A still body is a mobile one. Our body itself is a jungle, a universe. Giving something as much time as it needs to exist in space: that is dance. Understanding our body connects us with deep-seated existential questions - who we are as an individual, as a community and in relation to the world around us. My dance, and my workshops connecting medicine with dance emerge from this starting point.
We all live in, with and through our body. It links us to space and time, to other human beings and to the rest of nature. Before any geographical, cultural or national affiliation, the first territory we all belong to is our body. It’s our common ground. With State of the Body, I want to give a name and an identity to the human condition of the body.
BIO
Mansoureh Aalaii is a medical doctor, lecturer, dancer and choreographer working in Zurich and Paris. She researches the body at the intersection of medicine and dance. With her transdisciplinary approach she has created an innovative method linking medical knowledge to the creative process. She is lecturer for body knowledge, dance medicine and dance performance at universities such as the Academy of Architecture USI in Mendrisio, institutions such as Tanzhaus Zurich, Micadanses Paris and specialized symposium such as Forum Tanz Schweiz. She realizes dance performances where she explores the body as the place of our existence. She is the founder of the structure State of the Body, co-founder and director of Transversal Territory and Aalaii & de Perrot Association.
Mansoureh Aalaii studied medicine in Fribourg and Zurich. Both universities hired her to tutor their students in anatomy and histology. She completed an MD in social and preventive medicine and received her ophthalmology accreditation from the European Board of Ophthalmology and the Swiss FMH. She studied sports and dance medicine, sports science and training theory and investigated somatic practices among others Feldenkrais, Safe Method, Mindfulness, Yoga and Kung Fu. She trained in contemporary dance techniques with Benoît Lachambre, Vera Mantero and Rihoko Sato, among others and worked with Japanese Butoh dancer Iwana Masaki and Body Weather with Min Tanaka.
Membership
• | Specialist in Ophthalmology, Member FMH |
• | Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology FEBO |
• | Swiss Association of Assistants and Senior Physicians VSAO |
• | |
• | Danse Suisse |
• | Tanzlobby IG Tanz Zürich |
CV
Teaching
2022 - | Lecturer, University of Italian Switzerland USI, Mendrisio CH |
2018 - | Sports Medicine, Body-knowledge for dancers, a.i. Tanzhaus Zurich, Micadanses Paris |
1998-99 | Tutor to medical students, Department of Anatomy, University of Zurich |
| 1998 | Tutor to medical students, Department of Anatomy, University of Fribourg CH |
Creations (selection)
2022 | Le Souffle - Der Atem, performance, ZOA Festival, Paris |
2021 | Der Berg im Stausee, video-installation, in collaboration with Onzgi, Göschenen CH |
2020 | The Stillstands, dance performance, open air, Zurich |
2019 | Danced Lecture: Hannah Arendt, Counter Space, Zurich |
2018 | An Airplane Full of Flowers, dance performance, Helmhaus, Zurich |
Expectation, dance performance, Festival Verda Utopio 12, Réveillon FR | |
Carpet Conversation, dance performance, Contemporary Art Center, Mobile Gallery, Skopje MK | |
2017 | O.K., dance performance, Festival Verda Utopio 11, Réveillon FR |
2016 | When the White of Silence Yellows, performance, in collaboration with Yaping Wang, Festival les oreilles libres, Paris |
Blank, dance performance, Festival Verda Utopio 10, Réveillon FR | |
2014 | Permanent Absence, lecture, Flamme éternelle by T. Hirschhorn, Palais de Tokyo, Paris |
Publication of excerpts of Nabud, Flamme éternelle, Journal No 47, Paris |
Medicine
2010 - | Ophthalmologist, Paris and Zurich |
2016-19 | Advanced training in Sports Medicine, Sports Science, Dance Medicine, Training Theory: Centre National de la Danse and Institut National du Sport, de l’Expertise et de la Performance, Paris Schulthess Clinic, Balgrist Clinic, Zurich |
2010 | Swiss FMH Diploma in Ophthalmology |
2007 | European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma FEBO |
2004 - | Advanced training in Ophthalmology |
2004 | Certificate in Basic Science Assessment in Ophthalmology |
2003-10 | Assistant doctor in Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Surgery: Ophthalmology Department, A. de Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Zurich Jules-Gonin Ophthalmic Hospital, Lausanne |
2002-03 | Assistant doctor in General Surgery, Orthopedics, Hospital Zofingen CH |
2001 | Federal Diploma in Medicine, Zurich |
1999-01 | Doctoral Thesis in Social and Preventive Medicine: Analysis of Residential Drug Treatment, Prof. F. Gutzwiller, University of Zurich |
1999-00 | Internships: General Surgery, Orthopedics, Saint Joseph’s General Hospital, Nenagh, Ireland Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Sorkhe Hesar Hospital, Tehran Ear, Nose and Throat, Internal Medicine, Gynecology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich |
1994-01 | Medical studies, Universities of Fribourg CH and Zurich |
1994 | Internship: Alzheimer's Patients Care, Käferberg Care Center, Zurich |
1993 | Scientific diploma, Zurich |
Education in Somatic and Dance Practice
2016 - | Body Weather: Min Tanaka, Frank van de Ven, Sherwood Chen, Christine Quoiraud, Alix de Morant |
2012 - | Butoh: Iwana Masaki, Atsushi Takenouchi, Maki Watanabe, Gyohei Zaitsu |
2008 - | Somatic practices: Feldenkrais, Yoga, Safe Method, Mindfulness, Kung Fu, Tai Chi |
2007 - | Contemporary dance, among others: Benoît Lachambre, Vera Mantero, Vincent Dupont, Rihoko Sato, Elizabeth Schmidt, Nina Dipla, Volmir Cordeiro, Elsa Wolliaston, Loren Palmer |
2007-08 | Performance, writing workshops with Pascal Rambert, Rachid Ouramdane, Théâtre de Gennevilliers |
1980-10 | Training in various dance techniques |
Literature
2006-09 | BA Degree in Persian literature, language and culture, Inalco, Paris |
Residencies
2023 | Espace Sud, ADN, Neuchâtel CH |
2022 | La Générale, Paris |
2021 | Kunstdepot, Göschenen CH |
2015 | d.i.v.o. Institute, Kolin CZ |
NEWSLETTER / SIGN UP
A still body is a mobile one. Our body itself is a jungle, a universe. Giving something as much time as it needs to exist in space: that is dance. Understanding our body connects us with deep-seated existential questions - who we are as an individual, as a community and in relation to the world around us. My dance, and my workshops connecting medicine with dance emerge from this starting point.
We all live in, with and through our body. It links us to space and time, to other human beings and to the rest of nature. Before any geographical, cultural or national affiliation, the first territory we all belong to is our body. It’s our common ground. With State of the Body, I want to give a name and an identity to the human condition of the body.
BIO
Mansoureh Aalaii is a medical doctor, lecturer, dancer and choreographer working in Zurich and Paris. She researches the body at the intersection of medicine and dance. With her transdisciplinary approach she has created an innovative method linking medical knowledge to the creative process. She is lecturer for body knowledge, dance medicine and dance performance at universities such as the Academy of Architecture USI in Mendrisio, institutions such as Tanzhaus Zurich, Micadanses Paris and specialized symposium such as Forum Tanz Schweiz. She realizes dance performances where she explores the body as the place of our existence. She is the founder of the structure State of the Body, co-founder and director of Transversal Territory and Aalaii & de Perrot Association.
Mansoureh Aalaii studied medicine in Fribourg and Zurich. Both universities hired her to tutor their students in anatomy and histology. She completed an MD in social and preventive medicine and received her ophthalmology accreditation from the European Board of Ophthalmology and the Swiss FMH. She studied sports and dance medicine, sports science and training theory and investigated somatic practices among others Feldenkrais, Safe Method, Mindfulness, Yoga and Kung Fu. She trained in contemporary dance techniques with Benoît Lachambre, Vera Mantero and Rihoko Sato, among others and worked with Japanese Butoh dancer Iwana Masaki and Body Weather with Min Tanaka.
Membership
• | Specialist in Ophthalmology, Member FMH |
• | Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology FEBO |
• | Swiss Association of Assistants and Senior Physicians VSAO |
• | |
• | Danse Suisse |
• | Tanzlobby IG Tanz Zürich |
CV
Teaching
2022 - | Lecturer, University of Italian Switzerland USI, Mendrisio CH |
2018 - | Sports Medicine, Body-knowledge for dancers, a.i. Tanzhaus Zurich, Micadanses Paris |
1998-99 | Tutor to medical students, Department of Anatomy, University of Zurich |
| 1998 | Tutor to medical students, Department of Anatomy, University of Fribourg CH |
Creations (selection)
2022 | Le Souffle - Der Atem, performance, ZOA Festival, Paris |
2021 | Der Berg im Stausee, video-installation, in collaboration with Onzgi, Göschenen CH |
2020 | The Stillstands, dance performance, open air, Zurich |
2019 | Danced Lecture: Hannah Arendt, Counter Space, Zurich |
2018 | An Airplane Full of Flowers, dance performance, Helmhaus, Zurich |
Expectation, dance performance, Festival Verda Utopio 12, Réveillon FR | |
Carpet Conversation, dance performance, Contemporary Art Center, Mobile Gallery, Skopje MK | |
2017 | O.K., dance performance, Festival Verda Utopio 11, Réveillon FR |
2016 | When the White of Silence Yellows, performance, in collaboration with Yaping Wang, Festival les oreilles libres, Paris |
Blank, dance performance, Festival Verda Utopio 10, Réveillon FR | |
2014 | Permanent Absence, lecture, Flamme éternelle by T. Hirschhorn, Palais de Tokyo, Paris |
Publication of excerpts of Nabud, Flamme éternelle, Journal No 47, Paris |
Medicine
2010 - | Ophthalmologist, Paris and Zurich |
2016-19 | Advanced training in Sports Medicine, Sports Science, Dance Medicine, Training Theory: Centre National de la Danse and Institut National du Sport, de l’Expertise et de la Performance, Paris Schulthess Clinic, Balgrist Clinic, Zurich |
2010 | Swiss FMH Diploma in Ophthalmology |
2007 | European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma FEBO |
2004 - | Advanced training in Ophthalmology |
2004 | Certificate in Basic Science Assessment in Ophthalmology |
2003-10 | Assistant doctor in Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Surgery: Ophthalmology Department, A. de Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Zurich Jules-Gonin Ophthalmic Hospital, Lausanne |
2002-03 | Assistant doctor in General Surgery, Orthopedics, Hospital Zofingen CH |
2001 | Federal Diploma in Medicine, Zurich |
1999-01 | Doctoral Thesis in Social and Preventive Medicine: Analysis of Residential Drug Treatment, Prof. F. Gutzwiller, University of Zurich |
1999-00 | Internships: General Surgery, Orthopedics, Saint Joseph’s General Hospital, Nenagh, Ireland Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Sorkhe Hesar Hospital, Tehran Ear, Nose and Throat, Internal Medicine, Gynecology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich |
1994-01 | Medical studies, Universities of Fribourg CH and Zurich |
1994 | Internship: Alzheimer's Patients Care, Käferberg Care Center, Zurich |
1993 | Scientific diploma, Zurich |
Education in Somatic and Dance Practice
2016 - | Body Weather: Min Tanaka, Frank van de Ven, Sherwood Chen, Christine Quoiraud, Alix de Morant |
2012 - | Butoh: Iwana Masaki, Atsushi Takenouchi, Maki Watanabe, Gyohei Zaitsu |
2008 - | Somatic practices: Feldenkrais, Yoga, Safe Method, Mindfulness, Kung Fu, Tai Chi |
2007 - | Contemporary dance, among others: Benoît Lachambre, Vera Mantero, Vincent Dupont, Rihoko Sato, Elizabeth Schmidt, Nina Dipla, Volmir Cordeiro, Elsa Wolliaston, Loren Palmer |
2007-08 | Performance, writing workshops with Pascal Rambert, Rachid Ouramdane, Théâtre de Gennevilliers |
1980-10 | Training in various dance techniques |
Literature
2006-09 | BA Degree in Persian literature, language and culture, Inalco, Paris |
Residencies
2023 | Espace Sud, ADN, Neuchâtel CH |
2022 | La Générale, Paris |
2021 | Kunstdepot, Göschenen CH |
2015 | d.i.v.o. Institute, Kolin CZ |
CONTACT
NEWSLETTER / SIGN UP
