The Vivencia

Definition of Vivencia

The concept of the Vivencia was proposed around 100 years ago by William Dilthey, who defined it as the lived instant. It can also be thought of as the present moment lived fully.

The Vivencia has no future, no past, and no judgment or interpretation.

Biodanza and the Vivencia

Biodanza is the source of Vivencias. The Biodanza class can be considered as a fountain of Vivencias. If, as is common in modern society, we are goal-oriented, and we ignore the Vivencia, then we lose our perception of what it means to be alive.

Biodanza:

  • Works with positive and integrative situations only (apart from special workshops such as the Minotaur Project),
  • Takes a small positive spark and makes it grow,
  • Puts life into life, and
  • Works with positive feedback only.

'Normal' life in our modern society breaks the balance between the cortex and the primitive parts of the brain. The so called developed countries have a negative population growth, as the cortex overrides (represses) the primitiveinstinct of life. So we have a broken biological balance with most emphasis on the cortex and little on limbic/ hypothalmic activity.

The Vivencia works with the archaic (primitive) part of the brain, not the cortex (we don't speak during a class of Biodanza as this stimulates the cortex)

How does the Vivencia fit in to Biodanza?

The Vivencia is one of the core structural elements of Biodanza which consist of:

The Vivencia has the following beneficial side effects:

  • Educational,
  • Therapeutic, and
  • Psycho-Social.

Lines of Vivencia

  • Are channels of psychological and cinesthesic expression of identity,
  • The environment facilities a positive or negative expression,
  • A Biodanza class is, in the words of Rolando Toro, a bombardment of positive ecofactors the consequence of which is an achievement of positive Vivencias.
  • Humans and not objects are the most influential ecofactors.

Embryology of Vivencias

The Vivencias emerge from instinct and are subject to changes determined by prior experience, and so can be described as ways of reacting to and experiencing life, with instinctive roots.

The evolution of the Vivencia has the following stages:

Instinct - Innate and hereditary responses towards stimuli from the environment,

Protovivencias - Basic experiences of the child during the first months of life,

Emotions - Psycho-physical responses through the neuro-vegetative system, eg happiness, fear, anger, etc,

Vivencias - Intense sensations with cenesthesic characteristics that emerge from relationship with other people or in situations of special stimulation, eg corporal warmth, pleasure, serenity, etc,

Feelings - More elaborate responses towards other people and the world, eg love, friendship, etc.

Classification of Vivencias by Experience

Beginners
(0 - 6 months)

Intermediate
(6 months - 1 year)

Advanced
(1 - 2 years)

  • + Euphoria
  • + Sexual Desire
  • + Body Warmth
  • + Relaxation
  • + Liberation
  • + Harmony
  • - Fear
  • - Guilt
  • - Ridiculous
  • - Insecurity
  • Physical Pleasure
  • Sensuality
  • Sexual Excitement
  • Fraternity
  • Self Confidence
  • Vital Impetus
  • Fullness (Plenitude)
  • Tenderness
  • Erotic Attraction To All
  • Affective Attraction To All
  • Renewal
  • Profound Harmony
  • Innermost Cheerfulness
  • Creative Excitement
  • Blissful Peace
  • Ecstasy

+ indicates a positive Vivencia, - indicates a negative Vivencia.

The teacher emits a message which is received by the (individual) student. The receiving fails if the exercise isadvanced and the individual is a beginner as the environment will not be right. So for beginners the teacher uses low intensity (deflagration) music.

Protovivencias

  • These are experiences of movement (corporal response is transformed into feeling) and feeling during a child's first six months of life.
  • If these experiences do not happen then the child becomes deprived.
  • John Bowlby (a psychologist) worked with orphans and institutionalised children and developed the Attachment Theory (the basis of the Biodanza exercise Secure Base).
  • He classified Maternal Deprivation as being unable to receive care:
    • Partial deprivation leads to anxiety, an excessive need for love, and depression,
    • Full deprivation (lack for the first six months) leads to the impossibility of making loving bonds.

Protovivencias and the Five Lines

Vitality - Linked to movement. Movement is required as well as love. The impulse is produced when the child is allowed to have spontaneous movement, games and autonomy.

Sexuality - Linked to contact/ caress. If the child is caressed then a normal sexuality is ensured. Parents must understand that children need contact, kisses and caresses.

Creativity - Linked to expression. If the child learns in early life to develop expressivity then later he will potentially develop creativity.

Affectivity - Linked to nutrition/ protection. The child must be nurtured with love and receive continent and security. This will provide the child with self confidence.

Transcendence - Linked to harmony/ nest. Children should be allowed to grow in a harmonious environment and in contact with nature.