Comments on: Katas

By: Authentic Movement – Change – FreeDance Stage 5 « Terre Pruitt's Blog

Authentic Movement – Change – FreeDance Stage 5 « Terre Pruitt's Blog — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:40:14 +0000

[...] our bodies as they each individually need to be worked. Yes, we do have specific steps in a kata or song. But everyone’s body does the steps maybe a little differently — to their own [...]

By: Nia Might Not Be Pretty — To Some « Terre Pruitt's Blog

Nia Might Not Be Pretty — To Some « Terre Pruitt's Blog — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:28:51 +0000

[...] to music. Nia’s choreography is pretty. In fact in many cases it is beautiful. Most Nia katas are based on the 52 Nia moves. Steps and moves have been carefully selected to fit with the [...]

By: Three of Nia’s Nine Movement Forms « Terre Pruitt's Blog

Three of Nia’s Nine Movement Forms « Terre Pruitt's Blog — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:00:16 +0000

[...] to push on is there. Sanjana has great opportunity for dynamic ease to be exercised. There are katas that allow for the fluid moves of martial arts with dance, kicking, punching, blocking, and [...]

By: Levels of Teaching « Terre Pruitt's Blog

Levels of Teaching « Terre Pruitt's Blog — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 06:56:32 +0000

[...] dictate the actually level of intensity you are participating in during a particular class or kata, but that is up to you. No level is “better” than the other one, the best one is [...]

By: terrepruitt

terrepruitt — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:50:30 +0000

Oh Miss Judy, you have touched upon one of the things that makes Nia so fun. It is unrestrained. And we DO get to let out our inner child. We get to skip, hop, jump, run, crawl on the floor, shout, scream, laugh, dance in our own way, be silly, be strong, be tough, be short, be long . . . . . that is one of the reason people love it. It allows you to be a kid again.

By: terrepruitt

terrepruitt — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:48:09 +0000

Yes, I would imagine that Katas are used in martial arts because that is what all the examples were in Wiki. That is why I said that Nia adopted it, because it tends to be more “martial arty” but we do use some kicks and punches and we bring in the some elements and thoughts from Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido.

And you would recognize a lot more from Nia. We cha-cha-cha, we side step, we grapevine, you as a dancer would recognize a lot, not just the martial arts elements!

By: johnpruitt

johnpruitt — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:21:15 +0000

Katas are used extensively in many martial arts. Nice to see some recognizable goodies in Nia

By: judy

judy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:18:01 +0000

Your description of the kata reminds me of how my friend’s four year old boy moves. Which is funny because I think children are sometimes smarter than we are. They tend to stop eating when they’re no longer hungry, say what they really think, exercise to stay sane… dance whether there is music or not. Nice thought that maybe Nia brings you closer to that brave, unrestrained childhood self.

By: terrepruitt

terrepruitt — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:32:52 +0000

Yes, I did just learn Opal. I am still learning Opal, but that is the one I was taking about. I think I am at that “stop watching Debbie stage”. I have to embrace how I do it because I can’t do it like she does.

I adjusted this post a little bit because I was in a rush when I wrote it and it was bothering me. I might adjust it more.

I think I learned what a kata was off of the Sanjana DVD first off.

Love to you too. Thank you.

By: Jill Campana

Jill Campana — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:00:22 +0000

Hi Terre…then you must’ve learned Opal!!! The kata you mention of the kicks, chops, blocks, shimmys and rumbles is one of my favorites. Or at least it was until my recent hip injury (doing some gardening). I can still enjoy it, just not with the all out energy I’m used to.

It took me the longest time to understand what a “kata” is. I know that must soudn really silly, but I kept trying to make it more than it is…the definition you post above on your blog is so helpful. Thanks!

Love to you…kick! Block! Shimmy!!! Rumble!!

Jill