative performances in unusual places and established venues. In the past we have explored video and sound technology in dance as part of a professional development program and building towards the 21st anniversary of the company. This covered personal memories and the use of old photographs to conjure up scenes and transform memories.

Education work with Corali includes personal development projects for its members designed around their stated needs and professional aims. Plus work in schools and centres co-led by company members.

Using improvisation and recorded music, performing arts students and actors from the state theatre of Istanbul explored the language of the body and musical analogies. Rhythm, Tone and Tension were used to create solo characters and group scenes. Dance and physical theatre was experienced as a natural development of listening.

A musical approach to the body.

3 day Theatre workshops at Bilgi University Istanbul.

2 day workshops with Action Space Mobile

Working around a narrative with children with autism in a special needs school. I made a fishing pool of goblets and found percussion instruments that could be played with nails/worms hung from fishing rods. Children were introduced to the tinkling sounds through the game of fishing and found their way into more purposeful sound-making on other instruments but in an atmosphere of quiet and magical sounds. Other instruments were introduced gradually to allow for new sounds and developing interests.