Interview with professional dancer Adam Schütt, Stockholm, Sweden
What happens when the discipline of professional dance meets Rolfing® Structural Integration? In this interview, Adam Schütt, a dedicated dancer and current Rolfing student, shares his evolving experiences from the ballet stage and contemporary dance to the Rolfing classroom.
Explore how his Rolfing training in Rolfing has reshaped his understanding of movement, is influencing his on-stage performance, and continues to inspire his future goals. Dive into Adam's story and discover the unique insights that bridge the worlds of dance and Rolfing.
Can you share your dance background and how you first encountered Rolfing® Structural Integration?
I have worked in the dance field since my graduation from the Royal Swedish Ballet School in 1999. I have since worked at the Royal Swedish Opera, Danish Dance Theatre, Culberg, and with my own creations as well as freelance projects, including Cristina Caprioli.
In my years as a professional dancer, I experienced many treatment forms but when I came across Rolfing in 2008 through Andrew Albrech in Stockholm, I noticed a difference in the ¨longevity¨ of the treatments received and the difference in my experience of my own movements. I decided to follow through with the Ten-Series spread out over a one-year period and have since continued receiving Rolfing as my main form of bodywork during the last 16 years.
I was struck by how well my body could absorb the soft tissue work and the changes in ease of movement, efficiency, and presence that I experienced. This led me to seek out and enter the Rolfing training.
What did you mean by describing Rolfing training as “digging for gold nuggets”?
There are so many good places to start describing what Rolfing training does for me! To name a few:
- Clear intentions as a main guideline.
- Practical tools for sensing my own body as an entire global entity, in order to be able to reach and sense others.
- Guidance in practising clear, constructive, and positive verbal communication with clients/collaborators.
Staying in the connected spaces that I can experience in both receiving and practising this method allows me a calmness or simplicity in my decision-making. An expansion of this is that, for me, single actions, clear intentions, smooth approaches, calm and direct, undisrupted and steady, curious and inquisitive, are some notions that I would like to say are vital in learning Rolfing. Likewise, these words, with their specific subjective meaning for me, have been with me as guidelines throughout my dance practice. I can now bridge and fill them with new meaning from my ideas and notions of the Rolfing practice.
How has the Rolfing training influenced your dance practice and performance? Any key techniques or insights that have been especially beneficial?
I think they feed each other in a very productive way. As a dancer, much of my artistic work deals with time, space, and being available to be read by the audience. A boundaryless transparency of certain specific qualities is often requested while performing, and in the practice of performing, scrutiny of one's own performance is encouraged—this is in order to "dim" one quality and "highlight" another.
Another aspect of this is the purely spatial one: How far does my capacity to reach in my sphere of movement actually extend, is it functionally and structurally possible for me to go “all the way”? And how clear can I be with the intention to move only one point of my body from only one place in only one direction? Do I have the capacity to sense, isolate, direct, and propel myself from any point of my body?
Rolfing answers many of these questions for me, as it gives me access to novel connections/experiences, both in my internal sensations and in my external orientation. In brief, Rolfing allows me to sense more details in spatial orientation, a broader spectrum of approaches to movements and intentions. Although it's still a mystery to me—how can this be? And does my proprioception vary by the interventions that I stage for it? I look forward to broadening my experiences and vocabulary in these areas.
What are your future plans, and how will you integrate dance with Rolfing?
The Rolf Movement™ material is something that I think can really benefit the dance community. I myself did not encounter this until very recently but was taken by the simplicity and clearness in the work. I think a big part of my work in the coming five years will be to integrate that into my own practice of movement and understanding so that I can transmit that to others as a form of daily training.
How do you envision your role as a Rolfer evolving in Scandinavia?
In the coming years, I envision a deeper fusion of my extensive dance background with the principles of Rolfing® Structural Integration. The insights I've gained from both disciplines are not just complementary but deeply interconnected. The Rolf Movement material, in particular, has captivated me with its simplicity and clarity, offering a framework that I believe holds immense potential for the dance community.
My immediate focus will be on integrating Rolfing Movement principles into my personal movement practice, refining my understanding so that I can transmit these concepts effectively to others. I see this as a daily practice, similar to what dancers usually do at the start of every workday—a way to imbue every movement with intention, awareness, and precision. The goal is not only to enhance my own performance but to create a methodology that other dancers can adopt, helping them to develop a more profound connection with their bodies.
Over the next five years, I aim to bridge the gap between Rolfing and dance, exploring how the two can inform and enrich each other. This might involve developing workshops or training programs tailored specifically for dancers, where they can learn to incorporate Rolfing techniques into their daily routines. I’m particularly interested in how these practices can help dancers prevent injuries, improve their alignment, and enhance their overall bodily awareness.
What are your thoughts on the new Level 1 Rolfing training in Scandinavia and its potential impact?
Scandinavia has a rich tradition of movement and physical culture, and I believe Rolfing can play a pivotal role in this landscape. By combining the structured approach of Rolfing with other practices, there is an opportunity to offer something unique to both disciplines. I want to facilitate collaborations where dancers, bodyworkers, and movement therapists can come together to share knowledge and experiences, ultimately broadening the reach of these practices.
Moreover, I am passionate about increasing awareness of Rolfing in Sweden and the broader Nordic region. My goal is to make this method more accessible so that it becomes a go-to resource for anyone interested in enhancing their physical well-being, whether they are professional dancers or simply individuals seeking a deeper connection with their bodies.
What advice do you have for dancers considering Rolfing training?
For dancers considering Rolfing training, my advice is simple: Don’t wait! If you’re intrigued by the potential of Rolfing, dive in sooner rather than later. The benefits are profound, not only for your professional practice but for your personal growth as well. The Rolfing method offers a rich field of information on proprioception, movement, and touch—areas that are critical for any dancer. By engaging with these concepts now, you can unlock new dimensions in your dance practice, enhancing both your performance and your understanding of your own body.
To anyone curious about this method, I extend my warmest welcome. Whether you are seeking a new form of treatment or eager to immerse yourself in a transformative field of study, Rolfing has much to offer. It's a journey that can lead to profound changes not just in how you move but in how you experience life itself.
Would you like to take part at the Scandinavian Level 1 of Rolfing training? You are heartly welcome to join our courses in February 2025. Simply contact us with your enquiry.
You are also welcome to join a single course from any of the three offered categories: Movement, Anatomy, or Touch. More information and registration.
Interviewee: Adam Schütt, professional dancer, certified masseur, student of Rolfing Structural Integration, Stockholm, Sweden
Interview and editing: Sabine Becker
Photo: Copyright © Emanuel Schütt
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More information on Level 1 Rolfing training
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Studying at the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® Europe
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