Professional development programme for professional actors
Course fees: $1800 (tax included) for each 180-hour session
Integration of the FELDENKRAIS Method of somatic education and stage work, including 20 hours of theory, 80 hours of practice in the Feldenkrais Method and 80 hours of stage work based on the principles of somatic education. As well, participants receive two individual lessons.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION (LEVEL 1)
SOMATIC EDUCATION AND STAGE WORK (20 hours)
Presentation of the field of somatic education and the Feldenkrais Method. Potential for application to the arts field and to stage work. How the Feldenkrais Method fosters a sensory and reflexive approach to acting. As the result of integrated learning, experience feeling, imagining, thinking and action as a whole.
THE ART OF PRESENCE AND ACTION (40 hours)
How do we “feel” what we do? Of what use is it? Beginning with lessons focused on the function of turning around one’s axis, an introduction to the ideas of neutrality, mobility and pleasure in action. How are the qualities of presence and action integrally connected? Distinction between intention and emotion, between those of the actor and the stage figure. Contradictory intentions and emotions. Largely non-verbal explorations.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES (40 hours)
How can we “imagine” using just a few sentences or some objects to clarify our individual preferences and our creative process from the outset? In lessons focusing on the function of moving around one’s centre, a somatic approach to one’s relation to oneself, the other and one’s surroundings. Questioning prejudices. Recognition of the preferences of the other. Listening to and integrating these elements into one’s own creative process. Choral work.
CHARACTERS AND ACTIVATION OF NEUROMUSCULAR PATTERNS (40 hours)
How can we “think” or construct characters? In lessons that emphasize the relationship between gravity and breathing habits, when we have identified our personal preferences of behaviour, how do we explore other neuromuscular patterns beyond the usual ones? How do we introduce finer and finer variations into our ways of constructing a stage figure? Somatic analysis of character in relation to the practice of our individual creative process and that of the other or others with whom we are working on the script of a play.
THE ART OF AUTONOMY AND INTERDEPENDENCE
How can we “take action” and create an ensemble that respects the preferences of everyone and integrates everyone’s choices? In lessons focusing on the harmony as well as the complexity of movement, on its verticality and on vocal movement, preparation and presentation of a short ensemble work. The staging of this piece is based on the texts, the characters and the different perspectives developed during the session.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION (LEVEL 2)
The same themes are addressed in more sophisticated stage work, based more specifically on the use of the script of a single play, an assembly of texts or a single creative project proposed by the participants.
Lessons in somatic education are tailored more to the needs of individual participants and to the requirements associated with the stage production under consideration. Working in much the same way as in level one, but with a more specific focus on the universe presented by one or more authors or by the improvisers participating in the session, this second session integrates the FELDENKRAIS Method of somatic education with a guided and structured research project. By using the same methodology as in the first session, this second course can eventually lead to the production of a professional creation.
