Dr
Thomas Kampe
- Professor of Somatic Performance and Education
- Email: t.kampe@bathspa.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)1225 876392
- School: Bath School of Music and Performing Arts
- Website:

Personal statement
Thomas Kampe (PhD) has worked as a performing artist, researcher and somatic educator across the globe. Artistic collaborations include work with Liz Aggiss, Hilde Holger, Julia Pascal, Tanzinitiative Hamburg, Somatische Akademie Berlin, and with Carol Brown on re-embodying the diasporic practices of Modernist choreographer Gertrud Bodenwieser.
Thomas' research focuses on critical somatic legacies. Thomas is a practitioner of The Feldenkrais Method® and guest editor of the IFF research Journal Vol. 6 (2019): Practices of Freedom: The Feldenkrais Method and Creativity. In 2017 he edited JDSP Vol. 9. 'Bodily undoing: Somatics as practices of critique' with Kirsty Alexander. Since 2015 direction of international symposia: (re)storing performance (2015); Theatre, youth, trauma and Europe in crisis (2016); Bodily Undoing–Somatic Performance Cultures and Activisms as critical practice (2016); Beyond Forgetting 1938-2018: persecution/exile/memory (2018). He co-directed the international Body IQ Berlin Festival with Somatische Akademie Berlin in 2019. Together with his brother Prof. Gerhard Kampe (University of Coburg, Germany) he is the co-editor of the book 'Beyond Forgetting: persecution/exile/memory - transdisciplinary perspectives on education in design and performance' (Cuvillier 2020).
Thomas is the co-director of Bath Spa's Creative Corporealities research group, along with Mary Steadman.
Academic qualifications
- BA (Hons) Middlesex University
- MEd Kassel University
- DipHE Laban
- PhD London Metropolitan University.
Professional memberships
- Fellow of Higher Education Academy
- Member of Feldenkrais Guild UK.
Research and academic outputs
Beyond forgetting - persecution/exile/memory: transdisciplinary perspectives on design, performance and education
book
Kampe, G and Kampe, T, eds. (2021) Beyond forgetting - persecution/exile/memory: transdisciplinary perspectives on design, performance and education. Cuvillier Verlag, Goettingen. ISBN 9783736973107
The secret listeners
book
Pascal, J and Kampe, T, eds. (2013) The secret listeners. Pascal Theatre Company, London. ISBN 9780992775100
The Feldenkrais Method® and a theater of enaction
book_section
Kampe, T (2021) 'The Feldenkrais Method® and a theater of enaction.' In: Elgelid, S and Kresge, C, eds. The Feldenkrais Method®: learning through movement and the brain. Handspring, Fountainhall. ISBN 9781912085699
Dancing the soma-ecstatic: Feldenkrais and the modernist body
book_section
Kampe, T (2021) 'Dancing the soma-ecstatic: Feldenkrais and the modernist body.' In: Scholl, R, ed. The Feldenkrais Method in creative practice: dance, music, theatre. Methuen, London, pp. 17-37. ISBN 9781350158382
Punti di Fuga / Fluchtpunkte - enacting empathy
book_section
Kampe, T (2021) 'Punti di Fuga / Fluchtpunkte - enacting empathy.' In: Kampe, G and Kampe, T, eds. Beyond forgetting - persecution/exile/memory: transdisciplinary perspectives on design, performance and education. Cuvillier Verlag, Goettingen, pp. 198-207. ISBN 9783736973107
Displaced/Displayed - surviving dance in exile
book_section
Kampe, T (2021) 'Displaced/Displayed - surviving dance in exile.' In: Kampe, G and Kampe, T, eds. Beyond forgetting - persecution/exile/memory: transdisciplinary perspectives on design, performance and education. Cuvillier Verlag, Goettingen, pp. 128-143. ISBN 9783736973107
Dancing critical somatics – an emancipatory education for the future?
book_section
Kampe, T and Batson, G (2020) 'Dancing critical somatics – an emancipatory education for the future?' In: David, A.R, Huxley, M and Whatley, S, eds. Dance fields: staking a claim for dance studies in the twenty-first century. Dance Books, Binsted, pp. 154-184. ISBN 9781852731816
Tanz als Überlebenskunst: Die Choreografin Hilde Holger und ihr Einfluss auf die britische Tanzkultur
book_section
Kampe, T (2019) 'Tanz als Überlebenskunst: Die Choreografin Hilde Holger und ihr Einfluss auf die britische Tanzkultur.' In: Amort, A, ed. Alles tanzt: Kosmos Wiener Tanzmoderne. Hatje Cantz, Vienna, pp. 289-297. ISBN 9783775745673
Body-soma-self: re-embodying dance research
book_section
Kampe, T (2019) 'Body-soma-self: re-embodying dance research.' In: Bacon, J, Hilton, R, Kramer, P and Midgelow, V.L, eds. Researching (in/as) motion: a resource collection, artistic doctorates in Europe. NIVEL . Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki. ISBN 9789523530126
The art of making choices: the Feldenkrais Method as a soma-critique
book_section
Kampe, T (2015) 'The art of making choices: the Feldenkrais Method as a soma-critique.' In: Whatley, S, Garrett Brown, N and Alexander, K, eds. Attending to movement: somatic perspectives on living in this world. Triarchy Press, Axminster, pp. 77-90. ISBN 9781909470637
Choreografievermittlung ein gespräch mit Thomas Kampe
book_section
Kampe, T and Klein, G (2015) 'Choreografievermittlung ein gespräch mit Thomas Kampe.' In: Klein, G, ed. Choreografischer baukasten: das buch. Transcript, Bielefeld, pp. 238-244. ISBN 9783839431863
From the field: community dance and emerging values
book_section
Kampe, T (2014) 'From the field: community dance and emerging values.' In: Proceedings of international symposium 'Inquiry into Community Dance - Art of the Public Dance Activity. Korean National University of The Arts, Seoul, Korea, pp. 5-26.
Measuring moves
book_section
Kampe, T (2013) 'Measuring moves.' In: Wanek, R and White, A, eds. Migratory lines: navigations across disciplines. Broadcast Gallery, Dublin, pp. 64-73. ISBN 9781900454520
The choreographer Hilde Holger: between three worlds
book_section
Kampe, T (2013) 'The choreographer Hilde Holger: between three worlds.' In: Brinson, C and Dove, R, eds. German-speaking exiles in the performing arts in Britain after 1933. The Yearbook of the Research Centre for German and Austrian Exile Studies, 14 . Rodopi, Amsterdam, pp. 187-206. ISBN 9789042036512
Spinning the web
book_section
Kampe, T (2012) 'Spinning the web.' In: Kohn, K.G, ed. Die Mühle = The mill. Luftschiff, Brauschweig, pp. 12-15. ISBN 9783942792127
Interview with Thomas Kampe: tanzvermittlung
book_section
Kampe, T (2011) 'Interview with Thomas Kampe: tanzvermittlung.' In: Klein, G, Barthel, G and Wagner, E, eds. Choreografische baukasten. Transcript Verlag, Bielefeld. ISBN 9783837617887
Practices of freedom – the Feldenkrais Method and creativity
article
Kampe, T (2019) 'Practices of freedom – the Feldenkrais Method and creativity.' Feldenkrais Research Journal, 6. ISSN 1817-4000
Entangled histories, part 2: releasing the de-generate body
article
Kampe, T (2017) 'Entangled histories, part 2: releasing the de-generate body.' Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices, 9 (1). pp. 75-93. ISSN 1757-1871
Bodily undoing: somatics as practices of critique
article
Alexander, K and Kampe, T (2017) 'Bodily undoing: somatics as practices of critique.' Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices, 9 (1). pp. 3-12. ISSN 1757-1871
Whispering secrets
article
Kampe, T (2016) 'Whispering secrets.' Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices, 8 (2). pp. 165-177. ISSN 1757-1871
‘crossing/weaving’: somatic interventions in choreographic practices
article
Kampe, T (2016) '‘crossing/weaving’: somatic interventions in choreographic practices.' Feldenkrais Research Journal, 5. ISSN 1817-4000
Vorsicht, Schönheit!
article
Kampe, T (2016) 'Vorsicht, Schönheit!' Feldenkrais Zeit; Journal für somatisches Lernen, 16. pp. 21-25.
Eros and inquiry: the Feldenkrais Method® as a complex resource
article
Kampe, T (2015) 'Eros and inquiry: the Feldenkrais Method® as a complex resource.' Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, 6 (2). pp. 200-218. ISSN 1944-3927
Moving after Auschwitz: the Feldenkrais Method as a soma-critique
article
Kampe, T (2014) 'Moving after Auschwitz: the Feldenkrais Method as a soma-critique.' The Journal of Dance Society for Documentation & History, 33 (6). pp. 237-258. ISSN 2383-5214
Recreating histories: transcultural and transdisciplinary perspectives on performance making
article
Kampe, T (2011) 'Recreating histories: transcultural and transdisciplinary perspectives on performance making.' Korean Journal of Dance, 67 (6). pp. 253-274. ISSN 1598-4672
'Weave': the Feldenkrais Method as choreographic process
article
Kampe, T (2010) ''Weave': the Feldenkrais Method as choreographic process.' Perfformio, 1 (2). pp. 34-52. ISSN 1758-1524
Tanzen ist doch selbstverstndlich - taking dance for granted
article
Kampe, T (2006) 'Tanzen ist doch selbstverstndlich - taking dance for granted.' Tanzjournal, 1. p. 18.
Tanz an britischen universitten. Beispiele von Thomas Kampe
article
Kampe, T (2006) 'Tanz an britischen universitten. Beispiele von Thomas Kampe.' Tanzjournal. p. 21.
Releasing the Archive (2014-2020) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Kampe, T (2021) Releasing the Archive (2014-2020) [REF2021 collection].
Performance / Exile / Heritage (2015-2020) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Kampe, T (2021) Performance / Exile / Heritage (2015-2020) [REF2021 collection].
ONE LOST STONE
artefact
Kampe, T, Pascal, J, Goldstein, S, Kozokaro, R, Kraft Levene, S, Mijit, S, Emeny, M, Beech, N, Sassoon, A and Morris, F (2020) ONE LOST STONE.
Inflatable figures
exhibition
Kampe, T and Belem, L (2002) Inflatable figures. Paco des Artes, Sao Paulo, Brasil, 2002.
LOST + FOUND [dances of exile]
performance
Kampe, T, Brown, C, Scoones, R and Kasia, P (2017) LOST + FOUND [dances of exile]. In: Tempo Dance Festival NZ, Q-Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 7 October 2017.
Die Mühle/The Mill. Four performances
performance
Kampe, T (2012) Die Mühle/The Mill. Four performances. At: Kunstmühle Braunschweig, Germany, (5 & 11 May 2012, 23 & 24 November 2012).
The Secret Listeners
performance
Kampe, T (2012) The Secret Listeners. Five performances at Trent Park Mansion, London (22 & 23 July 2012). Commissioned by Pascal Theatre Company with English Heritage Lottery Funding, in collaboration with The Jewish Museum and The Jewish Military Museum, London.
The secret consul
performance
Kampe, T (2011) The secret consul. Limehouse Town Hall, London, UK, 2011.
Controller
performance
Kampe, T (2010) Controller. In: Arezzo Theatre Festival, Arezzo, Italy, 2010.
The Merchant of Venice
performance
Kampe, T (2007) The Merchant of Venice. Arcola Theatre, London, UK, 2007.
trace/reverse
performance
Kampe, T (2005) trace/reverse. In: 2nd European Feldenkrais Conference, Berlin Free University, Berlin, Germany, 2005.
Chaser
performance
Kampe, T (2004) Chaser. In: Feldenkrais Centenary Conference, Munich University, Munich,Germany, 2004.
Urban Rituals
performance
Kampe, T (2003) Urban Rituals. St Pauli Football Stadium, Hamburg, Germany, 2003.
Body/Image/Site
performance
Kampe, T and Belem, L (2002) Body/Image/Site. In: Ouro Preto Festival, Ouro Preto, Brasil, 2002.
Displaced/Displayed: re-enacting dances of migration
video
Kampe, T and Jara, M (2017) Displaced/Displayed: re-enacting dances of migration.