introduction
My name is pavleheidler. I go by pavle or pav. My pronouns are they/them. I identify as trans non-binary and/or neuroqueer; I am autistic with ADHD.
I like to say that I was born in a country that doesn’t exist, both because that’s literally true and because I like the way it sounds. The year I was born, 1989, saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and the laying of the groundwork for what was to become the world wide web.
My resume is available here.
on dancing and educating
I’ve been dancing since I was six years old. I’ve danced for television, on film, on stage, in run-down office spaces and on abandoned factory floors, in mines, in museums, and in countless dance studios. I’ve danced for choreographers, researchers, fashion designers, visual artists, writers, and film-makers.
My experience taught me that dancing isn't determined by the shapes a body makes. Dancing, for me, is an observational procedure; a thinking, and feeling, and sensing, and doing. It is an experimental practice, developed relationally, through trial and error. And, most importantly, a way to communicate non-verbally.
I started teaching when I was 17. At the time, there was no tertiary dance education in Croatia. All of us who left Zagreb to study abroad taught workshops to local artists during school breaks. It was a way for us to give back to all those who supported us on our way. Very quickly teaching became an integral part of my practice. There’s nothing like sharing your experience with others to help you make sense of yourself.
An educator and activist, Jane Elliott was the person who informed me—via youtube—that the verb to educate comes from the Latin root educere meaning to lead out. “An educator,” Elliott concludes, “is one who is engaged in the act of leading people out of ignorance.” I am drawn to Elliott’s associating educating with leading (local, action) and leadership (global, profession). Thinking about what it would take to lead anyone out of ignorance reminds me of what trail leaders do for amateur hikers, or of what skippers do for amateur sailors. (Amateur comes from Latin for the lover of.)
what you can find here
On this page I’ve collected descriptions of workshops and classes (new and existing) that satisfy my sense of purpose.
Before going through the material, I’ll ask you to keep in mind that none of these proposals were developed independently from either:
- the context they were made for, or
- from observations I’ve made relative to some trend or other I’ve observed in the world.
I like to know what the people I’m working with are dealing with; what kinds of challenges they are facing, what kind of goals they might be trying to reach. I like to make material that will serve the community I work with. The work I share is not meant to be easy, tried-and-true, or self-serving. It requires dedication, critical observation, and risk-taking. That being said, in my experience, the work I share has proven to be useful, inspiring, and empowering.
to book
email: pavleheidler@icloud.com