RHYTHM AS REGULATION
Yekaterina Chizayeva (New Orleans, LA, US)
Kateryna Taranova (Kyiv/Lviv/Slavsko, Ukraine)
THE PROJECT
Through music, dance, voice, and body-based practice, including biological rhythms, body percussion, polyrhythmic dance, Ukrainian circle songs, and call-and-response structures—Rhythm as Regulation investigates how rhythmic entrainment can reduce anxiety symptoms, facilitate group co-regulation, and support recovery from sensory disorientation caused by war-related sonic exposure, including drone-related hypervigilance. Two intensive methodology labs—one in Slavsko, Ukraine and one in New Orleans—bring together U.S. and Ukrainian artists working in somatics, theater, and rhythm to exchange cultural lineages, develop shared protocols, and prototype workshop models.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Katya Chizayeva, based in New Orleans since 2005 and emigrated from Kyiv, brings artistic practice grounded in postmodern contemporary dance, movement research, and process-oriented approaches to relationship-building and inquiry. Kateryna Taranova, a somatic educator and psychologist specializing in post-trauma growth and Feldenkrais practice, has dedicated her work since the full-scale invasion to supporting military personnel and civilians through recovery and creative programming, and trains professionals working with trauma-affected populations.
LOOKING AHEAD
A co-authored Rhythm-Based Arts-in-Health Toolkit documenting the shared protocol and workshop models for implementation across institutional and community settings. An evaluation framework for tracking nervous system regulation indicators and measuring the impact of rhythm-based practices on anxiety, particularly sonic-trauma symptoms, in diverse populations.