Dancing Notes (2021-)

Exploring the psychological aftermath of World War I, this research investigates the complex phenomenon of Shell Shock through an interdisciplinary lens. This study traces the experiences of traumatized soldiers by examining historical sites across Flemish, Scottish, and French landscapes, where the scars of war remain etched in the terrain.

Delving into war hospital archives, researchers have uncovered fascinating insights into early psychological treatments. The medical understanding of "Neurasthenia" - a term describing nervous exhaustion - led to innovative therapeutic approaches. Ergo therapy emerged as a groundbreaking method, utilizing work, movement, artistic expression, and dance as healing mechanisms.

The Craiglockhart Hydropathic hospital in Edinburgh represents the pinnacle of these experimental treatments. Here, soldiers suffering from what is now recognized as PTSD were rehabilitated through structured social interactions, artistic engagement, and carefully designed movement therapies. Patients participated in dance routines, music sessions, and drawing exercises designed to rebuild cognitive functions and reestablish human connections. The visual archive documents this extraordinary period, comprising photographs, maps, and archival materials that capture the nuanced journey from traumatic warfare to psychological recovery. Unique artifacts like dance notation booklets and "Engagement" journals reveal intimate moments of soldiers rebuilding their sense of self through structured social interactions.

The project fundamentally explores the profound contrast between extreme violence and human resilience. By examining dance, social connection, and creative expression, it illuminates the delicate process of healing and reconnection in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma.