ORIGIN STORY
The Intrinsic Movement Journey
I felt compelled to share my knowledge and experience in creative movement after noticing that my son was missing some milestones in the wake of the pandemic. I had been fully committing myself as an essential worker in the healthcare field and realized that there was a potentially correlation. This turn of events also brought me to the realization that my education and experience in Dance and Expressive Art Therapy may be put to great use, not only in my son's case but, for an entire cohort! Intrinsic Movement was the answer!
In considering a name to do business under, I was searching for a word that would succinctly represent the meaning of all the dance/movement modalities I share. "Intrinsic" meaning "belonging naturally, essential" resonated in an meaningful way. Movement expression and dance have always existed in me and in my life in a natural and necessary way.
I have always appreciated that way that dance and movement exist in a pre-linguistic form of communication not only in our own lifespans but in our entire existence as a whole. It has the ability to offer a unifying experience or understanding that bypasses the necessity to translate the message and emotion into limiting, linguistics silos.
Movement and dance are intrinsic to us all if only we welcome the experience.
DANCE TOGETHER
At Intrinsic Movement, the hope is to enhance shared experiences
and engage participants' mind, body and spirit in meaningful ways,
meeting them where they are at in the moment.
Client groups that have welcomed the experience:
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It Takes a Village
Hilltown Community Health Center
Becket Athenaeum
Hamilton Memorial Library
Dalton Preschool
Grace Hall Memorial Library
Central Berkshire CFCE
Westfield CFCE
Berkshire Freedom Academy
Mount Carmel Care Center
Race Brook Lodge Campfire & Creative Kids Club
The Lee Library
Westfield Athenaeum
Berkshire Athenaeum Tinker Tots
Balanced Recovery Center
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Laurel Lenski
Owner/ Group Movement Facilitator
Laurel Lenski, a western Mass native and owner of Intrinsic Movement, has always embodied the spirit of dance. From a young age she closely observed many of the great dancers from the "golden age" of Hollywood musicals, self teaching the theatrical flare and stylized movements of the era. She often choreographed performances for her family members and backyard wildlife.
Finding her first employment at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, she again studied "the greats" but this time, in person. Taking advantage of the ability to take in performances by world renowned artists and participating in Master Classes strengthened her conviction to pursue dance. After her informal training and formal training in a variety of classes at Canterella's School of Dance in Pittsfield, Mass she was granted admittance to the Dean College School of Dance.
She now holds degrees in, Dance from Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts and Expressive Art Therapy, from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to these credentials, she is certified in the somatic dance/fitness practice of Nia, as a White Belt Instructor.
Before the conception of Intrinsic Movement, she began her career in the health and human services field, finding a great joy in creating and sharing experiences for clients. Going on to confirm this lived experience, she continued her education and become a Certified Dementia Practitioner with the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and an Ageless Grace(R) Educator. Through various roles, she consistently applied her eclectically found knowledge, experience and innate talents to enhance the shared experiences of every client and family with which she worked.
As owner of Intrinsic Movement it is important to her to honor those that came before and afforded her the privilege to fulfill this work. Through her work, she honors the lives, influences and "sculpting" of many "teachers" along her journey.
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Described as, a "woman of valor" and "a light in the dark" her passion to share the therapeutic powers of dance, movement and expression "shine" in her genuine and enlivened approach to facilitating client groups, engaging each participant, and meeting them where they are at, in the moment.