Lulu Sweigard
Lulu Sweigard studied with Mabel Todd at Teachers College, Columbia University, in the late 1920s. In 1931, she began developing her interpretation of Todd’s work while teaching physical education at New York University. She taught dancers at the Juilliard School from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s. Her book Human Movement Potential: Its Ideokinetic Facilitation (1974) introduced the word “ideokinesis,” which became a commonly used title for the approach.
This collection of historical items presents Sweigard’s writings for the general public, physical education and dance, and an audio recording of a lecture demonstration. Letters, photos, student records and materials from the courses she taught are also included.
Personal History
Lulu Sweigard Biographical Essay
By Pamela Matt
Letters and Interview
This folder contains seven letters, and and one interview with information about the role Fritz Popken played in Sweigard’s research and writing.
Life Magazine Photo 1941
This photo of Sweigard and a student was taken from a two page article in Life Magazine that was published in 1941. The article discussed Sweigard’s New York University research project and featured several photographs of her assessment techniques and corrective procedures.
Dance Magazine Photo 1962
The Dance Magazine April 1962 article called “Myron is a Senior,” followed a dance student through a typical day at Juilliard. This photo shows the student consulting with Dr. Sweigard.
Sweigard with Students at Tompkins Cove
According to Verna Popken, the second wife of Fritz Popken, this is a photo of Sweigard in her later years with former students taken at her home in Tompkins Cove, New York. No date was given and the identity of the students is not known.
Student Records
Gerald Peterson E-mail 2004
E-mail from Gerald Peterson (University of Northern Iowa Archivist) to Pamela Matt providing information on Lulu Sweigard’s academic career at Iowa State Teacher’s College. Provides an overview of her work at the college and introduces the copies of the materials sent from the school archive.
“SS Athenia Disaster,” ISTC Alumnus 1940
Article written by Lulu Sweigard for the Iowa State Teachers College Alumnus recounting her heroism in the S.S. Athenia disaster. She was a passenger on the vessel and assisted others to safety when the boat was torpedoed.
Iowa State Teachers College – Old Gold Yearbooks 1918-1926
Selections from the Iowa State Teachers College Old Gold Yearbooks with photos of Lula Edith Sweigard as a student and faculty member.
“Bilateral Asymmetry in the Alignment of the Skeletal Framework of the Human Body.” New York University 1939
A copy of Lulu Sweigard’s unpublished doctoral thesis which documented her analysis of X-rays taken of the torsos of 497 subjects in the standing position. The purpose of the research was to identify trends in bilateral skeletal alignment in the general population. Sweigard’s study revealed seven patterns of deviation.
“Graduate’s Posture Research,” ISTC College Eye 1941
Brief article in the January 10, 1941 issue of Iowa State Teachers College – The College Eye. The article provided information on Sweigard’s background and cited the article about her work in Life Magazine.
Teaching Records
New York University Course Materials
NYU Course Syllabus 1941
Course handbook for New York University physical education students enrolled in Sweigard’s classes in 1941. Fifteen lessons are included.
Diagnostic Test V
The 5th in a series of Sweigard’s diagnostic exercises for physical education students designed to test, “kinesthetic awareness and ability to interpret what your kinesthesia can tell you.”
Skeletal Relationships
Course handout which describes a process for assessing body alignment.
Juilliard Dance Division Course Materials
Constructive Rest Position
Description of the Constructive Rest Position.
Procedure in Posture Laboratory
Explanation of procedures followed in the “posture laboratory” including rationale for “imagined movement” and description of the nine “lines-of- movement.” No date given.
Juilliard Student Class Notes
Class notes from one of Dr. Sweigard’s Juilliard courses that include definition of terms, assessment, principles for “reconditioning neuromuscular action patterns.” No date given.
Audio Recording
“The Use of Imagined Action in Teaching the Dance,” Lecture/Demonstration 1971
Sweigard presented “The Use of Imagined Action in Teaching the Dance” as a lecture demonstration for the Binational Dance Conference, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in June 1971. She discussed the postural faults often found in dancers, described principles to be used in teaching “imagined action” in a class setting, and explained possible responses to the teaching.
The Use of Imagined Action in Teaching the Dance Lecture/Demonstration Transcript
Transcript from a recording of Lulu Sweigard’s Lecture/Demonstration on “The Use of Imagined Action in Teaching the Dance,” presented at the Binational Dance Conference. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. June 1971.
Publications
Magazines/Newspapers/Newsletters
“Body Mechanics,” Science in News –The New York Times 1940
An article called “Body Mechanics” written for the Science and Patents section of “Science in the News,” in The New York Times November 24, 1940, D5. The article announces Sweigard’s doctoral study; explains how Sweigard’s approach differs from conventional physical education; uses behaviorist concepts to acquaint reader with automatic reflexes governing posture; discusses use of imagery and constructive rest.
“Sweigard System Corrects Posture by Rest,” Life Magazine 1941
Two page article with photographs discussing Sweigard’s New York University research project and corrective procedures. Photos demonstrating the constructive rest position, exercises, assessment procedures as well as examples of “bad and improved posture” are shown.
“Constructive Rest,” Self Magazine June 1946
This article by Lulu Sweigard presents a visualization of the body in the constructive rest position as a bag of sand with the sand flowing in various directions to promote a more balanced musculoskeletal system.
“Posture Difficulties I,” Self Magazine August 1946
First in a series of two short articles called “Posture Difficulties” that appeared in Self Magazine in 1946. The August article is a discussion of common postural problems.
“Postural Difficulties II,” Self Magazine September 1946
Second in a series of two short articles called “Postural Difficulties” that appeared in Self Magazine in 1946. The September article describes features of lordotic posture and presents images for the pelvis, legs and feet.
“Myron is a Senior,” Dance Magazine 1962
The April 1962 Dance Magazine article by Eugene Palatsky called “Myron is a Senior,” followed a dance student through a typical day at Juilliard. A photo shows Myron consulting with Dr. Sweigard and the text briefly describes her “posture labs.”
Obituary The New York Times – August 3, 1974
Brief obituary that appeared in The New York Times in 1974, citing Sweigard’s educational background, her teaching at Juilliard and her book.
“Sweigard: A Memorial Tribute,” SEHNAP 1980
From a program for a SEHNAP faculty gathering at NYU, Fall 1980. This Tribute written by Drid Williams recounts Sweigard’s accomplishments and describes her pioneering work in movement education along with the obstacles she encountered in promoting her ideas and methods.
Book Chapters
“Body Mechanics and Posture in Modern Life,” Symposium on Posture 1938
The article “Body Mechanics and Posture in Modern Life” appeared as a chapter of a text called Symposium on Posture published by Phi Delta Pi National Physical Education Fraternity for Women in 1938. Sweigard describes her views on posture and posture education procedures.
“Posture and Body Mechanics,” The Attractive Child 1941
Sweigard wrote “Posture and Body Mechanics,” as a chapter for a text prepared by Constance J. Foster called The Attractive Child: The Care and Development of Your Child’s Beauty in 1941. Sweigard described the development of posture and proper care of the child’s body; suggested frequent periods of rest as an alternative to usual postural admonitions suggested by parents and teachers.
“The Dancer’s Posture,” Introduction by Martha Hill, Impulse 1961
The Dancer’s Posture.” Impulse 1961. San Francisco, CA: Impulse Publications, Inc. 1961, 38-43 with an Introduction by Martha Hill. Correlates findings from her study of bilateral asymmetry to the dancer’s experience of differences in the mobility of the thigh joints and preference for a more stable standing leg; explains tests of spinal flexibility and four principles guiding procedures used in the posture laboratory.
“Preface,” The Thinking Body Dance Horizons Reprint 1968
Short Preface to the Dance Horizons reprint of Mabel Todd’s The Thinking Body. Describes the conclusions Sweigard came to as the result of her study with Todd and her two research studies.
“The Use of Imagined Action in Teaching the Dance,” Dance: Verities Values and Visions 1973
“The Use of Imagined Action in Teaching the Dance” was presented as a lecture-demonstration at the Binational Dance Conference in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in June 1971. The lecture was then summarized as a paper and published in a collection called Dance: Verities, Values and Visions by J. Boorman and D. Harris for the Canadian Association for Health Physical Education and Recreation. Sweigard listed the postural faults often found in dancers; described principles to be used in teaching “imagined action” to dancers in a class setting and discussed possible responses to the teaching. An audio recording and notes from this lecture are also included in the collection.
Journal Articles
“Psychomotor Function as Correlated with Body Mechanics and Posture,” New York Academy of Sciences 1949
“Psychomotor Function as Correlated with Body Mechanics and Posture,” Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences Ser. II, 2 (7): 243-248, May 1949. Explains that attempting to change posture “at will” is not effective; asserts that posture can be “reconditioned” toward greater mechanical efficiency through mental activity; draws distinctions between muscular efficiency and relaxation.
“Better Dancing Through Better Body Balance,” JHPER 1965
This is the typed manuscript for “Better Dancing Through Better Body Balance,” which was published in the Journal of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation 36(5):22-23, 56 in May 1965. To support her idea that the dancer’s posture largely determines success in performance, Sweigard explained the relationship between posture and flexibility. The article also warned of the dangers associated with teaching turnout improperly.
“Sweigard, Body Education, Kindred Things,” by Valentina Litvinoff Dance Scope 1975
A review of Sweigard’s Human Movement Potential by Valentina Litvinoff. Compares Sweigard’s approach to other somatic approaches and forms of movement education.
“Efficiency in Movement through Ideokinesis (The Sweigard Method),” by Fritz E. Popken Dance Research Annual 1978
“Efficiency in Movement Through Ideokinesis (The Sweigard Method)” was written by Sweigard’s husband and appeared in Dance Research Annual XI: Psychological Perspectives on Dance edited by R.E. Priddle, four years after her death. Popken explained the need for Sweigard’s work, summarized the results of her research studies, defined ideokinesis and described her teaching method.
“On Human Movement Potential: A Review Article,” Journal for the Anthropological Study of Human Movement 1981
A tribute and remembrance of Sweigard written by Drid Williams for the Journal for the Anthropological Study of Human Movement. Provides insights to those who would study Sweigard’s Human Movement Potential from linguistic, philosophical, psychological, medical, artistic, educational and anthropological points of view.