Earlier this month ATEUK held its second summer session, after the success of last year’s “Back in Touch”. This is an opportunity for ATEUK members to get together for sharing, friendship and updating of AT skills. Although primarily aimed at trained AT teachers plus students currently studying at EACAT, the ATEUK-affiliated teacher training school, we were also very pleased to welcome some of our pupils who wished to spend a day or two deepening their AT understanding.
This year’s theme was “Refresh, Rejoice, Remember” and over each of the four days around a dozen of us assembled with some there every day and others doing the one or two days they could fit in. Every day started with Alexander work on each other, sharing ideas and discoveries. Most days also ended with a spell in semi-supine, the AT ‘lying-down work’, to send us home revitalised.
In between we had a range of activities in the morning, guided by different teachers, then a longer session after lunch on particular topics. Monday brought the chance to experience a session from Kirstie Richardson’s AT and movement workshop. On Tuesday Sarah Witkin demonstrated saddle-work and we got chance to try working on each other in the saddle.
Wednesday was a slightly different day as we remembered our colleague Paul Burge, who sadly died in February. Paul had taught many of us over the years at the Essex Alexander school which preceded EACAT, as well as working with EACAT students. His speciality was in voice work, but his presence, skill and stillness as a teacher made any work with him memorable and we miss him. Despite this it was in a spirit of joy and celebration that we had some songs in tribute from Jane Gregory before Thomas Pope, a friend of Paul’s and fellow AT teacher, led us in remembering Paul and in some work in his memory. We were honoured to have Paul’s niece Rebecca with us as well as Ken and Angela Thompson who ran the Essex school and knew Paul for many years.
Thursday also had a slightly different timetable as we also had the ATEUK house-band in residence with some much appreciated music and a demonstration of good use in performance. After lunch we held our AGM followed by tea and cake. As a co-operative body this is one of two meetings open to all members we hold each year at which any issues can be discussed and decisions made. The minutes of this have been circulated to members. We closed with thanks to Sandra Waller for her love and leadership of both the event and ATEUK.
