Eric Franklin

Eric Franklin
Born Eric Franklin
February 28, 1957
Citizenship Switzerland Switzerland
Known for Founding the Franklin Method

Eric N. Franklin (February 28, 1957) is a Swiss dancer, movement educator, university lecturer, writer and founder of the Franklin Method, a method that combines creative visualization, embodied anatomy, physical and mental exercises and educational skills. He lives in Wetzikon, Switzerland.

Biography

He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Zurich[1] and his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. After many experiences as a dancer and a choreographer, and Breakdance,[2] a dance book written with William Watkins in 1984, he has founded the Franklin-Method Institute[3] in Uster, Switzerland.[4] He is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. He has taught at the Zurich Neurological Institute,[5] the New York University, the Royal Ballet School,[6] the Royal Danish Ballet, the Ballet School of the Zurich Opera,[7] the University of Vienna,[8] the American Dance Festival. He has coached both world and European athletes that became champions, and the Cirque du Soleil artists[9] in the Franklin Method.

The Franklin Method

The Franklin Method (in German Franklin-Methode) was founded in 1994, and was originally for dancers. It was inspired by Mabel Elsworth Todd's ideokinesis, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen's Body-Mind Centering[10] and Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga. Extended from dance field to every kind of human movement, this method combines dynamic science-based imagery, touch, anatomical embodiment and educational skills to create lasting positive change in body and mind, using a range of simple tools, like balls, Theraband,[11][12] and other daily life objects.

The Franklin Method activates body and mind function through the use of imagery, experiential anatomy and reconditioning movement to improve function.[13] It maximizes neuroplasticity to relearn body posture and movements by practicing movement with activation of unused musculature.[14] The principal goals are how to obtain dynamic body alignment and how to move the body with maximum efficiency .[15] In every moment, the ideal combination of limbs, joints, gravity, moving parts, connective tissue, and muscles must be found and directed by the brain and nervous system by help of appropriate imagery.

Imagery promotes a neurogenic changement of muscular condition which allows immediate results, before any myogenic (muscle tissue) one. Connective tissue and inner organs are also directly stimulated, with touch and visualization, in order to change posture and to obtain an inner and outer balance.The exercises have a considerable impact on lowering structural stress, too.

The method is taught all over the world, including the Universities of Vienna, Cologne, Karlsruhe and the Juilliard School in New York. It is recognized by the health providers in Switzerland and courses are regularly offered at Dance,[16][17] Pilates, Yoga and Physiotherapy conferences.[18][19][20]

Publications

Eric Franklin is author of 18 books, mainly in the mind/body field, which have been written in German[21] and English and translated into French,[22] Italian,[23] Spanish,[24] Czech,[25] Dutch,[26] Chinese,[27] Japanese[28] and Korean.[29]

Here are mentioned the publications in English:

  • Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance,[30] Human Kinetics (1996)]
  • Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery[31]
  • Relax Your Neck Liberate Your Shoulders,[32] Princeton Book Company (2002)
  • Conditioning for Dance[33]
  • Pelvic Power,[34] Princeton Book Company (2003)[35]
  • Inner Focus Outer Strength,[36] Elysian Editions (2006)
  • Franklin Method Ball and Imagery Exercises for Relaxed and Flexible Shoulders, Neck and Thorax,[37] Orthopedic Physical Therapy Products (2008)
  • Beautiful Body, Beautiful Mind,[38] Princeton Book Company (2009)
  • Happy Feet – Dynamic Base, Effortless Posture,[39] Orthopedic Physical Therapy Products (2010)[40]
  • The Psoas – Integrating Your Inner Core,[41] Orthopedic Physical Therapy Products (2011)

Filmography

External links

Bibliography and Press

  • Review of Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery,[42] Dance Research Journal, Autumn, 1997, vol. 29, no. 2, p. 105-108
  • Imagery Movement and the Dynamic Dance of Life,[43] by Keith Eric Grant, 1998
  • Conditioning for Dance: Training for Peak Performance in all Dance Forms,[44] by Gigi Berardi, Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, April 2005
  • The mind/body connection and the practice of classical ballet[45] by Emma Dixon (née Burrows) in Research in Dance Education, Volume 6, Issue 1-2, 2005, pages 75–96
  • Teaching Modern Technique through Experiential Anatomy[46] by Jennifer Salka, Journal of Dance Education, Volume 5, Issue 3, 2005, pages 97–102
  • Inner Focus Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Strength, Health and Beauty[47] by Gigi Berardi, Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, Oct 2007
  • Book Review: Inner Focus Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Health, Strength, and Beauty,[48] by Glenna Batson, Journal of Dance Education, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2007
  • A brief history of somatic practices and dance: historical development of the field of somatic education and its relationship to dance[49] by Eddy, Martha, Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices, Volume 1, Number 1, 1 June 2009, pp. 5–27, Intellect
  • Mindful Learning[50] by Virginia Johnson, DanceTeacher Magazine, August 2007

  • Free Your Shoulders[51] by Paul Fox, Spectrum, August 2007
  • Seeing Improvement[52] by Virginia Johnson, Pointe Magazine, April 2007
  • Eric Franklin: transforming technique through science-based imagery[53] by Rachel Straus, Dance Magazine, Jan, 2008
  • Franklin Method Images' Affects on Jumping,[54] by Theresa Heiland et al., Loyola Marymount University; College of Communication Studies & Fine Arts; Dance Program; Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2008.
  • Imagery takes wing[55] by Robin Westen, Pilates Style Magazine, December 2008
  • L’Approccio olistico al personal training,[56] Personal Trainer Journal, January 2009, Italy
  • Which images and image categories best support jump height? Heiland, T. Rovetti, R.In: Solomon R, Solomon J (eds): Abstracts of the 20th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science 2010. Birmingham, UK: IADMS, 2010, pp. 74–75.
  • The Franklin Method in the Pilates Studio[57] by Marguerite Ogle, About.com, December 2010,
  • The Franklin Method: A Revolutionary Approach to Movement[58] by Rosalind Gray Davis, Inner IDEA Fitness Journal, March 2010
  • Method Man[59] by Robin Westen, Pilates Style Magazine, January 2010

References

  1. ↑ University of Zurich
  2. ↑ Breakdance
  3. ↑ Franklin-Method Institute
  4. ↑ Prickelnde Körperbilder by Irene Sieben, Ballettanz magazine, May 2003, p. 72-75. ill.Franklin Method Institute
  5. ↑ Zurich Neurological Institute
  6. ↑ The Royal Ballet School
  7. ↑ Eric Franklin's choreography at the Zurich Opera in an article of Dorothea Kahr, Tanz und Gymnastik magazine, Jahrg. 57, Nr. 3 (2001), p. 42
  8. ↑ University of Vienna
  9. ↑ Cirque du Soleil
  10. ↑ Body-Mind Centering
  11. ↑ Dance Specific Theraband Conditioning article by Eric Franklin, IADMS conference 2003, in Rudolf Nureyev Foundation Medical website
  12. ↑ Thera-Band website
  13. ↑ Young, Lynnette Overby, Ph.D. an Jan, Dunn, M.S.: Dance Imagery Research: Implications for Teachers. The IADMS Bulletin for Teachers, Volume 3, Number 2, 2011, S. 9 -11
  14. ↑ Vandell et al: The function of mental practice in the acquisition of motor skills. J Gen Psychol 29/1943:243-250
  15. ↑ Liberated bodies by Irene Sieben in Ballett international/Tanz aktuell English ed. Nov. 2000, p. 54-55
  16. ↑ New York New York What a Wonderful IADMS Conference by Rachel-Anne Rist, article in Dancing times magazine, Jan 2003, p. 41, 43
  17. ↑ International Association for Dance Medecine and Science 2010 Conference
  18. ↑ 26th and 27th Annual Symposium on medical problems of dancers and musicians - APAM (Performing Arts Medicine Association) 2007, 2008
  19. ↑ 18th Physiotherapy Symposium Lausanne
  20. ↑ article on Franklin Method by Bettina Halbach, on PT magazine, sep 2011
  21. ↑ Hundert Ideen fur Beweglichkeit Einfuhrung in die Ideokinese
  22. ↑ Le corps et l'énergie
  23. ↑ Visualizzazione e movimento, cento idee per correggere la postura, sciogliere le articolazioni e migliorare le prestazioni fisiche
  24. ↑ Danza: acondicionamento fisico
  25. ↑ Czech translation of Relax your Neck, Liberate your Shoulders
  26. ↑ Dutch translation of Pelvic Power
  27. ↑ Chinese translation of Conditioning for Dance
  28. ↑ Japanese translation of Pelvic Power
  29. ↑ Korean translation of Conditioning for Dance
  30. ↑ Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance
  31. ↑ Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery, Human Kinetics (1996)
  32. ↑ Relax Your Neck Liberate Your Shoulders
  33. ↑ Conditioning for Dance, Human Kinetics (2003)
  34. ↑ Pelvic Power
  35. ↑ Pelvic Power review
  36. ↑ Inner Focus Outer Strength
  37. ↑ Franklin Method Ball and Imagery Exercises for Relaxed and Flexible Shoulders, Neck and Thorax
  38. ↑ Beautiful Body, Beautiful Mind
  39. ↑ Happy Feet – Dynamic Base, Effortless Posture
  40. ↑ Rethinking warm-up exercises for the lower extremity for patients active life styles article by Tracey Vlahovic DPM on Podiatry Today, 2012
  41. ↑ The Psoas – Integrating Your Inner Core
  42. ↑ Review of Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery
  43. ↑ Imagery Movement and the Dynamic Dance of Life
  44. ↑ Conditioning for Dance: Training for Peak Performance in all Dance Forms
  45. ↑ The mind/body connection and the practice of classical ballet
  46. ↑ Teaching Modern Technique through Experiential Anatomy
  47. ↑ Inner Focus Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Strength, Health and Beauty
  48. ↑ Book Review: Inner Focus Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Health, Strength, and Beauty
  49. ↑ A brief history of somatic practices and dance: historical development of the field of somatic education and its relationship to dance
  50. ↑ Integral text of the press article PDF
  51. ↑ Integral text of the press article PDF
  52. ↑ Seeing Improvement
  53. ↑ Eric Franklin: transforming technique through science-based imagery
  54. ↑ Franklin Method Images' Affects on Jumping
  55. ↑ Integral text of the press article
  56. ↑ Integral text of the press article PDF
  57. ↑ The Franklin Method in the Pilates Studio
  58. ↑ Integral text of the press article PDF
  59. ↑ Integral text of the press article PDF