Joan Davis has been exploring the nature of creativity, particularly from a body based perspective, for over 40 years.  She pioneered contemporary dance in Ireland in the 70s & 80s and has experimented with collaborative art as a professional artist and therapist.

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Joan has three children and four grandsons and is committed to the spiritual approach of Advaita Vedanta. 

From 1996, when she moved to Wicklow, she developed the arts practice and performance offerings of Maya Lila.

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Joan is a Body-Mind Centering® Practitioner, has studied Authentic Movement with Janet Adler, and Voice Work with Chloe Goodchild and Rajeswar Bhattacharya.

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She continues to study developmental processes as well as embryology and early infant trauma. She has extensively studied Process Oriented Psychology (Mindell) and is a Hakomi Sensorimotor Trauma Psychotherapist. 

 

She has undertaken trainings in Dynamic Attachment Repair Experiences (DARE) with Dr. Diane Poole Heller in Europe. She continues her studies with trainings in HANDLE an holistic approach to neuro developmental healing and repatterning. Joan completed her training as a teacher of the Discipline of Authentic Movement, with Julia Gombos as supervising teacher of her work, over a period of six years.

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In 2013 Mary Wycherley, a dance filmmaker based in Limerick, Ireland, was funded to make a film of the work of Maya Lila. This film, called ‘In the Bell’s Shadow’ has been screened nationally and internationally since it premiered in 2015.

 

Joan offers ongoing one to one somatic therapy sessions as well as her group work and solo retreats. To  find out  more about Joan please visit www.gorsehill.net