Klaudia Wittmann

Thesis title:

Imperfection of the Perfect Body: An interdisciplinary exploration of gendered oppression in female gymnastics through choreographic practice

This practice PhD explores the ideological structures underlying women’s gymnastics. The project consists of an ethnography with former athletes from Germany, USA and UK to explore lived experiences of the sport, as well as practice research which develops a number of artistic pieces in collaboration with sculpture, film and performance.

The research draws on a theoretical frame that brings together psychoanalysis, feminisms, queer and critical race theory.

Artistic collaborators include Performance Klub Fiskulturnik and KWAM Collective.

Research Area

Dance

Publications

Wittmann, K. The woman is perfected: A psychoanalytic reading of systemic abuse in women’s artistic gymnastics. Psychoanalysis Culture and Society 29, 240–255 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41282-023-00418-0

Conferences

(Inter)disciplinary Bodies Conference 2024 (Brunel University, London): Imperfection of the perfect body. A psychoanalytic exploration of the female gymnast's body.

4th European Association of Dance Movement Therapy Conference 2022 (EADMT, Berlin): Working with a fragmented body in a fragmenting world. An individual digital & in-person dance movement psychotherapy case study with psychosis and complex trauma in the community.

Other Research Interests

Choreographic Practice

Psychoanalysis

Gender Studies

Feminist and Queer Theory

Critical Race Theory

Memberships

Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK

Equity