SomaTactics
Somatactics is a movement methodology developed by Kelly Nash through twenty years of practice at the intersection of contemporary dance, ConTact C.A.R.E bodywork, and Māori-informed understandings of relationality and whakapapa.
It asks: how does the body know? How do bodies listen to one another? How can embodied intelligence, the kind that lives in our bones, our breath, our hands become a source of creative and relational learning?
SomaTactics works with skeletal intelligence, embodied listening, reciprocal support, and the intelligence of the hands as a way of generating movement, meaning, and relationship. It draws on ConTact C.A.R.E-informed principles, particularly the Flinchlock® release approach and translates them into creative and educational contexts for dancers, artists, and communities.
It is not a closed system. It is an emerging framework, currently being tested through studio research, performance making, workshop delivery, and postgraduate research at Toi Whakaari.
Who it’s for
SomaTactics is taught in workshops for dancers and artists in Aotearoa and internationally. It forms the methodological core of Body Island's performance work, including Mythosoma, and informs our community and intergenerational programmes.
If you are a festival, organisation, or institution interested in hosting a SomaTactics workshop or artist talk, we would love to hear from you.
Kelly Nash is currently undertaking postgraduate research at Toi Whakaari — New Zealand Drama School, developing Somatactics as a formally articulated embodied relational methodology. This research draws on practice-led, phenomenological, and Māori-informed approaches, and contributes to the growing field of somatic and Indigenous dance research in Aotearoa.
ConTact C.A.R.E Flinchlock® Release
Simple + Safe + Sensible
+ Self Evident
ConTact C.A.R.E is a hands-on bodywork approach that works with a natural phenomenon called the Flinchlock® — the body's deep protective response to shock, injury, and overwhelm. By gently locating and releasing these held patterns in the skeleton, it can shift what has been stuck for years: chronic pain, restricted movement, fatigue, emotional weight.
Kelly Nash and Nancy Wijohn have each practised ConTact C.A.R.E for over two decades. It is not separate from their artistic work — it is the root of it. The principles of skeletal intelligence, embodied listening, and relational touch that inform ConTact C.A.R.E are the same principles that underpin Somatactics and the performance work of Body Island.
Talks, demonstrations + festival sessions
Kelly and Nancy are available to bring ConTact C.A.R.E into festival, conference, and wellbeing contexts — as talks, demonstrations, participatory workshops, or individual sessions.
This work is particularly suited to:
Dance and performance festivals, including professional development programmes
Wellbeing and somatic festivals and gatherings in Aotearoa and internationally
Arts organisations and institutions exploring embodied practice
Community health and movement contexts
If you are a festival director, programmer, or organisation interested in bringing this work to your event or community, we would love to talk.
To book a session, enquire about a workshop or demonstration, or discuss a festival programme, contact Kelly at kelly@bodyislandnz.com or visit ConTact C.A.R.E Central for individual bookings.
OUR Foundation Course
The ConTact C.A.R.E Foundation Course is designed for hands on people who wish to learn a way of working with the body to support both themselves and others. Complementary work for all health professionals interested in a new approach to working with impact injuries and trauma.
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Learn ConTact C.A.R.E Flinchlock® Release, a Martial Arts-based discipline, created in NGATEA New Zealand, by Dale W. Speedy (6th dan Blackbelt Kiaido-Ryu) and Kym Summers.
Gain the foundational knowledge to understand what ConTact C.A.R.E® is, how it works, and learn skills to find and release Flinchlocked bones yourself.
Gain a certificate upon completion which goes towards further training in ConTact C.A.R.E.
Learn the treatment protocol of ConTact C.A.R.E Flinchlock® Release, to provide clarity for both practitioner and client by removing the body tensions that are overlying the actual injuries, making it easier to identify and work with them.
Engage in the practical study of what we call SKELETAL SENSORY SHOCK.
Learn specific exercises to grow your confidence in the use of the technique and a variety of easy to use strategies for the use of ConTact C.A.R.E
Course manual included as hard copy.
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ConTact C.A.R.E recognises the skeleton has it's own self-defence system which automatically and independently engages when bone is impacted by surprise.
When this happens, an individual's balance centre shifts to accommodate the perceived extra weight. It is a SENSORY impression of weight. It is felt, therefore it is acted upon by the entire body mass.
The bone 'spiral contracts' at the impact site creating a super sensitive over-contractive area around it that feels super strong, the rest of the body must then compensate with a counter- weight to maintain balance, (this is the felt stress). The client is feeling the compensation workload but NOT the cause of it.
ConTact C.A.R.E Practitioners are trained to locate and release the hidden CAUSES of what is being felt by the client.
The ConTact C.A.R.E technique/formula releases the spiral contraction so normal function may return.
Simply put the only question in the ConTact C.A.R.E Practitioner's mind is, "where's the BONE that's causing that."
We are skilled in seeing what does NOT move in a sea of movement. Extra-ordinary movement is created by extra-ordinary STILLNESS.
The clinical experience is non-intrusive and gentle, the techniques safe and effective.
Consultations are carried out with the client fully clothed.
What our clients say:
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“Kelly has a rare talent for physical therapy. Over a series of contact CARE sessions, she helped me unwind and release many old injuries, physical and emotional patterns. Each session was unique and I was fascinated to feel the rapid shifts and changes we achieved together. The results from each session were cumulative and permanent. “
— KT
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After seeing Nancy I have cancelled my appointment with the specialist surgeon for shoulder pain (no longer in pain) shoulder and back pain all gone. Knee pain has reduced significantly to minor discomfort now and then. I no longer take pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs and most significantly the brain fog from a traumatic brain injury has changed and it is not as challenging as before, which is an unexpected pleasure. Totally recommend this practice, it is gentle and very effective.
— AA
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My session was extraordinary. On a physical and mental level. My hip, foot and a few head knocks have been seen too. My pain has subsided and body is connecting to my head. I will be continuing to see Nancy for other injuries that I have accrued over the years.
— Deb Frame
