As part of the Somatic Dialogue webinar, the relationship between body and mind was explored through somatic approaches. Organized by the ARUCAD Acting Department, the webinar drew on guided movement and dance improvisation to invite participants to reconsider the body not merely as a moving instrument, but as an entity that senses, remembers, and expresses.
During the seminar, Berrak Yedek, known for her body-based artistic and pedagogical work, shared the Somatic Dialogue® method she has developed through many years of research and practice. Emphasizing that the focus of the process lies in lived experience rather than biography, Yedek stated, “What matters is what we experience together today, what we explore together.” Highlighting listening as a fundamental aspect of somatic practice, she added, “In order to enter into a dialogue with our own body, we first need to learn how to listen to it.”
Addressing the body as a “space,” Yedek underlined its transformative role in acting and performance practices, noting that “The body is a space that offers us countless possibilities to create our lives. Moving through life without entering this space, without exploring it, feels like missing something essential.” Reflecting on the nature of live performance, she emphasized the role of witnessing in expression, saying, “The gaze of those who witness us opens pathways; the body begins to express itself.” She concluded by connecting somatic practice directly to acting, stating, “No matter what you do, you always perform yourself—by transforming yourself.”
The webinar proceeded in an interactive format with active participation from attendees, offering an experiential exploration of the possibilities somatic practice opens up for actors and performance artists. The session was moderated by Sen. Ins. Şafak Ersözlü.