Wednesday, July 13, 2011

DAY SEVENTEEN

 
More work with the Alexander Method and freeing up tensions in our body to our voice to flow more freely. For those who do not know what the Alexander Method is here is a brief overview:
Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is a way to feel better, and move in a more relaxed and comfortable way... the way nature intended.

An Alexander Technique teacher helps you to identify and lose the harmful habits you have built up over a lifetime of stress and learn to move more freely.

The Alexander Technique is for you if you are ready to feel more comfortable in your own body.
The Alexander Technique can also help you if:
  • You suffer from repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • You have a backache or stiff neck and shoulders.
  • You become uncomfortable when sitting at your computer for long periods of time.
  • You are a singer, musician, actor, dancer or athlete and feel you are not performing at your full potential. 
The description sounds like something someone in the medical field would use. A lot of work we have done is releasing tensions and relearning simple things like walking and standing and sitting and picking something up off the floor in a way that is completely tension free.

Words of wisdom from Joan: When you release tensions you hold, which make you appear a certain way and as certain characters, the possibilities to be new and different characters opens up to you.


We then worked on our text. We partnered up and worked on speaking our text in second circle (see previous blogs for a description on what second circle is). We had to use our body weight and balance each other out. If we slipped into first or third circle we would be thrown off. The 'performative' nature that often comes with doing a monologue went out the window when we had to hold each other up. With the new space we created from exercises we did to release tension and knowing our text cold, we were able to deliver our piece with honesty and a new voice we didn't know we had. It was truly amazing. Our voices are changing. I was even able to sing after class!

In our class with Ronlin we all played a game of tug-of-war. With two on each side we had to play to win while reciting our text. This was not supposed to be a contrast of action and text, but text through the action. We then repeated the game and had to play to win and recite our text while laughing. This focused on where the source of sound came from (our pelvis). We again partnered up and pushed and pulled each other while the other resisted. This play of pushing and pulling was another example of the importance of being grounded and letting sound come from our guts.

We got our assignment for our performance lab on friday. We have to create and aural environment. Out of that has to be an event with a clear beginning middle and end. My group is doing a bathroom and someone peeing and pooping. tee hee hee..........



AND NOW A VIDEOOOO!!!

Here is a demonstration of forward rolls and back shoulder rolls.

My first back shoulder roll is poopy..so please ignore that one. ENJOY!

No comments:

Post a Comment