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In Circles and Squares – Workshops


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Physical Approaches to Performance


The creative process begins with an impulse that produces a singular result called ‘the offer’. That first idea can come from anywhere and be anything. To kick start any idea and turn it into a good idea, one only needs to consider the ‘realm of possibilities’ connected to the initial idea and the rest follows naturally.

I believe that all people, both performers and non performers, have an inner desire to cultivate their intelligence and skills around eight basic modalities; visual (spatial), bodily (kinesthetic), musical (rhythmic), verbal (linguistic), logical (mathematical), inter-personal, intra-personal and naturalistic. My work with communities is vast and has encompassed the full range of age and ability from kids and adults who are just getting started to seasoned professionals. I was Head Trainer and Project Leader at The Slipstream Circus School in Tasmania, I have conducted in depth story exploration and performance labs with participants in Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, The Netherlands, and Australia. Most recently I was the story and character coach at Die Etage School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Berlin, Germany.

My physical theatre company, the DCP, travelled to 20 countries presenting a 2 part theatrical acrobatic dance installation that involved a mobile interactive performance and a stage show. Over the 16 year touring history of the show I have had the great pleasure to have worked with over 50 artists specifically trained through my process.

I love teaching and helping to build community through the pursuit of projects that create a dynamic legacy and improve personal ability by fostering enduring social ties and inter-personal connectivity.

I offer a unique training and performance program designed to introduce both students and teachers to a process that explores physical and mental development towards the creation of original performance works for stage and street. .

The teaching program integrates a variety of theatrical and sport techniques with a diverse array of live performance situations. Workshop students are given opportunities, during extended workshop programs, to advance through a system of skill plateaus and to publicly perform the skills learned upon completion of the extended training program. .

To watch a video of how I worked with students at Die Etage, Schule für darstellenden Künst, or to have a look at the student resource created for “Die Fabrik”, the latest student show created under his direction or to order a copy of the DVD of the show, visit Die Etage Study Resources.


Course Outline

Subjects in the curriculum in include:

Physiology, Preparation and Theory

Systematic Physical Warm Up

Laban Technique (Movement Quality developed by Rudolph Laban)

Corporal Mime Technique (Structural theory developed by Etienne Decroux)

Balance

Acrobatics

Acrobalance (Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Levels)

Plastiques (Cardiovascular/Memory Development system created by Jerzy Grotowski)

LeCoq Mime Technique (Dynamics/Illusions technique developed by Jacques Le Coq)

Vocal Development

Characterization

Narrative Development

Object Manipulation and Juggling

Choreography


Methodology

Classes are taught in a repetitive manner in a safe and healthy environment where students can train in processes of accelerated learning. New techniques are introduced on a schedule that, while tightly mapped, is governed predominantly by the student’s aptitude and speed.

The objective is to have the students perform all of the choreography and techniques learned in a special group presentation of 5 to 25 minutes. Duration and complexity of final performance is dependant upon the total number of hours pursued during training.


Workshop Formats

Workshops are available for students of all ages. Content of course of study is modified based on age range and ability .


Introductory Workshops

A 2 hour class designed to introduce students to each of the items included in the curriculum. Provides an overview of topics to be studied in the extended program. Available for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced studies at the primary, secondary and tertiary education level.

Class limit: 16. Total Hours: 2. One instructor


Weekend Workshop

2 days, 8 hours per day. Available for Intermediate and Advanced studies at the primary, secondary and tertiary education level.

Part 1:  The Rhythmic Warm Up

The first hour of  this class introduces students to a systematic warm up, rhythmic in nature, that prepares the body for the second part of the class that explores low level tumbling, acroblance and musicality in performance. Students will learn a “warm up” choreography, repeat it and begin building an acrobatic skill set. .

Part 2: Plastiques and Movement Improvisation

Building on techniques and exercises presented in Part 1, this class focuses primarily on a technique developed by Jerzy Grotowski and Eugenio Barba called “Plastiques”.  Students will be introduced to  8 specific categories of movement and be immersed in several exercises that will teach them how to overcome resistance in the learning cycle and how to quickly expand their movement vocabulary.

Part 3: Story, Staging and Performance

During this class, students will have an opportunity to put the theory and techniques presented in the first two classes into practical performance use.  Students will be introduced to story structure and how it relates to presenting outdoor performances of everything from soloists to large ensembles.

Class limit: 12. Total Hours: 16. One instructor


1 Week Masterclass

5 days, 4 hours per day. Available for Intermediate and Advanced studies at the primary, secondary and tertiary education level. Low level skills are formed into a 5 minute presentation. .

Class limit: 16. Total Hours: 20. One instructor


2 Week Masterclass

10 days, 4 hours per day. Available for secondary and tertiary education level students only. Medium level Skills are formed into a presentation of 10 to 20 minutes depending upon skill level achieved. .

Class limit: 16 Total Hours: 40. Two instructors required.


Residency Program

A four week program, 5 days a week, 6 hours a day for tertiary education level students only. Advanced level skills are formed into a presentation of 30 to 60 minutes in duration depending upon skill level achieved.

Class limit: 16 Total Hours: 120. Two instructors required.


Custom Designed Programs

A program of classes can be developed for integration into an existing program of study depending upon schedule and budget.


Tutorials

Individual classes in personal development can be organized on a student by student basis.


Improvisation and Comedy in English

I have been involved with comedy and improvisation for over 30 years.  I have had the opportunity to train students and present shows that showcase the skills that they have learned through my classes.  The only performers needed for this project are the ones that I train during the workshop.

This is a series of 12 x 3 hour classes presented over two weeks that provide students with a solid academic foundation in spoken, physical and musical improvisation techniques including story structure, character and “advancing” scenes.  The program has the added benefit of helping students of English further develop their language skills.

The student’s work is presented at the end of the workshop program in a series of 1 hour shows presented in a game format where teams of 2 or 3 students compete with each other for a big prize. Maximum class size:  20 with two instructors (myself and my assistant) .


On Line Study Companion

An on line reference center developed in conjunction with the real time training can be accessed by visiting: The DCP e-Training Centre