Lillian Donnell - Luminous Flow

~ Reflections on Hair ~ ~~~ Have you ever felt the gentle pull of gravity on your hair? The feeling of momentum and weight as you twirl, spiral and spin. I often think about how different our experience of dance and life is, depending on the length and presence of hair. How freely we move our neck, the felt experience of lifting our head up at the end of a spinal roll, whether our hair falls in front of our eyes, the sensation of a bun vs a ponytail... I notice how long hair can feel like a nuisance, something that seems to get in the way of movement. And at other times, I wish my short-haired and bald-headed friends could experience the satisfying pull of hair in motion. (I'm not sure that wearing a wig would be enough to replicate the experience). There are the aesthetics of hair, the politics of hair, and cultural meanings assigned to hair. I'm reminded of a podcast episode from The Emerald - 'The Bright and Bristling Mind: Hair in Imagination and Myth', with stories of wild-haired goddesses and silver baboons. Perhaps what appears lifeless under a microscope is alive in another sense. ~~~ 🎥 Shot by @zaikoda before Ecstatic Contact in Bondi PS: New mailing list just released 💌 For those who want to be the first to hear about upcoming movement events, live music and dance jams, classes, retreats and more. Check out the link in bio to sign up ✨

I call this my 'lazy' silks training. Playing on a knot when I want to move in the air with minimal effort 🍃 @integralaerial

A little snippet with @lillian.luminousflow Lillian Donnell two months ago on Gold Coast, East Australia 🦘 'Geometry of Sensing Bodies' first weekend of March, 2026 (2 months ago) 🌀 Hosted by @kirillytipping Recorded by @muse.files Miss the lush spaciousness of Aus landscape & beautiful coast. #contactimprovisation #movement #somatic #australia

We recorded this for a dear friend of @mirror_of_a_mirror who is unwell. I share this small snippet, for the beautiful light shining through the rainforest, and for the birds that flew overhead. Song from @sarah_singing_raven

Some of my favourite moments from Alessandro Rivellino's Contact Improvisation workshop held in the Northern Rivers. Thank you @ale.rivellino for your magic! And thank you @freeiyao for these beautiful pictures 🙏

Earth Runners - the longest lasting pair of shoes I have ever owned. They've been with me all over the world 🌎 I bought them so long ago that I couldn't find the record, but I did find a photo of me wearing them in 2016. If you haven't dived into benefits of barefoot shoes, I highly recommend diving into the work of biomechanist Katy Bowman. I have an affiliate link and discount you can use for 10% off - type in the code LILLIAN at checkout 🌿

Thank you for the fascinating journey last weekend 🌀 in the Gold Coast, Australia Memorable and savor to cherish Geometry of Sensing Bodies Filmed by @muse.files #contactimprovisation #goldcoast #australia Organizer -- @kirillytipping @contactimprov_australia

Upcoming 4 Week Northern Rivers Aerial Silks Course! Held @spaghetticircus Mullumbimby - Mondays 7:30pm-8:30pm - Starting Monday 9th March - Full series $110 - Open to all levels - lots of progressions available to suit every level of experience And no, you don't already need to be super strong to try it ;) DM with any questions ✨

In moments alone, or at a music jam, I love to find lush sounding chords and then improvise on top. Ebmaj7 Gm7 Cm9 Gm7/D I've found it interesting that while I have come to feel comfortable singing and playing in front of others, improvising melody or making up silly songs, finding my own lyrics is edgy for me. I feel less vulnerable singing the words of others than attempting to come up with my own. Music, voice, and dance feel so accessible, while poetry and 'formal' songwriting are scary. Perhaps because I still carry the idea that the words should be beautiful and meaningful straight away. For now, I just observe and then follow my impulses without thinking too much, and occasionally ephemeral words emerge.

Playing! With @taheli_teram

Contact Improv & Nature Retreats 🌿 One of my favourite combinations. I notice how ease, a sense of safety, playfulness, sensitivity, and community emerge, when we connect - to ourselves, to each other, to the earth, to the trees.

I love to put on a track and just flow. I love the interplay between effort and ease, known sequences and improvisation, moving and then finding a delicious place to balance or stretch.